Even though patients often want to give healthcare workers gifts to make them happy and as a way to say thank you, workers are not allowed to accept most gifts. Little things such as homemade cookies, handcrafted items, chocolate Santas or a box of chocolates can be accepted without a problem.
To achieve this, you must.... refuse all but the most trivial gifts, favours or hospitality as accepting them could be interpreted as an attempt to gain preferential treatment. You can seek support from your manager who, in line with local policy, may be able to help you politely decline the gift.
For instance, a Thank You Gift sent to friends or family is generally something we would prefer to be thoughtful and personal. Whereas a Thank You Gift to hospital staff or teachers may lean towards a gift of gratuity or appreciation. That's not to say you can't, it is purely suggestive.
In a Nutshell:
The most important thing is that nurses should avoid being influenced by gifts and money. To conclude, being a nurse, I always try not to accept expensive gift boxes or money. Only allow your patients to give you little gifts and greeting cards. Then share your skills with your administration.
Little things such as homemade cookies, handcrafted items, chocolate Santas or a box of chocolates can be accepted without a problem. But, the problem arises when it comes to more expensive gifts such as watches, large sums of money or even invitations to dinner or events.
A. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, nurses do not allow the offer of any gift or benefit to change the way they work or make decisions, working on the general presumption that they do not accept any gifts or benefits.
When nurses do their job well, patients are often appreciative. Many express their gratitude through tokens of thanks such as homemade cookies or a heartfelt letter. These gifts are probably fine to accept and can be a big part of what keeps nurses showing up day after day in a stressful job.
A: Nurses and healthcare workers often appreciate any treats that can help them get through their shifts. While every nurse or healthcare worker has their own preference, there are some common favorites. Many people appreciate healthy snacks like fruit or nuts, as they provide sustained energy throughout the day.
Although it's unacceptable for a nurse to accept a gift of large monetary value, smaller tokens of appreciation might be suitable. Dr. Nikola Djordjevic, MD, co-founder of MedAlertHelp.org, agrees. "I don't think it's okay to accept any major gift from patients.
Physicians should decline gifts that are disproportionately or inappropriately large, or when the physician would be uncomfortable to have colleagues know the gift had been accepted. Not allow the gift or offer of a gift to influence the patient's medical care.
Friends recognize the special nature of their relationship, and in this context, presenting gifts is both natural and honorable. Provided that patients are not trying to influence their relationship with their physician, the doctors should accept the gift with a smile, send a thank-you note, and move on.
Some ideas for a nurses' gift basket could include food and snacks, gift cards, lip balm, lotion, socks, chocolate, candy, cookies, and chewing gum.
A simple, "Thank you for taking great care of our loved one" will suffice, but feel free to dig deeper and share more. For example, "My dad really loves talking with you every day. You always cheer him up when you come to check on him, and it means the world to our family that you are there.
Give coffee and other snacks.
Sweet treats, coffee, and other goodies are always appreciated, especially after a long day of work (did you know that nurses walk between 4-5 miles in a 12-hour shift?). A gift card for Starbucks, or a local bakery or ice cream, is a perfect nurse appreciation gift.
As nurses, we have the opportunity to empower our patients and their families with knowledge. When I see that a patient understands their disease process and the plan of care, it is an awesome feeling. Nurses have the ability to bring understanding and peace during what can be a confusing or challenging time.
Like with most anything, if you choose to do some kind of healthcare provider gift, there are always options. I've seen parents do so many different things— a handwritten thank you note, small goodie bags for their specific nurses, or even order food like bagels, pizza, donuts, etc for the whole floor.
Gifts for nurses – because we love our nurses!
While it's not necessary to buy gifts for nurses, we hope this gives you some ideas if you're wanting to show appreciation to them without causing you any stress during this special time!
Impacts of Nurse Recognition and Appreciation
Nurses work in stressful environments and face new challenges on a daily basis. The COVID-19 pandemic and an aging patient population present additional issues for nursing units. A sustained commitment to nurse appreciation improves staff well-being and retention.
People tend to open gifts in front of the giver, either upon receiving them or later along with other presents. Recipients do not usually expect to receive gifts of a high monetary value, but rather that the gift will reflect their interests. Token gifts may be given when visiting a house (e.g. beer, wine, chocolate).
Generally, gift-giving is not part of Australian business culture. But, if you are invited to a home for dinner, it's permissible to bring a token gift of flowers, chocolates, a craft from your home region, or wine. An illustrated book from your home region can be another welcome gift.
It often depends on the context. The best guide is the Medical Board of Australia's Good Medical Practice. It says that doctors need to be transparent and honest in financial arrangements with patients and never encourage patients to “give, lend or bequeath money or gifts that will benefit you directly or indirectly”.