Being a nurse or a mom is hard work in and of itself. Add the two together and you have one incredibly hard-working, compassionate, multitasking superhero with skills that can save lives.
This holiday season why not give gifts that recognize both talents? The one that is raising children to be strong, capable adults and the one selflessly helping total strangers. After all, there is a fair chance that many nurse moms are not being appreciated or recognized for the dedication and hard work they put in, day after day.
The motherhood/nurse combination is a challenging balance. Next time you run into a nurse mom who looks a little tired, know there is a good chance she hasn’t slept in a week. And give her a high-five.
We hope you enjoy you holiday season and spend lots of quality time with your loved ones!
*This post about nurse coffee mugs contains affiliate links. For more information please see our disclosure page.
Coffee, anyone? Yes, please.
Since becoming a nurse and the mother of two amazing little humans, my caffeine consumption has reached and all-time high.
In fact, I’ve been so tired for so long that I don’t even remember what my life was before I became a daily coffee consumer. (Parenthood will do that to ya!).
But being a tired nurse and mom is where life is for me at the moment. Coffee for me, quite literally, is my life blood. Not to mention, it bring me joy.
After all, they say that its the little things in life that make us the happiest, and for most of my mom and nurse friends, drinking a great cup of joe fits that statement perfectly!
Great coffee needs a great coffee mug
I appreciate having a great mug or travel container to drink coffee now that I am constantly on the go. Mainly because nurses and moms knows there is no time to sit and rest – there are just too many people to take care of!
I’m not even a little ashamed to say I have even become a bit of a coffee snob. (Although I have recently switched it up a but by adding matcha green tea into my caffeine regimen for a little extra antioxidant power.)
But developing my coffee habit isn’t the worst thing that could have ever happened. After all, there is scientific evidence that drinking coffee is may be beneficial to overall health in many ways:
Even though my college party days are long behind me, this was still great news to hear. Researchers analyzed data from nine previously published studies with a total of more than 430,000 participants and found that drinking two additional cups of coffee a day was linked to a 44% lower risk of developing liver cirrhosis!
A Stanford University study that tracked 100 people over several years, and found that coffee drinkers tended to live longer than non-coffee drinkers. The authors theorized that increased caffeine consumption might counteract the “fundamental inflammatory mechanism associated with human aging.”
Now that we know that coffee is not only essential for our daily function as nurses and also may benefit our brains and body, there is only one more thing left to do. And that is to find the best nurse coffee mugs to enjoy our delicious brew…
With no further ado and is no particular order, here are the top 25 best nurse coffee mugs!
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HIGH QUALITY: Printed using only the highest quality HD ink to prevent fading; printed on very durable bright white mugs
SPECIFICATIONS: Mug holds 11 ounces and measures 4x4x4 inches
CARE: Microwave and dishwasher safe
SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: If you are not completely satisfied with the product for some reason, a full refund will be issued. Your satisfaction is the #1 priority!
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If Youre Happy And You Know It Its Your Meds This Coffee Mug Is A Great Item For Office Party White Elephant Gag Gifts For Boss employee or Coworkers.
This Funny Coffee Mug Would Make a Great Gift For Any Occasion, Mothers Day, Christmas, Wedding Retirement, Bridal and Baby Shower Valentines Day Birthday Anniversary Graduation XMAS Party Secret Santa Gifts.
Our Hilarious Coffee Cups Make a Great Gift For Anybody, Men Women Mom Dad Grandma Grandpa Brother Sister Son Daughter Husband Wife Boyfriend Girlfriend Best Friend In Laws , Coworkers Employees Boss Friend Second Cousin Aunts And Uncles Him and Her Or Just Anybody Who Enjoys A Nice Cup Of Coffee In The Morning.
Made With The Highest Quality Guaranteed To Last, Microwave and Dishwasher Safe. Our Mugs Are Printed On Both Sides Which IS Great for Both The Right Hand And The Left.
