Gifts for Nurses

Nurses work twelve-hour shifts on their feet, wash their hands dozens of times a day, and often sleep while everyone else is awake. Good gifts work with that: drinks that stay cold until the end of the shift, things for sleeping in daylight, comfortable feet. Small treats for the break room are always welcome.

Under $25 8 ideas

  1. Pilot G2 Premium Retractable Gel Pens, 12 Pack

    Pens walk away on every hospital floor, and nurses who bring their own good ones watch them vanish. A dozen G2s keeps their pocket stocked for a while.

    PilotStocking stufferGets used up

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  2. O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream

    A thick, unscented hand cream made for people whose hands take a beating. Constant washing and sanitizer leave nurses' hands dry, and this is one many already know.

    O'Keeffe'sStocking stufferGets used up

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  3. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, 4 Pack

    Hospital air is dry and masks make it worse. Four tubes means one for the pocket, the locker, the car and home.

    Burt's BeesStocking stufferGets used up

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  4. Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pens, 3 Count

    A pen that lifts coffee and food stains on the spot. Nurses deal with far worse, but this at least handles the lunch spill before the next patient.

    TideStocking stuffer

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  5. Loop Quiet Ear Plugs

    Soft, reusable earplugs that are comfortable to sleep in on the side. Useful for night-shift nurses trying to sleep through daytime traffic and lawnmowers.

    LoopStocking stuffer

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  6. Lindt Lindor Assorted Chocolate Truffles

    Individually wrapped truffles that can sit in a bowl at the nurses' station and get shared around a long night. Easy to give a whole unit.

    LindtGets used upStocking stuffer

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  7. Starbucks Gift Card

    Coffee before or after a shift is a ritual for many nurses, and there is often a Starbucks in or near the hospital. Easy to tuck into a card.

    StarbucksArrives by emailGets used up

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  8. Bentgo Pop Leak-Proof Bento Lunch Box

    A compartment lunch box with a leakproof lid, sized for an adult meal. Nurses with short breaks eat what they brought, and this keeps it from becoming a soggy mess.

    Bentgo

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Under $50 5 ideas

  1. YETI Rambler 20 oz Tumbler with MagSlider Lid

    Keeps coffee hot or ice water cold for an entire shift, and it survives being dropped and knocked around. The magnetic lid slider is easy to wipe clean.

    YETI

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  2. Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, 24 oz

    A lidded bottle that can be sipped through the straw or tipped up to drink, with a locking lid for bags. Easy to grab a drink between patients.

    Owala

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  3. Thermos Stainless King Vacuum-Insulated Food Jar, 16 oz

    Keeps soup or leftovers hot until a late break, when the break-room microwave queue is the last thing they want. Built to last years.

    Thermos

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  4. Manta Sleep Mask

    A sleep mask with adjustable eye cups that block light completely without pressing on the eyes. For night-shift nurses sleeping through bright afternoons.

    Manta Sleep

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  5. Crocs Unisex Classic Clog

    Many nurses wear Crocs at work or keep a pair for after a shift because they are easy to clean and slip on. Check that their workplace allows the vented style before giving them for work.

    Crocs

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Under $100 2 ideas

  1. UGG Women's Scuffette II Slipper

    Sheepskin slip-on slippers for the moment the work shoes come off. A treat most nurses would not buy for themselves.

    UGG

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  2. Carhartt Legacy Deluxe Work Backpack

    A durable backpack with a padded laptop sleeve and plenty of pockets for a change of clothes, lunch and chargers. Tougher than the usual tote bag.

    Carhartt

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$100 and up 4 ideas

  1. Dansko Women's Professional Clog

    The closed, wipeable clog that has been a hospital standard for decades. Only buy it if you know their Dansko size, since it fits differently from regular shoes.

    Dansko

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  2. Ember Mug 2, 10 oz

    A heated mug that keeps coffee at a set temperature. For nurses on a day off, or the charge nurse who keeps setting a cup down and coming back to it cold.

    Ember

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  3. Hatch Restore 2 Sunrise Alarm Clock

    An alarm clock that brightens gradually before it sounds and plays soft background sound for sleep. Helpful for shift workers who wake in a dark room at odd hours.

    Hatch

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  4. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

    A waterproof e-reader with a warm light that is easy on the eyes after a shift. Small enough to read on a break without bringing a stack of books.

    Amazon

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