70+ Gifts for Nurses: The Ultimate Shopping Guide for the Nurse in Your Life

Nurse Care Packages

Price: $$$

These nurse care packages come with useful tools and fun little presents, such as dark chocolate and face masks (perfect for self-care), dry shampoo (an excellent option for busy nurses who don’t have the time for regular hair washing), hand sanitizer (vital for healthcare workers), and tea (a great beverage for winding down after a tough day). Are you looking for more? Consider ordering a monthly subscription box.

Cup Cubes Freezer Tray

Price: $$-$$$

Perfect for the nurse who loves preparing their food at home and is environmentally conscious. These trays come in two colors and are made from premium, LFGB-certified silicone. With a strong frame, they can be filled with 1-2 cups of leftovers, soups, smoothies and more. Snap on the lid and transfer them to the freezer or bake casseroles, brownies, or soufflés.

Sunrise Gratitude

Price: $$

This collection of 365 guided meditations helps motivate the nurse in your life each morning and brings their mind to a place of calm awareness, so they start the day refreshed and ready. Nurses need a tranquil morning routine to set the stage as they enter their day. It’s ideal for a little help during a long shift as well!

Price: $$$$

Nurses are always on their feet, which can be exhausting. However, this also means exercise is part of their job. If your nurse is interested in keeping fit, buying them a Fitbit or smartwatch can help them keep track of their step count each day. These devices can also monitor other metrics, such as calorie intake, calories burned, heart rate, and sleep quality.

Price: $-$$$$

If you want to go a more altruistic route, consider making a donation in your nurse’s name. You could donate to the hospital or clinic where they work or to an organization like the Red Cross. If your nurse has a nonprofit organization that’s special to them, consider putting that on your list.

Price: $-$$$$

As the official journal of the American Nurses Association, this publication informs nurses about the latest updates and research in their industry. It also includes articles about how to manage patients and gives advice from experts in the field. This journal can be a great resource for new and experienced nurses who want to grow in their careers.

Insulated Lunch Bag

Price: $-$$$

It can be challenging for nurses to find time to take a lunch or dinner break. Bringing food to grab and go in the unit breakroom may be the only sustenance your nurse gets during their shift. To brighten their day and help keep meals and snacks fresh, you can choose from dozens of stylish insulated lunch bags — many of which you can even personalize.

Automatic Floor Sweeper

Price: $$$$

A nurse’s life is busy and challenging. Who wants to spend time cleaning on their day off? iRobot has a variety of floor cleaning systems that use smart mapping so your nurse can schedule floor cleaning when they’re at work.

Everywhere Belt Bag

Price: $$$

Because nurses are always on the move, having a comfortable and organized way to keep their essentials in one place is especially handy. This belt bag from Lululemon has an adjustable strap and comes in more than a dozen designs and colors.

Calming Lavender Heat Pillow

Price: $$$

After a long day at work or school, your favorite nurse needs a relaxing night of sleep. Lavender is known to induce relaxation and relieve tension. Pop this pillow in the microwave for two minutes, or place it in the refrigerator to reduce swelling and bruising.

Firebelly Tea Movers & Shakers

Price: $$$$

Is your nurse a tea drinker? This unique travel tea mug steeps the perfect cup of tea and keeps it hot or cold for hours. The design prevents spillage while driving to work or home after a long shift, and it’s easy to clean and dishwasher safe. It’s BPA-free and made with bisphenol-free medical-grade stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation. It comes with a variety pack of tea without added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or added flavorings.

Price: $$$

Flashcards may not be the most glamorous gift, but they can be incredibly useful — especially since nursing students spend long hours in the library memorizing facts so they can pass their exams. You can find several flashcard sets — and even coloring books! — on the human anatomical system from educational and test prep companies.