This 11oz White Ceramic Mug Is Great For Coffee, Tea , Hot Chocolate, Or any Hot or Cold Beverage Rogue River Exclusive Item Comes with the Rogue River Warranty
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DETAILS: 11oz. Camp Cup Mug, Stainless Steel, Sublimation Coated White Gloss. Hand wash. Lead and Cadmium Free. Conforms to Food Grade Requirements of FDA, LFGB, EEC. Shipped in white box.
PERFECT for campers and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy hot or cold beverages on the trail with this durable, lightweight rustic stainless steel mug.
GREAT for friends and family as a birthday or Christmas gift, or just because.
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Best Conversation Starter | Funny Mug Printed On Both Sides - Make an Impression any way you hold the Mug
Large Easy Grip High Quality Ceramic 11 Ounce Coffee Mug | Dish Washer Safe | Microwave Safe | Comes Bubble Wrapped in Box
Start Your Day off Right - Suitable for Every Occasion | Use as Pencil Holder, Desk Accessory and Special Gift for Someone | Ideal for Hot and Cold Drinks | Can be used for Home and Office
Printing With Pride in the United States by Mad Ink Fashions
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(This article about nurse pocket organizers contains affiliate links. You can find my disclosure page here.)
How do you keep your nursing accessories organized during a nursing shift?
If you are like many busy nurses, you may be stuffing your pockets – which isn’t very organized at all. Not to mention, it looks very unprofessional for a nurse to be shuffling through their pockets for one of many nurse tools and accessories they need throughout the shift. (I’ve been that nurse too, believe me!)
The reality is that nursing shifts are already insanely busy as they are… do you really want to keep making a dozen extra trips around the unit for things you keep forgetting?
How many times have you had to walk back to the nurses station, supply room or med room for things such as:
I can’t tell you how many times I had to leave a patients room to go back and find something that I had forgotten. Especially in my early nursing career days.
Until one day it finally dawned on me that many of these supplies could be kept organized right within an arms reach at all times. I can’t even tell you how much time that saved me!
I was never a fan of the “fanny pack” look (although, believe it or not, fanny packs are coming back into style here in Los Angeles!). But my goal has always been to provide excellent care to may patients, so if a “fanny pack” helps me achieve that, then I was all for it!
Besides, as a new nurse grad, I needed all the help and support I could get. And now almost 8 years into my nursing career I still use a nurse pocket organizer just like #3 on this list!
Have you ever thought about using a nurse pocket organizer or fanny pack?
These are simple solutions to preventing unnecessary trips back to the supply room for random things you forgot to grab.
Being a great nurse involves managing your time well. Nurses already have enough on their plates when taking care of patients during their shift. Less unnecessary trips for supplies = more time for patient care.
Nurse pocket organizers also help keep nursing shifts less stressful. Knowing you have the supplies you need within your reach at all times will not only keep you more calm in stressful situations, but you will appear more professional as well.
This product is one of the larger nurse pocket organizers on the market. The nurses who have used this say they love it because they can keep everything they think they may need with them.
For those who want the extra space to carry more nurse accessories on them and and even a small notebook, this one may be right for you.
This is product is also highly rated by customers for durability. It is a more compact nurse pocket organizer – however it still has 9 pockets including one zippered pocket (great for keeping cash & credit cards). You can see from the photo that it is still large enough to hold a cell phone.
Keep in mind that this product does not come with a belt but it fits easily in most scrub top pockets or in the cargo pocket of most scrub pants. May work better for nurses who prefer not to have the traditional “fanny pack” appearance. It does have a belt loop on the back that fits most belts.
This cute pink nurse pocket organizer is very compact- but just might be the right amount of space you need for your supplies.
This particular product also makes a great gift for a nursing student or new nurse graduate because it also comes with the products shown in the photo.
For the nurse that wants a lot of storage – this is a nurse organizer you may want to consider. Many of the reviews mention that it is able to fit a cell phone as well as keys – along with other important nurse supplies needed during the workday.
Keep in mind that although it is made of durable material, the more you put in, the heavier it will get. In addition it does not have skinny “pen style” pockets – if that is important to you. (Supplies in photo not included)
This product is a true pocket protector – it does not come with a belt but it fits easily in most scrub top pockets or in the cargo pocket of most scrub pants.
