Our daughter in law should complete her studies and take the RN test this May. She’s absolutely busted her tail over the last few years to get where she is and we want to give her a really memorable gift. (Her own family probably won’t even give her a card).
If this were medical school (and we were in the movies), we would give her the traditional black leather bag that physicians carried until they dropped dead.
Is there any type of traditional or memorable gift for the nursing profession?
When my best friend became an RN, I made her some fun scrubs that were slightly cheated with seamstress’ tricks to flatter her figure just a little bit (I stole the idea from Scrubs, the tv show, which has fabulously gorgeous people in “scrubs” that really aren’t the one-size-fits-nobody thing you find in a hospital) and four of us went in together and got her an expensive stethoscope. Apparently, the hospital will provide a shitty stethoscope, but her job is made much easier by having a good one.
Can you buy her her pin? This is a pin you buy that is something like a class ring and is presented at the pinning ceremony. She may have already ordered hers, ask your son about it. A good stethoscope is good, a spa day would be great, jewelry is never a bad gift…A gift certificate for scrubs would be great. Paying to have pictures made in her graduation uniform would be nice too. (We are graduating in white uniforms which will probably never be worn again.)
Fir na tine, tell her congratulations for me. We’ll be taking the test at about the same time.
My friend is about to take her nurse practitioner somethingorother (test? certification?), and she’s been a nursing student for forever (and obviously, also a practicing nurse at the same time).
She wrote an interesting blog post about gadgets that are useful for nurses. Actually, it’s “aimed” at nursing students but everything she mentions seems like it’d be applicable for a practicing nurse. You can click the link at the end of the article for part II.
Some sort of ‘at-home spa’ kit, perhaps? You know, a nice basket filled with candles and bath bombs and nice lotions, maybe some special foot scrubby stuff? One of my aunts is a nurse, and I know that once a week she has bath time, and if her husband or children bother her during that hour for any reason less than “the house is on fire”, they’re dead. Besides, who doesn’t like bubble baths?
This is what I came here to say. I have lots of nurses in the family, and I also work in a job that keeps me on my feet all day. Shoes may not be “sexy”, but
by God the rest of your bone structure will thank you. Give her a gift card the place with the hightest quality working shoes.
Holy crap, I thought I was the only one who used to read Cherry Ames! I’m only 36, but somehow a bunch of used Cherry Ames books wound up in my room when I was in high school. They might have even been former library books, because I seem to recall at least one of them having that rigid plastic cover that libraries used to use.
WhyNot is right on the money, as usual. I’d love a nice stethoscope when I graduate! And I am so glad that you directed me to that blog, ZipperJJ…I’m taking major notes!
I would have loved a gift card for a scrubs/uniform/shoe place. Good uniforms and shoes aren’t cheap and wear out and damage fast…and you need more than one set of everything. Uniforms and shoes are probably a new RN’s biggest expense. (The best nurse shoes for my money? Any really good brand of leather walking-style athletic shoe. Forget the clogs.)
I may be the lone voice on this one, but don’t buy a fancy expensive stethescope. Go for a mid price to cheap one instead if you really want to get one. Most nurses just don’t need the ultra-quality expensive ones for what they do, they’re HEAVY, and they frequently get stolen. The really nice, expensive ones will hurt your neck if you try to carry them there (the most convenient place). For a nurse, any stethescope that costs more than about $75 or so is really kind of a waste. This is all from hard experience.
I don’t know if it’s a universal custom but all the nursing schools I know about do it. It is a custom design lapel pin designed by your school. Mine is the crest they use on stationery, etc. with the school name and the motto. They are available in silver, gold filled or 10K or !4K gold with enamel inlaid.( I think it is called cloisonne?) The pin is pinned on you for the first time at a pinning ceremony, which is held in a church, and is something akin to a commissioning of an missionary or a military officer. It is usually regarded as a much bigger deal than the actual graduation from the college. You might call her nursing school and see if they do that there. As I said it is sort of in lieu of a class ring and many people wear them on their name badges in the hospitals.
Thank you for your best wishes for the NCLEX. I’ll need all that I can get!
I’m only 36, but somehow a bunch of used Cherry Ames books wound up in my room when I was in high school. They might have even been former library books, because I seem to recall at least one of them having that rigid plastic cover that libraries used to use.