Present for nurse

jaimemds · Apr 1, 2005

A thank you card! gifts are inappropriate, but a card expressing their gratitude is the most wonderful thing. I personally have kept every one I have ever received, on the bad days they help you remember why you became a nurse to begin with

zambezi, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2005

I agree, a thank you card is very nice. I have gotten a couple of presents but they were dropped off well after the patient had left the unit and left in my box. Probably the nicest card I got told me how much she appreciated my care for her mother and how she felt comfotable leaving her mother with me so she could go home and get some rest (it took me about 3 hours to convince her to go home to sleep...so I definatley remember her). That night she had kept offering to buy me a coffee and I kept refusing (plus I had the one that I had just gotten on my way to work)...so in the card she had included "coffee bucks" for a latte from my favorite coffee place (drive thru coffee stands are on every corner here).

One family gave me a very touching poem that she had written and a snow angel ornament with my name on it...

Some of our patients family members bring in a box of choclate or fruit for the staff to eat...

The thank you cards can be few and far between but really mean a lot. They remind me that what I do and say means a lot to the family members (sometimes we forget that if we are stressed or really busy).

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Apr 2, 2005

I agree thank you cards are acceptable. I have gotten a pen once, a book mark with a nursing verse, and flowers. One patient sent me a picture of an old hotel my dad used to work at as a boy. I would never accept an expensive gift. It is my job as a nurse to take care of patients to the best of my ability. I treat them with dignity and respect because that is how I want to be treated. Most facilities here look very unfavorable on taking gifts from patients. It can and often has lead to dismissal from the job.

PamRNC · Apr 2, 2005

Best present would be the gift the keeps on giving especially right into your personnel file - a lovely letter to the boss, with my name spelled right and a few specifics. :biggringi

Ahh, but who has time? That's of course what makes chocolate, candies, donuts and fruit baskets the next best thing. Food on the run for the very busy nurses! :chuckle

nursenatalie, ADN, RN · Apr 5, 2005

I agree, a note definately is the best gift. I appreciate the thank you but it does help to pass it on to administration, they definately get the letters complaining so it is nice to equal things out with a thank you now and again.

butterflynurse03, RN · Apr 13, 2005

what type of thing would you like to recieve from a surgury patient for being a good nurse? or is it inappropriate to give as nurse a present?

personal gifts to a single nurse are not a good thing. if a patient wishes to give a gift, the best thing is a card and or something for all of the nursing staff on the floor. this way they are not singling out one specific nurse. also, verbal thanks from the patient to the nurse are always nice.

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2005

Personal gifts to a single nurse are not a good thing. If a patient wishes to give a gift, the best thing is a card and or something for ALL of the nursing staff on the floor. This way they are not singling out one specific nurse. Also, verbal thanks from the patient to the nurse are always nice.

I disagree. What if this patient had bad experiences with some of the other staff? Why should they be rewarded? Also, this isn't junior high anymore. If my feelings get hurt because my co-worker received a bookmark, cookie or what have you, I really need more to do. My bil is in his early thirties and my mil has to buy him and my dh the same number of presents @ Christmas b/c he still counts and will get upset if my dh gets one more than him. :rolleyes: If someone is going to be like that, it's time to grow up.

butterflynurse03, RN · Apr 16, 2005

I disagree. What if this patient had bad experiences with some of the other staff? Why should they be rewarded? Also, this isn't junior high anymore. If my feelings get hurt because my co-worker received a bookmark, cookie or what have you, I really need more to do. My bil is in his early thirties and my mil has to buy him and my dh the same number of presents @ Christmas b/c he still counts and will get upset if my dh gets one more than him. If someone is going to be like that, it's time to grow up.

Understood, and I do agree. My only point here I guess is that the legalities of the situation must be weighed. There are a lot of facilities where it is not allowed to gift one nurse. The reason behind this rule is that in a court of law some idiot will decide that you, the nurse, would be unobjective about your patient and that you are receiving extra compensation for your care for the patient. This has been drilled into my head for so long, that it is difficult for me to see beyond it. However, I do see and agree with your point about people growing up and acting like an adult.