Also fits very well in labs coats – is simple, and keeps your pockets clean and organized! You wont lose your pens with this nifty organizer. It fits basic items that you need in your packets and makes them easy to find versus digging around in your pockets.
This product had a lot of great reviews- and it comes in several other colors as well. This apron-style nurse organizer easily helps to organize pens, highlighters, flushes, scissors and alcohol pads right at your fingertips. The belt is adjustable and fits unobtrusively on the hip.
(This post about practical gifts for nurses contains affiliate links. You can find my disclosure page here.)
Looking for a thoughtful yet practical gift for the nurse in your life?
Nurses do so much for patients without getting much (if any) appreciation for their incredibly hard and selfless work. Giving a nurse a thoughtful andpractical gift that they can use on the job lets them know that you appreciate how hard they work to help others during some of the worst times in their lives. These gifts are perfect for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthday, Christmas, Nursing School Graduation or any other special occasion.
Many nurses don’t drink nearly enough water during their 12 hour shifts and then go home completely dehydrated. Therefore, nurses need a good water bottle to bring to work with them every single day! Water is essential for life and good health, which is why a quality Hydro Flask Water Bottle makes such a great gift for nurses of all experiences and specialties. We must encourage our nurses to take as good care of themselves as they do their patients. After all, when nurses are able to tend to their own self care needs, they are able to give even better care to their patients.
The Hydro Flask Water Bottle is a high quality water bottle that can be used for many years and still look brand new. It is made out of food grade stainless steel and is BPA free. In addition, it has great insulation, which prevents condensation from forming on the outside of the bottle.
But the best part about the Hydro Flask Water Bottle is the TempShield Insulation which keeps beverages at the same temperature for many hours (hot drinks for 6 hours & cold drinks for up to 24 hours!).
If there is one single practical gift that every nurse needs it is an insulated water bottle!
Regular coffee mugs just wont work for busy nurses working with patients. For one, nurses are almost never in the same place for more than a few minutes. And it would be great if their coffee could be the same temperature when they finally got back to take a sip of it!
The Contigo Coffee Mug is a popular choice among many nurses (myself included – I have had one for the last 4 years). It has a leak proof lid (when closed) for on-the-go activities. In addition, drinks stay hot up to 7 hours and cold up to 18 hours with vacuum insulation. This brand even comes with a lifetime warranty.
It is no secret that becoming a nurse is a personal calling and requires a lot of grit and compassion from those who enter the profession. Nurses deal with patients in some of the worst times of their lives and deal with both life and death situations. Therefore, it never hurts to share some inspiration with one!
Chicken Soup For The Soul: Inspiration For Nurses consists of 101 heartwarming stories that encourage, inspire, and reassure nurses that their patients and families appreciate the nurse’s compassionate service. Nurses can use all the help and encouragement they can get, and this book of personal stories helps remind nurses why they became a nurse in the first place.
Many nurses I work with in the emergency room have the Raptor Shears and we use them frequently in emergency situations. You can hook it to a belt or secure it using the pocket clip. Also, the Raptor Shears have a 25 year limited warranty which could last through a nurses’s entire medical career or longer. This tool is an amazing and practical gift for a nurse.
The Rapture Shears are actually 6 tools wrapped into one:
It is vacuum insulated and designed for both cold and hot beverages – so you can drink the perfect temperature liquid all day long. Also, the cup prevents any sweating on the outside of the cup.
Starting IV’s is one of the most challenging and stressful clinical tasks that nurses will learn during the first few years in the profession. A vein finder is a great gift for nursing students, new nurse graduates and even seasoned nurses who need a little extra help with starting an IV.
For patients who are a difficult “stick” (as we call it in nursing) it is so helpful to have a vein finder in the back pocket. This is a very practical gift for nurses because many patients need an IV to receive fluids and other medications.
Compression socks must be a part of every nurse’s uniform because they help keep nurse’s legs healthy! Years of working on one’s feet for 12 hour shifts can be hard on the body and contribute to various venous issues. Luckily, wearing quality compression stockings can help nurses prevent varicose veins, leg swelling and decrease muscle soreness.
