What's a good gift from a grateful family?

[Sudsy]

I'm a school nurse, so I'm out of my league :)

My dd was recently in the hospital for a week. I meant to send a thank you gift to the floor, but, with all the hullaballoo of her coming home, I forgot. She will be back in for a few days next week and I'm wondering:

1) why not send the gift while she's there?!

2) what makes a nice gift to send to staff? I was thinking one of those Edible Arrangements fancily-cut fruit basket (looks so much nicer than whole fruit), but I'm open to any suggestions. Would prefer it to be rather healthy :). Not sure how long these Arrangements can be left out w/o being refrigerated.....

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

I think a wonderful gift would be a thank you card with a hand written message, and maybe possibly some kind of food for unit staff. Food is a great idea. The Edible Arrangements are cool but honestly, all of the units I worked on would appreciate and welcome anything :) . Edible Arrangements can go a couple hours without being in the fridge if I remember right.

[Music in My Heart]

Candy and treats are always appreciated... as is pizza.

Be sure to treat the NOC folks, too.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

As a former night-shifter, you might also consider sending a gift for each shift specifically...

I've seen individuallly packaged chocolate covered pretzel rods (a couple dozen in each) decorative pail - one for each shift. Once, a patient sent huge gift bags filled with snack-sized chips (healthy and not), cookies, granola bars, etc. The thing I loved about these is that the sender marked one for each shift.

[elkpark]

IMO, the best gift is a letter to the upper administrators of the facility, specifically naming the individuals who did a particularly good job. I always tell clients, when they're thanking me and praising me for what I did for them, "If you really feel that way and really want to thank me, tell my bosses." :)

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

IMO, the best gift is a letter to the upper administrators of the facility, specifically naming the individuals who did a particularly good job. I always tell clients, when they're thanking me and praising me for what I did for them, "If you really feel that way and really want to thank me, tell my bosses." :)

That was the best thank you I ever got. I had a patient once that was an RN on an other unit at the healthcare system I worked at. She worked in a procedure area, I worked a busy med/surg/tele unit. All of her work was stuff done when the patients were under conscious sedation, she admitted she got a 'reality check - and a glimpse into what all the med/surg RNs deal with, having to explain medications, procedures, policies - to patients and families, and everything else you all do for us including how time intensive medication passes can be when done correctly'. She said she learned a lot from me, and thought I was precepting my preceptor, boy was that patient shocked to hear it when I explained I was a new grad on orientation. As they tended to do on the unit at that hospital, a rep from administration rounded on the unit, the patient mentioned the nurses who were taking great care of her, AND sent a letter to my manager and our VP and DON. I got a very nice little card in the mail from the VP and DON :) .

[Sudsy]

Thanks for the helpful responses. I would def. like to leave a gift for everyone on the unit, not just those few who went above-and-beyond the average and will hopefully get a letter written for/about them.

Thanks for the good idea, Do-Over, about leaving something for each shift. I think the chocolate covered pretzels sound like a real winner!

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

What I like is a card or a letter with my name on it sent to management.