My girlfriend is a new grad nurse who just landed her first job in a cardiac unit as an overnight nurse and I want to get her a gift that she could use while working! I was wondering what are some good ideas that are essentials as a new nurse. Thanks !
I love my Hoka bondi 8s! 👟
There are fun pen lights. My is a Lego nurse. Granted I am peds nurse but the grown ups also seem to think it’s cool!
Where did you get it?
Amazon!!
And a bandage scissors and a cold drink thermos - you can get it decorated with her name or whatever.
Temecula Studio Arts . Com has three cutest badge reels!
Compression socks!
I discovered these in my first year of nursing and it's incredible what a difference it makes. Then my husband started working for a restaurant, and I got some for him. He was skeptical the first day, and now there's a whole ass restaurant in Chicago where everyone is wearing them because he talked them up so much.
Lmao, that’s awesome! I can’t work without them. I’m in the ED, so it’s a must to wear them paired with good shoes. The one time I didn’t wear them my legs ached for days.
What brand do you recommend?
Pro Compression
I second this! Comrad compression socks are the best. I’ve had mine for the last 7 years and they are still holding strong.
My Night nurse essentials: White noise machine, black out curtains, Meal prep containers/ lunchbag, Sleep eye mask, Light, Do not disturb sign, Comfy Pj, Hand and foot cream, sunglasses, earplugs.
Give her some coupons that she can exchange whenever she needs it:
- I'll go refill your gastank for you,
- I'll take your car to the carwash for you,
- I'll make you dinner and lunch for your next shift
- I'll take care of the daily chores while you sit on the couch
- ....
You’re thinking beyond the shift and that is so so smart. That’s where he really can step his game up and show compassion, support, and love. 🌼 award goes to you!
That part
Grace and patience. Nights are hardddd.
Nurses love cute badge reels and pens!
Good pens in fine point, oswala water bottle. That specific brand.
I love my owala water bottle bc I can snap over the lid and not get all the germs.
I’ve stopped buying good pens because I lose them all lol. But I do love buying colorful pens for my papers!! It really does/did help me as a new nurse organize meds, tasks, critical things etc on paper.
Black out curtains!
Comfortable shoes!!! Good fitting scrubs. Compression socks.
A light for night shift is a must! I work in peds so I got a Yoda Lego light that hangs on my ID badge reel and comes in handy when checking iv lines and stuff :)
I loved my Pilot G2 Pens. I always bought the .35 point because some of the boxes I had to fill out were TINY!
Plus, I could unscrew them, and tuck a label with my name inside on the ink cartridge. Helped to discourage stealing my pens.
Dude!!! Those pens are so legit!!!!!! I took my pen out of someone’s hand yesterday who forgot to give it back 😂😂😂
I live and die by the 3.5" bandage shears on my badge reel. It is likely she already has everything she needs as far as nursing supplies.
A gift card would always be good. If she is anything like me she has a wishlist online full of things she wants, but doesn't get because she already has some or can't justify the money for it.
However, if she is a new grad I would suggest something to help her relax now that she isn't stressed over reading and studying. A new non abused computer to fart around on reddit, noise canceling headphones, box of bath bombs, fix dinner and clean the house while she relaxes. Even getting some hobby supplies would be appreciated. I am sure she, like myself, has neglected her hobbies during school. Now that she has time that could get her back into it.
I know this is a super expensive gift but for maybe in the future, I know a nurse who’s husband got her this special stethoscope and think it would be just wonderful for cardiology. It’s super accurate and also can show a simple ECG when doing quick checks on patients. Check it out
Def get her the basics first!!!
What's your budget? Littmann-Brand stethoscopes are the best! I think they start around $65
Nice pens, a cute badge reel (you can get custom ones with really any design, photos of pets, etc), a lip balm holder that clips onto her badge, mini Sharpie key ring to go on her badge, nice new water bottle, energy drinks or coffee she can bring to work!