They work by squeezing the blood in the legs like a garden hose back up the leg, thereby increasing blood circulation. Many nurses even say that compression socks help keep their legs noticeably energized after a long shift.
By giving a nurse a set of compression socks you are letting them know that you care about their health and well-being. What a great message to send!
If you are looking for a funny gift to make a nurse laugh, here it is! Any nurse receiving a Nurse Coloring Book: Sweary Midnight Editionwill find a little truth and humor within the pages. After all, being a nurse can be very stressful and a laugh-out-loud book that can be shared with others for hours can provide a lot of well-needed stress relief. It would make a great gift for recent nurse graduates, new nurses in the field or an experienced nurse as well!
“I just love eating hospital cafeteria food,” said no nurse ever. Most nurses learn very quickly that they need to prepare and pack their own food for two reasons: 1) hospital food gets old quick and usually isn’t very tasty, and 2) packing a healthy lunch in advance ensures that the nurse will eat healthier throughout their shift. Otherwise, when lunch comes and they are sooooo exhausted there is a chance they might reach for some not-so healthy options.
The Baloray Lunch Bag is waterproof & leak proof. This brand claims to to keep food cold or warm for more than 6 hours. It is also super easy to clean and is very lightweight.
HEY NURSES! Remember to sign up for your FREE COPY of “The Nurse’s Guide To Health & Self Care” E-book in the sign up box below! (scroll down)
I hope you enjoyed this this of practical gifts for nurses and were able to find something for the awesome nurse in your life. If you have any questions please leave a comment and we will get back to you!
I have a few favorite nurse essentials that I keep with me each day I go to work.
I am a registered nurse who has worked in several departments in the hospital setting taking care of ER, Med Surg and ICU patients. As a result, I have seen it all and then some. And I still see new things that shock me everyday! That is why it is so important to be prepared with the right nurse supplies to succeed no matter what happens.
I created this list of my favorite essentials I use as a nurse to help other nurses keep their professional nurse game on point!
(This post contains affiliate links. You can find my disclosure page here.)
I bought a 3M Litmann Classic in nursing school and I have been using it ever since. They are available in many different colors and have a “non chill” rim so you don’t shock your patients with a cold stethoscope. Whether you are trying to obtain a manual blood pressure or listening to lung sounds, every nurse needs to have a stethoscope.
Keeping your stethoscope around your neck can get in the way sometimes. I love the Koala-Qlip stethoscope holder because it attaches firmly to my scrubs and it takes the weight of the stethoscope off my neck.
Nikes are my favorite shoes to wear for 12 hour shifts when I know I’m going to be on my feet all day long. Wearing sturdy, no-slip shoes that help cushion your feet during 12 hour shifts is an absolute must!
Compression stockings are often overlooked as a way to prevent some of the chronic issues that come from working in a profession where you are on your feet for such long hours. Wearing compression socks helps to prevent varicose veins, improve venous blood flow, decrease the risk of blood clots and decrease swelling of the ankles and feet. I have found that compression socks with 20-30mmHg is the right compression strength for me as a nurse.
At work, I use the Apple Watch as a stopwatch, a timer, and as an alarm to remind myself of tasks I might forget when my shift gets crazy busy. I can also receive and send text messages on it without having to carry my cell phone with me. But my favorite thing about the Apple Watch is that it records how much I stand, exercise and move throughout my shift (it breaks them down into colorful rings) and tells me how many total steps I get in a shift. My record so far is 22,000 steps during a single shift!
Comfortable under scrub t-shirts are great because it can get cold in the hospital. This brand is especially great because they have thumb holes in the sleeves. I have them in multiple colors and I have several so that I always have a clean one to put on under my scrubs.
As a nurse and mom, I start my days very early, usually by 0530. And then I’m usually on the road to get to work no later than 0600. Which doesn’t leave a lot of time to sit for coffee. I have used the same Contigo coffee mug for over a year and it is still in great condition. It is 20 oz, is stainless and and has a lockable lid that is leak proof. Best of all it keeps my coffee hot for up to 7 hours!