Price: $$$

This is the perfect gift for any nursing student or recent nursing graduate preparing to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) for practical nurses or registered nurses. You can find various test-prep books, although they typically include test-taking advice, practice questions, and full-length practice tests

Price: $-$$

When nurses finally walk out of their last class, pass the NCLEX, and receive their nursing license, it’s time to celebrate. Etsy offers a variety of shot glasses with cheeky captions aimed at nurses. Or if wine is your nurse’s preferred beverage, you could buy them a novelty wine glass instead.

Price: $$

For a nurse’s graduation gift, this print or illustration can be a poignant reminder of your nursing student’s time in school. You can find many illustrations from independent artists on Etsy. These can make a lovely addition to a mantlepiece or bookshelf, especially as nursing students begin full-time work.

Price: $$$-$$$$

It’s time to get warm and cozy in the winter months, and what better way than with a blanket filled with memories? Personalize this fleece blanket with your favorite photos, names, or quotes. The blanket comes in three sizes and three choices of material, including sherpa. Machine wash and tumble dry on low — nothing could be easier.

Blue-Blocking Glasses

Price: $$-$$$$

While studying or working, many nurses stare at a computer screen for hours each day. Exposure to blue light can trigger headaches, dry eyes, and sleep disturbances. Blue-blocking glasses come in prescription or nonprescription lenses. Consider choosing a pair together or getting a gift certificate.

Savory & Sweet Pretzel and Beer Cheese Kit

Price: $$$

After a long clinical or rough exam, your nursing student can crack open this pretzel and beer-cheese kit with foolproof recipes and premixed ingredients. In little time, they’ll be eating fresh-baked pretzels and warm beer cheese while relaxing after a long day.

Detox Bath Soak

Price: $$-$$$

After a long day in clinicals or at work, your nursing student could use a little muscle relaxation. This product gives bathwater a silky feel and helps soften the skin. Many bath soaks also include essential oils that help to relax the mind and body.

Pinch Me Therapy Dough

Price: $$

Re-focus, re-balance, and re-store are the objectives of this holistic stress reduction tool that combines the satisfaction of playing with pliable dough and aromatherapy. Each purchase also helps support the Wounded Warrior Project.

Keychain

Price: $-$$

Keychains are a fun way to be with your favorite nurse in spirit throughout their week. No one goes anywhere without their keys, and Etsy has many keychains to choose from. Search for one that will speak to the heart of your favorite nurse.

Pocket Trowel Garden Multi-Tool

Price: $$

It’s never too early to prepare for spring gardening. Puttering outside in a garden or indoors with pots is a wonderful way to relax and de-stress. This portable trowel is fashioned from stainless steel and beechwood and includes a weeder, saw, root remover, and pruning knife. Easy to store and use in small spaces.

Price: $$

This book, written by longtime nurse Susan Farese, focuses on supporting nurses by offering ways to cope with burnout and stress. This could be the perfect gift for a frontline worker, a new nurse, or even a veteran nurse.

Price: $$$$

Nurses often work long shifts on their feet, which can take a serious toll on the body. Tending to their feet isn’t just an issue of self-care — bad foot health can lead to limb-related problems and lower work efficiency. A foot massager can help nurses avoid these pitfalls.

Price: $$$

Help your nurse de-stress and feel rejuvenated with a facial. This set from Sephora is hydrating and made from clean, plant-based ingredients best for dry, combo, or normal skin. It comes with everything for a mini spa day at home, including care for your feet and hands.

Price: $-$$$$

Everyone deserves to be pampered. Buy your nurse a gift card for a mani-pedi, massage, facial, or hair conditioning treatment to make them feel valued. You could also give them gift cards to their favorite stores offering products for pampering, such as Sephora, Ulta, or The Body Shop.

Price: $-$$

“Adult coloring books” are lots of fun, but can also deliver tangible benefits. For one, they help reduce stress. Coloring can also improve motor skills and focus. This coloring book was designed specifically with nurses in mind.