The things I can't live without at work: nice scrubs, comfy and supportive shoes (go to a running store to get fitted - my local one also gave a discount to nurses!), my Yeti with a fun sticker, badge reels for every holiday/mood (shout out to vSpinDesigns on etsy - I literally have 20+ from her), stethoscope, nursing fanny pack (more pockets to go with my pockets), a jacket (embroidered with my name, credentials, and a pride/Maryland flag/crab logo), a folio to keep Daisy noms and fun notes from dementia patients, smartwatch, small Bluetooth speaker, desktop disco ball. Not kidding on that last one. It's fun to look at a coworker/doc with a death glare and then turn on a disco ball.
Things work-related but at home/in car: nice tote bag for spare scrubs/socks/shoes for unfortunate blood/urine/emesis events, iPad for rare downtime or to subject a patient to a Netflix show they might like, alcohol, place to store medical supplies that end up in my pockets but might be useful later, journal for my weird patient stories that I don't want to forget, therapy.
Hi! If you're gonna get her pens and she's particular with her pens (I am), ask her what she wants and get a lot of them just in case they get misplaced. She also wouldn't have to worry about running out lmao
Sense of humor and a good attitude
get a case of energy drinks and her fav snacks, a nice sweater since night shift is always cold even in the summer months I bring a sweater. But also nights are hard, you work the opposite of everyone else and have to sleep during the day forcing you to miss things. Just be understandable and know nursing is a hard job! Cook her breakfast or dinner from time to time, those things go a long way!
Get her a cute stethoscope with her name engraved on it.
1) Non slip, close toed, customized crocs. I truly don't believe people that say they like fabric shoes (sorry hoka lovers). As in anything you spill pee/poo/blood on, you have to throw the shoes away because it stains fabric and are nearly impossible to sanitize. With my crocs I can rinse, sani wipe, rinse, steal hospital socks, and I'm good to go. Follows all work requirements. Don't have to go home to change my shoes and screw my coworkers over. Sidenote-I've literally ran my whole foot over with a hoyer only once ever, and my crocs still protected my toenail from falling off. I for real can't love crocs enough-in every "what if" situation, they never fail. . . . 2) Ted hose/compression socks. I'll assume it's 12 hours shifts? Compression socks are life savers. I've had coworkers in their 20's get stress fractures. Be picky, the good ones are not cheap, but just because it's expensive doesn't mean they are good. Look at reviews and get the right size. I'm a petite female, so I wear xs/child size, but SIZE MATTERS (here lol). Don't assume it's the same as pants size, etc. . . . 3) if you really, really love her, book a massage every few weeks. Some places have this included in their insurance packages, so make sure you aren't spending money if they are available for free/discounted price. Make it a couples thing. It will become hard to spend time with her if she is working nights until she gets into a groove of things, and it will mean a lot. . . . 4) A really good thermos.
Quality lunch box
Metal, foldable clipboard
Lip balm. Hospital air is ridiculously dry.
Brumaster tumbler with straw cap- trust me
If you get her something like a Stanley Cup get her a straw cover for the straw so it doesn’t get dirty or contaminated
And get everything people mentioned on amazon it’s MUCH cheaper and still great quality
Pocket / nurse watch! Custom with her name
Bulk of her FAV pen Bulk sharpies *double sided// (thick & thin) BA scissors compression socks clip on nurse light shoes every 6mo
Memory foam sleeping mask! Better than any black out options I’ve ever found.
Get her a Stanley
A good quality stethoscope. Ideally engraved with her name so it doesn't get stolen
Pedometer
Peppermint oil for the inside of her mask for the occasional adverse smell (that's putting it politely) A nice N95 mask bc the hospital ones run out, dont have your size or don't fit properly etc. On Cloud shoes- Monstercloud shoes won me over so far, and definitely the noise canceling ear buds or plugs! Noise pollution is real in hospitals, day or night. Congrats to her! ❤
Keychain chapstick holder for her badge reel.
Massage or spa sessions. Learn to make the most of her off days and indulge.
Appointment at orthopedic ? I think that’s what they are called. They check the way you walk and make you prescription insoles and will also recommend which hoka shoe type and width to buy
Hoka bondi shoes
Gift card to gym Her favorite coffee brand and Keurig machine ?