My Hydro Cell Water bottle is another item I have with me at all times. It is 32 oz and has a leak proof wide mouth lid. Nurses often forget to drink enough water during busy 12 hour shifts, but having this water bottle helps me stay hydrated.
I have this crossbody bag which is technically not a bag that is just for nurses. But I love the design. I use it to hold my nursing badge, stethoscope, water bottle, coffee mug, breast pump, pens, and all work-related paperwork that I need.
Making my own lunch everyday has several benefits. I eat healthier, I don’t reach for junk that is in the break room because I pack my own healthy snacks, and I save a lot of money. I’m also a foodie and hospital food just isn’t my cup of tea. So I pack my lunch in my favorite lunch bag every evening before my shifts and I’m good to go.
The Raptor Shears look like a fancy pair of scissors. But these functional and handy shears are actually 6 tools wrapped into one:
medical shears
strap cutter
ring cutter
ruler
oxygen tank wrench
carbide glass breaker
Many nurses I work with in the emergency room have the Raptor Shears and we use them frequently in emergency situations. You can hook it to a belt or secure it using the pocket clip. It also has a 25 year limited warranty and will last you throughout your nursing career or longer. They also make a great nursing gift for a new graduate!
These retractable 4 color pens are great in case you need something to stand out in your work notes. Or use different colors for different patients when taking report. These pens are also great for color coding notes and flashcards for when you are studying for certifications! I always have a few in my work bag and one on me while I am at work.
HEY NURSES! Remember to sign up for your FREE COPY of “The Nurse’s Guide To Health & Self Care” E-book in the sign up box below! (scroll down)
(This post about Nurses Week gift ideas contains affiliate links. You can find my disclosure page here.)
National Nurses Week was started by the American Nurses Association 1993 to celebrate the 4 million hardworking nurses for their outstanding dedication to the profession.
Each May, there are 7 days of opportunity for nurses to reflect on their patient care experiences and congratulate each other for all of their hard and selfless work. Even more importantly, this is a great week for management to recognize nurse achievements and genuinely say “thank you nurses!”
National Nurses Week should be a time that many burned out and overworked nurses look forward to each year.
Unfortunately though, this week often comes and goes with little to no recognition for hospital nurses. On first thought one might think that many hospital administrators just forget about Nurses Week altogether.
But there is usually a small bit of evidence that they do remember, but just don’t care to put much effort into it. Often it is in the form of a cheap gift ordered in bulk – such as a plastic lunch pail with the hospital’s logo on it. And if your hospital unit is really lucky, you might even win a drawing for a pizza party at lunchtime! (I wish I were just being sarcastic, but sadly I’m not).
It’s no secret that many nurses are usually not properly celebrated during Nurses Week.
I’m not saying that hospitals need to throw outlandish parties with catered meals and champagne (although that would be nice!). Or that we get a cash bonus or prize (also would be nice, but really, who are we kidding here?).
What I am saying is that many hospitals have an opportunity to do a much better job of acknowledging nurse’s selfless dedication to helping thousands of patients survive and thrive that year. By recognizing our work in literally the absolute cheapest way possible, those basic 50 cent gifts with the hospital logo can be perceived as very condescending and self promoting gifts. Especially to nurses who are sacrificing so much to put others’ needs before their own.
In other words, instead of sending the message: “thank you so much for working on the front lines of healthcare to ensure that our patients get the absolute best patient care they deserve. You’re awesome!” Its more like, “At some point this week pick up your gift at the nurses office.” The end.
Isn’t making nurses feel unappreciated the opposite purpose of Nurses Week?
Even worse, many nurses say that Nurses Week isn’t even acknowledged at their workplace.
So sad, but true. The entire week goes by with not even a verbal “thank you for your service” or “we appreciate YOU, nurse.” Nothing.
So, with National Nurse’s Week approaching I wanted to make a list of relatively inexpensive yet fun nurses week gifts. Because there is nothing worse than being ignored during a holiday that is supposed to celebrate the hard work and selfless dedication of nurses everywhere.
(And, by the way nurse, you ARE awesome. Thank you for your dedication and service. The healthcare system would crumble without you!).