Price: $-$$

A stressful job has many consequences; for some, the stress shows on their faces. High-pressure jobs can result in wrinkles, tired eyes, red or blotchy skin, or acne breakouts. Buy your nurse some high-quality skin care products to help them avoid these problems. If you’re not sure what to buy, ask them about their skin type or buy them a gift card to a reputable skin care company.

Price: $$

It’s no secret that many nursing students live on coffee. Theese 100% Arabica beans are infused with Kentucky’s signature spirit for an irresistible flavor and aroma. This alcohol-free beverage will keep your student’s engines running for a long night of studying.

Price: $$-$$$

A high-quality candle with a captivating scent can be a lovely gift for nurses. After spending 12 hours on their feet in a hospital with all sorts of unpleasant odors, they might look forward to coming home and lighting a candle to relax. Scented candles not only emit an alluring fragrance, but they can also provide a sense of calm and relaxation after a stressful day.

However, people can be picky about scents, so ask your nurse about their favorite fragrances before you pick one.

Price: $-$$

Nurses constantly use their hands at work, which means they’re regularly washing their hands to prevent the spread of disease. All of that washing can lead to dry, cracked hands. Buy your nurse a small bottle of hand lotion that they can carry around throughout the day or a set of lotions so they always have a bottle within arm’s length.

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Believe it or not, houseplants can come with health benefits. Research has found that plants reduce stress levels and may even improve people’s productivity and outlook on work. Plus, many people find that working with plants can be therapeutic. Helping turn your nurse’s home into a mini-botanical garden may also improve their health.

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Coffee can be a lifesaver during long nursing shifts or as a self-care treat before working the holidays. Tell your favorite nurse thank you with a Starbucks gift card.

Price: $$$$

We all love to relax with our favorite TV show or a classic, feel-good romantic comedy. While many people subscribe to Netflix or Hulu, consider buying your nurse a yearly subscription to a less common streaming service, such as HBO Max, Apple TV+, Peacock, or BritBox.

Subscribe to HBO MaxSubscribe to Apple TV

Subscribe to PeacockSubscribe to BritBox

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Yoga is popular for a good reason. It’s relaxing, offers heart health benefits, and can help with strength and flexibility. Plus, it doesn’t take much to start a yoga session. All you need is a yoga mat, comfortable clothing, and 15 minutes. If you give a yoga mat to your nurse, they’ll have all the equipment they need to get started. Choose from a standard mat, one that’s personalized, or an all organic cotton mat.

Price: $$-$$$$

Science proves it: Dogs are good for our health. Dogs can improve a person’s mood, heart health, stress levels, and loneliness. Of course, not everybody can adopt a dog, but you can rent one for your nurse. Dog rental or borrowing services connect people with dog owners or shelter dogs in need of a walk. You get to play with the pups for a couple of hours, and the dogs get to make new friends. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Price: $$-$$$$

Nurses must stay hydrated to remain alert and healthy. A fruit-infuser water bottle encourages drinking for those who aren’t thrilled by plain water. Nurses can add their favorite fresh fruit for a flavor they’ll enjoy throughout their shift.

Price: $$

Twelve-hour shifts — especially shifts with regular walking — can wreak havoc on a nurse’s feet. Feet swell, shoes begin to feel smaller, and varicose veins become more visible. Compression socks help counteract these symptoms. The elastic fibers counterbalance blood that pools in the lower extremities, which ultimately causes swelling.

If you want to buy a present that your nurse will appreciate and use on a daily basis, consider getting them compression socks.

Price: $$$$

Every nurse wears a uniform, and that uniform is pretty simple: scrubs. But nurses don’t necessarily need to give into the shapeless outfits you see at so many hospitals. You can buy them some snazzier options, such as sleek outfits from FIGS or from Jaanuu, quirky options from Funky Scrubs, or flattering workwear from Fabled.

Several other scrubs companies can also jazz up your nurse’s outfit — just make sure you know your nurse’s style and size before you order.

