nursing accessories Archives - Mother Nurse Love

9 Thoughtful Yet Practical Gifts For Nurses

9 Thoughtful Yet Practical Gifts For Nurses

by Sarah Jividen | May 16, 2019 | Nurse Gifts, Nurse Scrubs & Accessories

(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 and practical 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, birthdays, Christmas, nursing school graduation, or any other special occasion.

Practical Gifts For Nurses:

1. Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Water Bottle

Many nurses don’t drink nearly enough water during their 12-hour shifts and then go home wholly 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 can tend to their own self-care needs, they can 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. Also, it has excellent 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!

2. Contigo Stainless Steel Travel Coffee Mug

Regular coffee mugs just won’t work for busy nurses working with patients. For one, nurses are seldom 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 four 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.

3. Chicken Soup For The Soul: Inspiration For Nurses

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.

4. Raptor Shears

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 nurse’s entire medical career or longer. This tool is an amazing and practical gift for a nurse.

The Rapture Shears are 6 tools wrapped into one:

Medical shears
Strap cutter
Ring cutter
Ruler
Oxygen tank wrench
Carbide glass breaker

5. Safety First, Drink With A Nurse Wine Tumbler

If you have a wine-loving nurse in your life, then the Safety First, Drink With A Nurse Wine Tumbler just might be the perfect gift. And there are over 14 colors to choose from.

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.

6. Vein Finder

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.

7. Cute Compression Socks

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 socks 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!

8. A Funny Nurse Coloring Book (to help nurses manage their work stress!)

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 Edition will 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!

9. Nurse Lunch Bag

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 so 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 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)

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We hope you enjoyed this list 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!

The 7 Most Important Nurse Supplies You Need!

The 7 Most Important Nurse Supplies You Need!

by Sarah Jividen | Jun 29, 2018 | Nurse Gifts, Nurse Life, Nurse Scrubs & Accessories

(This post about important nurse supplies contains affiliate links. You can find our disclosure page here.)

What are the most important nurse supplies you need as a nurse?

I am a registered nurse who has worked all over the hospital, taking care of E.R., 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 every day! That is why it is so important to be prepared with the correct nurse supplies you need to succeed.

This list is excellent if you are looking for gifts for nurses (especially a new graduate nurse!). Or if you are looking to keep your professional nurse game on point!

The following items are linked directly to the product on Amazon. I love purchasing my nurse supplies from Amazon for three reasons: free shipping with Amazon prime, I can find the best-discounted price available, and, most importantly, the EASY return policy.

Here are are the seven most important nurse supplies you need:

#1. Stethoscope

Whether trying to obtain a manual blood pressure or listening to lung sounds, every nurse needs to have a stethoscope. I bought a 3M Littmann Classic in nursing school, and I have been using it ever since. They are available in many colors and have a “non-chill” rim, so you don’t shock your patients with a cold stethoscope.

#2. Raptor Shears

The Raptor Shears look like a fancy pair of scissors. But they are one of the most practical and essential nurse supplies. These functional and handy shears are six 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 emergencies. 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. This is high on my list of great gifts for nurses!

#3. Fanny pack or Nurse Pocket Organizer

Otherwise known as the “medical gear hip pack,” the fanny pack is a staple of the nurse uniform. Every nurse needs a way to carry their most important nurse supplies with them at all times.

When I started working as a new graduate nurse, I used a fanny pack every day to carry syringes, alcohol swabs, pens, a penlight, my notes, and extra needles and syringes. But after about six months, I got comfortable on the unit and stopped using it (mostly because I felt a little dorky).

But just this past year, I pulled it out and started using it again. And you know what? I do a lot less walking back to the supply room because I can carry the items I need in my fanny pack. And I always have my supplies on me when I need them fast. Embrace your inner nurse dork with a fanny pack!

Additional recommended reading: The 6 Best Nursing Pocket Organizers and Fanny Packs

#4. Retractable 4 color pens

These retractable four-color pens are great if you need something to stand out in your work notes. Or use different colors for different patients when taking reports. These pens are also great for color-coding notes and flashcards when studying for certifications! I always have a few in my work bag and one on me while at work.

#5. Penlight

It is essential to have a nurse penlight when assessing extraocular movements. And these are especially great because they have pupil sizes right on the pen for more accurate assessment!

I got used to carrying a penlight when working on a neurology/stroke unit and needed them to check my patient’s neurological status at least every 2 hours during my shift. You can’t complete a neurological exam correctly without them!

(If you are looking for great gifts for nurses, a fanny pack with a penlight and retractable color pens in it would be so perfect!)

#6. Apple Watch

The Apple Watch was a big purchase for me, but I use it several times a day during my 12-hour shift, and it is so handy!

While working, I can use the Apple Watch as a stopwatch, a timer, and I can set the 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 carrying 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! (Those who know me well know that I am a big advocate of nurses staying healthy and taking good care of themselves!)

#7. Vein Finder

As an E.R. nurse, it is a regular practice for me to start several I.V.s a day. Sometimes up to 7 or 8 in a single shift! For patients who are a difficult “stick” (as we call it in nursing), it is so helpful to have a vein finder in my back pocket.

Patients need an IV stat to give them the proper medications and IV fluids they need. You could look for a vein finder on the unit, but why waste that precious time when you can carry one with you?

Additional Recommended Reading: