Thank you gift for a preceptor?

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

My preceptor has been really wonderful and supportive and I'd like to get her a thank you gift when my orientation is over. Any suggestions?

[resumecpr]

Gift certificate to a restaurant. We need to get out every once in a while.

[cbcle]

Something small but personal. Does she/he like coffee? Beauty products? Movie tickets? Candles? A book?

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

There was a similar thread asking for suggestions for gifts for class tutors. A couple of nursing tutors responded that they loved getting home-made goodies. Of course, whatever you decide, do some fishing first, to find out your preceptor's tastes. I think resume's suggestion is nice, though.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Starbucks card.

[Nepenthe Sea]

Mine liked the chais down at the coffee bar in our cafeteria, so I gave her a $20 gift certificate so she could get a few.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

I gave an engraved pen. Personal but not PERSONAL. Hope that made sense.

[ShantheRN, BSN, RN]

I didn't really get to know my preceptor beyond workplace cameraderie so I had no idea what she liked. I went the safe route - gift card to a popular uniform store. Everybody likes new scrubs :) I think the restaurant gift card is a good idea too.

Granted I had to fight with her to keep it - she insisted nursing students couldn't afford gifts, and I insisted that I wasn't going to starve by giving her $25 for the volunteer service she'd done for me lol In the end I won!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

a starbuck's gift card is always nice -- something relatively inexpensive accompanied by a sincere note telling us why you appreciated us. the note is the best part!

[LPNnowRN]

I gave mine a gift card to a restaurant--food is always good!

[llg, PhD, RN]

1. Either go the extra mile and find out what she likes and dislikes (I have recently received 2 Starbucks cards and I hate coffee!) ... or buy something very general that she can adapt to her taste (e.g. gift card at local mall that lets her choose the particular store ... or amazon.com that offers a lot of variety in their product line.)

2. Be leery of buying food or bringing in food unless you know she is not on a special diet. (e.g. Don't bring baked goods to someone trying to lose weight or who is diabetic.)

3. Don't buy a "knick knack" that serves no real purpose. Over the years, women get lots of that stuff as gifts and door prizes. Get something that can be used/consumed in some way. Those of us in work where we receive such gifts often bemoan the waste of money when people buy stuff that just sits there on a shelf collecting dust. Eventually, most of those knick knacks just get thrown away.

4. Don't forget to reward her professionally as well as personally. She helped you in your career development: repay her by helping her in her career. Send a copy of your thank-you note to her supervisior. That way, it will be added to her personnel file and may help her next job evaluation. Being known as someone who is helpful and appreciated by students may also help her earn a promotion or transfer into a job she really wants someday. Help her reach her career goals by documenting her good work where it counts. Too few people think to do that and a lot of good work goes unnoticed and professionally unacknowledged.

[hikernurse]

The part your preceptor would appreciate most is a well thought out thank you note. (Although a gift card is also nice :)) Forwarding a note describing your experience to your department management and educators would also be greatly appreciated!

Edit: llg said this better than I did and at the same time, LOL