Price: $$

When nurses find themselves in a high-pressure situation, hair falling and covering their eyes is the last thing they need. Plus, pulling hair back may also help reduce the spread of germs and dust particles. You can find headbands everywhere, but some companies cater specifically to nurses.

Price: $$$-$$$$

A necklace isn’t part of a nurse’s uniform. Still, jewelry can make a thoughtful gift. Jewelry makers sometimes design necklaces specifically for nurses. For instance, you can find a necklace with a subtle heartbeat pendant or a stethoscope design.

Price: $$$-$$$$

While not strictly clothing, this is a must-have item to protect long hair at night. Silk caps prevent hair from breaking and drying out while tossed about during the night. They come in many colors and several styles.

Price: $$$

You can buy all types of novelty clothing for nurses to wear on their days off. But a sweatshirt or a hoodie may be the best option. After all, many nurses want to be as cozy as possible so they can relax in style and comfort off the clock.

You can find plenty of sweatshirts with slogans nurses will love. “Eat. Sleep. Nurse.” is a popular one, and “Coffee, scrubs, and stethoscopes” is just as relatable.

Price: $-$$$

Sleep is vital for nurses, but quality sleep can be difficult to come by. Consider a personalized sleep mask for your favorite nurse to create the perfect environment to help support a great night (or day!) of sleep.

Price: $$$

Customize a nightshirt with your nurse’s favorite slogan or saying. These long t-shirts come in multiple colors and a variety of fonts. These soft t-shirts are comfortable to sleep in and are true to size.

Price: $$$$

Nurses recommend this stethoscope for its high acoustic sensitivity, tunable diaphragms, and customization. You can choose from various colors and patterns or personalize the head or tube with a name or an encouraging phrase.

Price: $$-$$$

Although cleaning sprays are available for cell phones, you can also go for a higher-tech option. An ultraviolet cell phone sanitizer kills 99% of bacteria and germs, and some of these tools even double as chargers. This gift can be especially useful for nurses who work in environments with ill patients where germs spread constantly.

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When it’s not enough to just drink coffee, consider these socks made from recycled coffee grounds and recycled plastic. The two are melted and mixed to create a warm and durable pair of socks that are seamlessly printed with a calming landscape scene.

Price: $-$$

Hospitals and healthcare clinics can be chaotic places to work. It’s easy to misplace or drop things. There’s one item that nurses can’t lose, though, and that’s their ID. That’s where an ID badge holder comes in handy. You can find these holders in a variety of colors and designs to match your nurse’s personality.

Price: $

Pens can make a good gift for anyone. But for nurses, you can really level up this tool with a penlight. These essentially work as flashlights, emitting a bright light with LED or halogen bulbs. Penlights can help healthcare professionals assess patients’ pupils, examine their mouths or throats, or simply help nurses see in the dark during overnight shifts.

Price: $$-$$$$

A nursing bag is another way to help nurses stay organized. You can find nursing bags with several pockets so nurses can keep all their supplies in a designated place. You can also find nursing bags in many different designs. Choosing one almost feels like choosing a backpack for the new school year.

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Nurses always need to write notes as part of their professional work, so having a clipboard on hand is useful. Many clipboards open up like folders, allowing nurses to fit documents or educational resources for patients in the middle. You can find clipboards of different colors or with unique designs online.

Clip-On Light

Price: $$

This clip-on emergency light is perfect for your nurse’s keychain. They can use it to access their car at night, take a patient’s vitals in the dark, or find things if their power fails at home. The strong magnet ensures it stays in place on the keychain.

Shirtless Sleeves

Price: $

Add a long sleeve to a short-sleeved scrub top to move from summer to winter wear, give your nurse a layered look without the constriction of wearing two shirts, or add a bit of pizazz to their outfit. These sleeves come in four colors that coordinate with most scrub tops.

Conair Handheld Garment Steamer

Price: $$$$

Nurses often don’t have time to iron, but they can’t show up to work in wrinkled scrubs. This handheld garment steamer is easy to use, and its compact size makes it easy to store or travel with.