Water bottle Coffee mug
Black out blinds if that an issue in her room (when she sleeps after doing night shift)
Coffee
If your girlfriend tends to run cold, I suggest a heated vest if her facility allows it. A lot of my new grad nurses are struggling with being cold when charting, and I am 8 months pregnant, so I am not letting them touch the thermostat.
Pens with her name on it, good quality compression socks and ultraboost shoes or something like that, oh and longlasting lipstick, so she's still pretty in her 12-hour shift. But most importantly, resilience and kindness.
Having dinner/breakfast ready after her long night. Ahh and don't ask for her to give you massages, DO NOT ASK to do anything else at home after work!!! 😁
A nice gift: Littman cardiology stethoscope
Affordable gift but one she’ll use everyday: sturdy badge reel and MAJOR BONUS POINTS if you can find the tiny sharpies and highlighters for your badge reel, some nice pens, and a nice set of blunt-tipped scissors
Etsy has some great bundles that include sharpies, scissors, clip, pen, & highlighter! Super cute colors too. Just search “badge reel accessories” !!
Blackout curtains so she can sleep during the day, benadryl to help with sleep on occasion, maybe ear plugs/eye mask. She will really need good rest during the day and she is likely going to struggle hard-core with getting enough rest. Also, if she lives with you, then driving her to/from shifts can be so helpful. When I did night shift I almost fell asleep at the wheel many times
A decent pen lol
For real, so thoughtful of you! Night shift is sooooooooo tough. Maybe put up some really awesome black out curtains? Buy her some new SHEEX, those are seriously the best, a new pillow or sleep mask???
A nice lunch bag that holds a lot.
Apologize in advance for the long links. I'm not very skilled with links.
been a floor nurse 10 years. A good pen light is super useful, especially for a night nurse. I use this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FX1SDPG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
Damn hard to beat for 25 bucks. It has 3 modes, use the low mode for pupils, med or high for checking stuff in the dark, looking for that lost hearing aid under the bed, whatever. The LED in this one is made for good color rendering so if you're looking at skin or in a mouth or something the color is less distorted than with one of those cool white LEDs. IT's lasted me years, and runs on good old AAAs so no worries about replacements. Love this thing. Also, if you get it and she doesn't love it for work, it's perfectly useful around the house, out and about, whatever.
To me, scissors, pens, stethoscope, and things like that are personal taste, so much so that I wouldn't really want someone else buying them for me. But I'm particular. She might not care.
There are loads of cutesy badge reels out there, but I find they fall apart quick. Not flashy, but durable and effective, I use these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0839Q8M6X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
I agree with the folding clipboard someone else mentioned. I get about 2 years of steady use and abuse out of mine before they break, and I just buy another one and keep going. They are a critical piece of gear that I wouldn't be without. I use this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GWSKZ1I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
I used to burn through stethoscope tubing because apparently the oils on your skin/hair make it stiffen up and stop working correctly. I started using this and it's perfect for me. Not bulky, low profile and effective. https://www.etsy.com/listing/525905905/large-japanese-fish-hook-stethoscope?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=stethoscope&ref=sr_gallery-1-22&content_source=4d798f0e4835e94b4c8b315d8f675c609f1e17c5%253A525905905&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1
Hope this helps. Good luck to you and her.
A fanny pack. Game changer for me.
Kudos to your gf.
My suggestion, that my wife helped me with, are good nursing shoes. Google best nursing shoes, and splurge on them. She is probably young and spry now, but let me tell you, in 20 years, with millions of steps under her belt, having had awesome shoes from the start is gonna come back ten fold.
Since she's doing nights, as many others have suggested, take your gifts to the home, and help her create a solid sleep environment. Curtains, a way to stay cool and comfy, buy some tea she likes or whatever else you know helps her sleep. And for the love of everything that is holy, make sure you have everything you need from the bedroom before she says good night, so you don't have to disturb her during sleep. Nights are rough, and unbroken sleep after is just the best thing.
As an OR nurse: Lip balm, mint, pens, board marker, some fancy scissors, perfume oil, etc
A solid badge reel, a reliable and well manufactured stethoscope, comfortable shoes, a cup/mug to put her choice of drink into, a keychain/badge reel light (or pen light). Hopefully those help.