20 Best Gifts for Nurses
Nurses, those everyday heroes who often work tirelessly behind the scenes, deserve our heartfelt appreciation and recognition. Think about it: they’re there for some of the most pivotal moments in our lives, offering not just medical expertise but also comfort and kindness. Finding the best gifts for nurses can feel like a daunting task, but it’s a beautiful way to say “thank you” and acknowledge their hard work and dedication.
Whether you’re celebrating Nurses Week, a birthday, or just want to show your appreciation, finding a gift that’s as special as they are is key.
We’ve handpicked some of the best gifts that are sure to bring joy and relaxation to these amazing healthcare warriors. From practical items that can make their hectic shifts a bit easier, to pampering goodies that encourage some well-deserved self-care, our selections are thoughtful, useful, and guaranteed to make any nurse feel cherished and valued.
Here are our fantastic finds to help make your gift-giving experience as joyful and stress-free as it should be!
Why trust Gift Brilliant’s gift recommendations? We won’t overwhelm you with a huge list of gift ideas that people don’t really want. We share gift options that we have personally gifted or received, gifts that others have told us they loved, and a few gift ideas that we would love to have ourselves!
Gifts for Nurses and Nursing Students
This stylish and durable case is perfect for a newly pinned nurse! With a mesh pocket for accessories and a wrist wrap for portability, the case is designed to hold the essential items every nurse needs: pen lights, stethoscope, pulse oximeter, thermometers, ID badges, reflex hammer, bandage and clothing shears.
It is semi waterproof (and bodily fluid proof), shockproof and guaranteed to prevent any damage to the contents. This is perfect for use in the classroom, traveling and in office. No more rummaging around backpacks and purses for essential medical equipment!
Case only - contents not included, of course.
Long hours and double shifts can leave any nurse exhausted. Sore legs don’t have to be a consequence! Keep circulation going in those gams with graduated medical compression socks.
Copper ions in the material are capable of reviving blood circulation along with providing a 20-30 mmHg compression. These comfy socks aid with joint and muscle recovery, and supports rejuvenating relief from pain and discomfort. They can prevent cramping, fatigue, swelling, spider and varicose veins. These are as essential as scrubs, and make a great stocking stuffer! (see what I did there?)
There is always that one patient every nurse wishes they could avoid! Let some frustration out with this hilarious coffee mug! Designed and printed in the USA, these mugs are dishwasher and microwave safe.
Your nurse can chug that morning coffee while letting others know to keep their distance while lightening the mood!
Many of these gift ideas are available with Amazon Prime’s fast free shipping (often arriving in just one or two days!). If you’re not already a Prime member, you can get a 30-day FREE trial of Amazon Prime here!
A stethoscope doesn’t have to be the only thing around a nurse’s neck. This 14K gold diamond stethoscope necklace shows the style and personality of nurses who love their profession.
The cable chain has a spring ring clasp for easy wear. All the metals used are lead free, nickel free and hypoallergenic. It’s the perfect gift for a nurse, suitable for any occasion.
Write those patient notes with a playful flair! Be the talk of the nurses’ station with these syringe pens and highlighters. They are a great conversation starter and are ideal to help little patients afraid of shots!
The click action ballpoint pens use black ink that take refillable cartridges. The set comes with six highlighters of different colors and four pens. Never get accused of stealing a coworker’s pen again!
When it comes to nursing, the ups, the downs and the downright hysterical are all in a day's work. With the help of real nurses comes What Do You Meme? Nurses Edition. Turn the awkward, stressful, and hilarious moments of the day-to-day into memes. Only fellow nurses will truly understand!
This game is full of classic meme images as well as brand new ones full of life-saving humor -- it's the perfect gift for the nurse(s) in your life! This party game is perfect for happy hours, game nights, even lunch breaks with the team -- scrubs not required.
Nurses can get a grip with this deluxe shoulder bag that can hold everything from patient files to lunch! This bag comes with multiple compartments: One clean with two pouches, one for soiled items, one fold down compartment with five storage pouches, one file folder pocket, and two end pouches for pager, phone, and hand sanitizer.
Don’t worry about losing sensitive information -- it comes complete with interlocking zippers to ensure HIPAA compliance to help safely secure patient records and other private info. (lock sold separately).