Silicone Wedding Band

Price: $$$

Unless they’re wearing a plain gold band, germs and debris will likely get stuck in a nurse’s wedding band. These rings are the perfect solution to wear at work. They withstand constant handwashing and aren’t damaged by hand lotion.

Price: $$-$$$

This is an appropriate gift for any nurse, but it might be especially useful for night nurses who need an extra boost to stay awake in the waning hours just before dawn.

If you want to buy an extra thoughtful brew, don’t just pick up some generic coffee from the grocery store. Find premium coffee beans from your local coffee shop and maybe add a coffee bean grinder as an extra accessory.

Price: $$$$

White noise helps many people fall asleep, no matter the time of day. Ambient noises like forest critters or crashing waves can produce a relaxing environment in the bedroom, forcing eyelids to become heavy for even the most jittery sleepers. If your night nurse has trouble getting proper rest during the daytime, a white noise machine may do the trick.

Price: $-$$$

Getting enough sleep during the day isn’t easy, particularly if you live with other people. A sign on the door can help remind nurses’ roommates or families to keep it down. Even better, you can find plenty of do not disturb signs made especially for nurses: “Unless you need CPR, do not disturb. Sleeping nurse inside,” says one slogan.

Price: $$-$$$

T-shirts and sweatshirts are a fun way to express your fellowship with other night nurses. Your night nurse may appreciate a t-shirt that says, “Sounds like a dayshift problem to me” or “Overstimulated Night Shift Club.”

Price: $$$

Many generic curtains don’t make the cut. During the day, light can still seep inside, making it difficult for nurses to get proper sleep. Blackout curtains keep a room as dark as possible so that nappers are tricked into thinking that nighttime has come early.

Amber Reading Light

Price: $$

After a long shift at work, reading a few chapters in a good book may be enough to relax your nurse’s mind and help them drift off to sleep. However, blue light from most reading lights can disturb sleep. This simple amber light reduces eye strain, won’t disturb your nurse’s partner, and is lightweight and travel friendly.

Aromatherapy Diffuser

Price: $$

Sleep is essential for all nurses, but night shift nurses sometimes have more difficulty sleeping during the day. This BPA-free, silent aromatherapy diffuser can help create a restful and soothing environment to help your nurse recharge.

Nurse Affirmations

Price: $$$

Everyone can use some motivation or positive thoughts. Sometimes, night nurses need a little extra TLC while working a shift while the rest of the world sleeps. This thoughtful and caring jar of affirmations can help keep your night shift nurse positive and motivated.

Price: $-$$$$

What better way to help your nurse settle into their new home than by providing food? Research the best local restaurants in the area through local magazines, Yelp, or TripAdvisor. Then treat your nurse to a meal. If your nurse’s town is known for a certain type of food — say, barbecue in Kansas City or tacos in Austin — look for the highest-rated joint in town.

Price: $-$$$$

Similarly, you can help your nurse get to know their new location by encouraging them to visit key attractions. Maybe that’s a museum or theme park, or maybe it’s an experience, like a walking tour or cooking class.

Traveling from place to place can make your nurse feel like they’re constantly uprooted. This is one way to help them connect with their new (albeit temporary) home.

Price: $$

Anyone who’s traveled knows how uncomfortable long trips can get. A neck pillow can help a nurse traveling by plane comfortably rest their head and take a break from their stressful schedule.

Price: $-$$$$

Whether a nurse travels by plane, train, or automobile, long-distance trips can be time-consuming and tedious. An audiobook can help travel nurses pass the time with education or entertainment. You can buy them an audiobook you love or pay for an audiobook credit or subscription so that your nurse can choose something for themselves.

Vacuum-Sealed Bags

Price: $$-$$$

These handy bags can help your travel nurse pack their clothes and bedding efficiently. They are a wonderful storage solution and help make packing easier each time your travel nurse moves to another location.

