Why are nurses the only profession that cannot accept gifts?

[RockinNurse2018]

So, the other day, I had a family member who gave me a card as a thank you from the patient, as a sign of appreciation, especially since they knew it would likely be my last time working with her. They left it with me before I could refuse to accept it. Later, I realized that I probably shouldn't have accepted it.

But I can't help by wondering why is nursing the only profession that is not allowed to accept gifts? When you look at teachers, for example, they are flooded with gifts around the holidays and end of the year, and no one says this is unethical. There are many other professions where no one says a word when a gift is given.

I understand that receiving gifts could possibly release protected patient information if the gift receiver is not discreet or cause resentment among coworkers. I also know that we are already being paid to perform a service for them. At the same time, though, teachers are also being paid, but no one objects to them receiving fits. My thought is, if it's the last time working with a patient, and the gift receiver does not identify who gave them the gift, why is this an issue?

[cleback]

If they want to gift you, have them send you a card by way of your boss.

[Kitiger, RN]

If they want to gift you, have them send you a card by way of your boss.

Yes! And I save every one. :)

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

I have been given gifts from families, cards, etc. One time a family gave me a very nice bag. They gave gifts to other nurses as well. They apparently told the higher ups about it first.

I have gotten very nice cards from family members.

A card is really nice, I don't see the problem of a patient/family writing a card.

Many other professions can't receive gifts: Those in public office, elected office, police, fire, public services, social services.

Some families will donate food to a unit, chocolates, cookies. Families do want to show appreciation.

Glad you got a nice card.

[Flatline, BSN, RN]

Most professions that are in a position of power and authority frown upon tipping or gifting of significant value since it can be seen as unethical and quickly spin out of control if left unchecked.

Healthcare is especially strict due to the unique position we hold. If you think gifting does not have an impact know that companies were forced/pressured to curtail gifting to healthcare professionals because it was so effective in controlling the recipient. It definitely has not stopped, as you all know, but tipping and gifting does impact you whether you know it or not.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

When I was a government employee I couldn't accept anything. Flowers got donated to a local nursing home, chocolate got donated to the police station. Check your facility policy. I'm sure there's something about a gift of less than $25 in value being OK.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

I think the nursing professions sees gift giving as a way for the patient to say well, I gave you this so I expect this or you owe me better service. I don't feel it is necessarily true.

[Amethya]

As everyone is saying, I think it depends on the place you're working at. I work at a school, so it's super common to get gifts on holidays.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

A card is the only gift that should always be acceptable. Many other gifts are not, because we don't work for tips. Anything that could be interpreted as a tip, should be refused.

I think teachers should operate the same way. It just looks bad to take gifts from students if you are grading them. One day I will teach nursing students in clinical. I will make it very clear to them that if they wish to show appreciation to me they can send a letter to my boss or a card expressing sentiment to me, but under no circumstances should they buy anything for me.

[Neats, BSN]

I think cards are very nice and we accept them each and every day if offered. There are usually some guidelines/policies in your Human Resource Handbook about gifts that include verbiage...no gift greater than $50.00 will be accepted....some even say no gift of any monetary value, I would say a Thank you Card is not a gift but part of the customer experience and those cards can be used as part of customer satisfaction (they are tangible). My husband had a pacemaker placement last year...I went to Whole Foods and bout 4 dozen little mini deserts for the unit, they accepted them with smiles. Gone are the days when the Pharmacy Rep or DME rep would come by with "gifts" those are seen as a payoff.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Other reasons nurses should not accept gifts:

1. Other families my feel bad that they can't afford to give gifts.

2. Other families may also feel that their loved one will get a lower level of care because they didn't give a gift. We need to avoid any appearance of favoritism.

3. Patients may start to feel that giving gifts is necessary to receive the best care.

etc.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I work in LTC, some of our residents have been with us for years. Gifts to the entire unit or facility are welcome. This usually applies to some kind of food items though on a few occasions families have gifted a rather substantial amount of cash which the administrator then decides how to distribute among employees, usually more food.

Gifts to individuals of small hand made items that some of our residents make are also OK. We have a few that make small crafty things that they give to staff members. These people do spread the gifts around so not any one staff seems to be singled out.

Gifts to individual staff members are not expressly forbidden, but anything over $25.00 in value has to be reported. Our current administrator has never insisted that larger gifts be refused though it's very rare for a gift to be large enough to be concerning. We have on a couple of occasions had a resident leave something of value to a favored staff member in their will, as the family didn't have any objections these were allowed. In the same vein it's happened that family members of a deceased residents gift certain items to favored staff, these have also been allowed.

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

I didn't know this was a thing? Our patients and family members buy us gifts all the time.

I don't know where you work, but you should have a policy on that.