Use this easy-to-read and accurate pulse oximeter to measure the blood oxygen saturation levels of patients. Find out the pulse rate and strength in just 10 seconds! With a large LED display, the meter accommodates a wide range of finger sizes and comes with a silicon cover to protect from dirt and damage. It can even be put on a lanyard for quick access in emergencies. Gets readings even if blood perfusion index is as low as 0.2%!
These gifts for medical students might make your heart skip a beat!
Sometimes life needs a bandaid, even if it is just for fun. These cute ID badge holders are too cute and perfect for setting yourself apart from the rest. An alligator-style clip rotates 360 degrees separately from the reel giving more range of motion. Totally eliminate uncomfortable tugging and odd movements that make stationary reels fall off.
This badge holder is great for pediatric settings. Why not give others a reason to smile?
Take the time to show you care with this helpful scrub watch. The easy-to-read white-faced dial has a 12 and 24 hour marker to make taking a pulse simple! The watch has a three-hand quartz movement with a bright red, highly visible second hand which lends to accurate readings.
The slim case diameter and comfy silicone band is water resistant and easy to clean. It comes in several different colors to match any pair of scrubs. Is it break time yet?
Newbie nurses can take heart! These badge reference cards provide vital information in a quick, accessible manner. These 28 double-sided medical reference sheets have the most useful information for quick access. Topics are color coded and include
General Med, Labs, Peds, OB L&D, Pharmacy, Respiratory, and Spanish Translation.
These pocket EKG cards are perfect for any nurse or student. Designed to fit easily in scrub pockets and made of sturdy and durable material, the ER reference cards are scratch resistant and waterproof. Get these, STAT!
Who says fanny packs aren’t cool? Every nurse knows the importance of having all the essentials at their fingertips.The newest microfiber version of the KangaPak features soft, microfiber material and sits comfortably on the waist to keep syringes, gauze, tape, phone and other nursing essentials within arm’s reach.
Save time scrambling for supplies; the slim design and mesh pockets make finding what’s needed a snap. The pack moves with the body so it won’t get in the way and is super easy to clean.
Possibly the single most important piece of equipment for any nurse, and one of our most useful gifts for nurses. The dual head stethoscope is 100% stainless steel, latex free and is of superior acoustic construction; the dual leaf-spring design offers twice the durability. ErgonoMax Headset is anatomically angled at 15 degrees for a precise fit.
The patented SafetyLock eartip adaptors won’t leave the ears sore and are non-invasive. Even better, the parts are free for life and include a lifetime warranty. Can you hear me now?
Having trouble with a ‘scope snatcher? Make your stethoscope stand out from the crowd and mark what’s yours. These cute and sparkly charms snap onto the scope easily. Use the included tape to keep the charm in place, or let the charm slide and stack up more charms! They’re compatible with all sizes of stethoscopes.
The charms are made of durable zinc alloy and come in 5 colors. #BLINGBLING
Know a nurse that’s retiring? Show them how much you care with this lovely stainless steel compact mirror. The inscription reads “A Truly Amazing Nurse Is Hard To Find Difficult To Part With And Impossible To Forget.” The compact opens to a full 180 degrees to lay flat or can be propped up at any angle.
One side is a 2X magnification mirror from close up tweezing and makeup application. Create a moment she’ll always remember.
You are important and don't you forget it! One way to remind yourself, and everyone else, is with this sarcastic makeup bag. The 100% cotton and linen, natural beige bag is double-sided with a waterproof coating to ensure high quality images will remain vibrant with daily use. Featuring a sleek black zipper and silver pull, this bag is the perfect size for all beauty products.
Snuggle up after a long hard day with a nurse-themed sherpa blanket. Covered with sayings for and about the greatness of nurses, this blanket makes a wonderful gift. Made of high quality sherpa and cotton, super soft and fluffy, it's environmentally friendly and sensitive skin friendly.
Comes in two sizes: 50 by 60 inches and 60 by 80 inches. Wrap it up, I’ll take it!
Show the Registered Nurse in your life how much you appreciate their hard work with this stainless steel polished key chain. It features medical charms and an inscription that reads “Nursing is a Work of Heart.” Attach it to keys, bags or ID tags. Never leave home without them!
Amanda
Amanda is a mom of four kids, two dogs, some chickens, and a few hundred composting worms. As a former teacher and fitness instructor, and the oldest of a houseful of kids, she has quite a bit of experience educating others – which she now does via writing! Gift giving isn’t her main love language, but she loves shopping for the perfect gifts for others.
You can find her on her main blog at amandaseghetti.com and on all social media @amandaseghetti <3