The Classic Car Tray

Price: $$$

This car tray is a 6-in-1 accessory for your front seat that makes driving and transporting items safer and easier. You have a level surface for your phone and drinks and a non-slip surface to strap your things so they don’t slide around. There are handy storage spots for small and large items and it can be used as a lap tray for your favorite nurse’s children.

Weighted Blanket

Price: $$$-$$$$

Weighted blankets help you get cozy at night and provide deep physical pressure that helps calm and relax your nervous system. Sleeping in a new environment can be difficult. A weighted blanket may be just what your travel nurse needs to get a good night’s rest.

Unique Dish Towels

Price: $-$$

It’s hard to feel at home while you’re living in a strange city for weeks at a time. Unique and personalized dish towels occupy little space in the suitcase and can help make your travel nurse feel right at home.

Price: $$$$

As one of the largest nursing professional organizations in the country, the As one of the largest professional nursing organizations in the country, the American Nurses Association (ANA) connects nurses with one another. New nurses can take advantage of networking opportunities and educational sessions. Plus, they can take advantage of a career center and discounts for specialty certifications.

Giving nurses the tools to join the ANA can help them jumpstart their careers.

Price: $$$$

With long shifts and stressful work responsibilities, it’s easy to neglect daily responsibilities. For instance, when it comes to eating meals, it’s often easier to pick up burgers at a drive-thru, order in, or heat up a frozen pizza than cook your own meals. Buying your nurse an Instant Pot can help them cook healthy meals with little effort so that they can conserve their energy for the hospital floor.

Price: $$$$

Not only can cooking feel like a drag, but going grocery shopping can be hard to fit into a busy schedule. If you purchase a meal delivery kit subscription, your nurse doesn’t have to worry about making shopping lists for their weekly grocery trip. Instead, popular services, such as HelloFresh or Blue Apron, deliver all the ingredients for a great meal straight to your nurse’s door.

Subscribe to HelloFreshSubscribe to Blue Apron

Price: $$

Adjusting to a career as a nurse can come with challenges and frustrations. It’s never easy to see people struggle with severe illnesses or pass away. Journaling is a great way for new nurses to express their thoughts and feelings productively as they adapt to their circumstances. To add a personalized touch, you can get your nurse’s name engraved on the notebook cover.

Price: $$

The “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books include motivational stories and essays for a wide variety of different demographics: mothers, pre-teens, fisherpeople, and nurses. “Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul” could be a thoughtful addition to any new nurse’s book collection, inspiring them as they begin their careers.

Shower Steamer

Price: $$$

Your new nurse may want to relax, refresh, and get clean after a long shift, but what if running a bath isn’t their style? Consider these shower steamers, which give an invigorating aromatherapy scent and can be used as a body or foot scrub to exfoliate and leave their skin soft and smooth.

All-In-One Stackable Lunch Containers

Price: $$

Bringing a meal from home is often healthier than eating out, but juggling containers can make the process challenging. These stackable lunch containers are efficient, perfect for packing a variety of foods, and BPA-free. They also come with matching utensils and a two-year warranty.

Mindfulness Cards

Price: $$

New nurses sometimes need a little help to keep from getting overwhelmed and stressed out. This deck of 50 mindfulness cards helps your favorite nurse focus on rest, balance, joy, insight, and kindness while learning to appreciate the little things in life.

Choose an Experience

Price: $$-$$$$

Sometimes, the best gift for your new nurse is an experience. New nurses are learning to cope with medical emergencies and tragedies. Consider experiences that will make memories to get them through a few difficult days.

Some ideas include an indoor sky-diving experience at iFly, molding and painting their creation at Color Me Mine, and having a spa day. A StubHub Gift Card lets your nurse get tickets to a game, show, or concert of their choice. Groupon is another great resource to look for ideas in your local area.

iFlyColor Me MineStubHubGroupon