National Nurses Week Archives - Mother Nurse Love

17 Fun And Unique Nurses Week Gifts Ideas

by Sarah Jividen | Apr 18, 2019 | Nurse Gifts, Nurse Scrubs & Accessories

(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 seven 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 an excellent 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 sarcastic, but sadly I’m not).

It’s no secret that many nurses are usually not adequately 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 nurse’s 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!).