Many nurses are graduating around the holiday season, which means there can be a lot of crossover for holiday gifts for nurses and graduation gifts for nurses as well. Many people need help deciding what the perfect gift for someone can be. Luckily, at Daily Nurse, we’ve listed some of our favorite nurse-approved presents for our ultimate gift guide.
Gourmet Coffee
Many nurses regard coffee as their holy grail and the only reason they can get up and make it through their shifts. So why not treat them to a delicious cup? While gift cards to coffee shops are safe and popular, you can also opt for gourmet coffee beans. The best way to do this would be to go to a local coffee shop and see if they have beans available.
Gift Basket
A gift basket is an excellent option if you can’t decide on one specific gift and would instead opt to get a few small gifts. Putting together a gift basket adds an extra layer of thought and flexibility with options depending on your price range or the nurse’s preferences. Although gift baskets are highly customizable, some staples include bath salts and bombs, candles, fragrances, etc.
You can look on handcrafted specialty sites like Etsy for more gift basket inspiration.
Event Vouchers
A lot of nursing-related gifts can get old and redundant quickly. Many nurses will tell you they prefer an experience or gift separate from their profession. While this is an understandable request, navigating it can take some work.
One of our favorite gift suggestions for nurses is an event voucher from sites like Groupon or even booking something directly on a business’s site. Whether it’s a facial and massage spa day, cooking class, or any other activity, it could be a great option. These gift suggestions are easy to customize for the nurse in your life, and experiences are sure to ensure your gift is memorable and greatly appreciated.
Nurse Gear
Sure, something that someone uses daily at work sounds a bit boring when it comes to gift-giving. However, giving someone something you know they will make great use of is also a safe bet. If you’re looking for a gift on the more practical side, here are some nursing gear gift recommendations that any nurse will surely appreciate.
1. Shoes
A new pair of shoes will always be appreciated by someone on their feet all day. Since nurses must rotate their shoes every other day, having multiple pairs is necessary. The best way to gift a nurse some new nursing shoes is to make sure you know their shoe preference or size (whether you glance at their current nursing shoes or ask) to ensure you gift them a pair just as comfortable as their current favorites.
Also, include the gift receipt in the box if they need to exchange it.
2. Insoles
Although shoes are often a great gift for nurses, they can also be a gray area for many people to venture into, as nursing shoes are a personal preference. If you still need to decide whether to opt for shoes, insoles can be just as effective an alternative if you’re looking to provide relief and comfort for a nurse on their feet all day. Some bestsellers like Dr. Scholl’s ® Extra Support Insoles and Walk Hero’s Plantar Fasciitis Feet Insoles.
3. Compression Socks
Much like insoles, many nurses swear by a good pair of compression socks being their lifesaver. Compression socks are also the most affordable option between the insoles and shoes, so these can be a great budget-friendly option or even a stocking stuffer.
4. Nurses’ Multi-tool
While a nursing multi-tool isn’t what comes to mind when you think of a fun gift, nursing tools can be helpful to nurses on their shifts. A nursing multi-tool like Rocket offers includes an LED light, tape measure, tape holder, and scissors. And let’s face it, sometimes convenience can be the best gift.
Final thoughts
Of course, the nature of the most appropriate gift is up to you, but getting a good idea of some good gift ideas can help you jump-start your holiday shopping. Whether it’s a practical item that enhances their daily routine, a thoughtful gesture that acknowledges their hard work, or a token of relaxation to help them unwind, the right gift can make a significant impact.
Healthcare recruiters are one of the primary reasons your medical organization can provide exceptional patient care and help you maintain or exceed your bottom line.
The first Tuesday in June is National Healthcare Recruiter Recognition Day. Take time on June 7 to recognize and honor all the healthcare recruiters in your organization and to help them understand how valued and appreciated they are by your healthcare team.
What Do Healthcare Recruiters Do?
The roles and responsibilities of a healthcare recruiter are similar to those of a recruiter in any other industry. They are responsible for finding and hiring highly qualified candidates for open healthcare positions. This often requires attending job fairs, searching the internet, and making cold calls to identify and hunt down the best potential candidates. It also involves advertising open positions on social media, pre-screening candidates, conducting interviews, and processing new-hire paperwork.
These are just a few of the countless duties performed by healthcare recruiters, including nursing program recruitment teams. Healthcare recruiters often face a large amount of pressure since they are responsible for finding and hiring the best possible workers with the skills and compassion needed to provide optimal care and make a positive difference.
What Value Can a Healthcare Recruiter Provide to a Medical Practice?
As a healthcare official, you want the best nurses and clinicians on your team. Healthcare recruiters have the ability to choose only the candidates who have the proper licensing and credentials and are up to date on the latest medical policies and procedures. Healthcare recruiters can also handle salary negotiations and provide you with access to top candidates without you having to publicly post open positions on job boards.
If you are a nurse or other healthcare worker on the hunt for a new job, the benefits of working with a healthcare recruiter include:
Learning about job opportunities and unpublished positions you may not know about.
Facing less competition in the job market, especially if a healthcare recruiter is already familiar with your credentials or experience.
Getting contacted about open positions for which you qualify instead of having to actively hunt down open positions yourself.
Gaining tips for job interviews from recruiters who are very familiar with the hiring medical practice.
Getting confirmation on the certifications or credentials you need for a certain open position.
The Role of Healthcare Recruiters in Nursing
If you recently completed nursing program enrollment or want to begin a nursing residency program, a healthcare recruiter can work with you to find open positions that align with your chosen specialty. When you complete nursing school or your residency, a healthcare recruiter can continue working with you to help you land the nursing job of your dreams.
Take time this month to reach out to a healthcare recruiter, and consider working with one if you’re looking to enhance your healthcare career or need to expand your medical practice.
Nurse of the Week Margaret Kluin, RN is not the sort to take time off lightly; in fact, until very recently she hadn’t missed a day of work in 15 years.
Despite suffering from diabetes and later, kidney disease as well, Margaret, a nurse manager in the orthopedic surgery department at Ocean University Medical Center in Brick, New Jersey steadfastly shunned sick days and showed up on time for every single shift regardless of whatever might have been happening in her private life.
In a way, it seems like she waited until she had an unarguable reason to use those days. “None of my colleagues knew, but I have been suffering from complications of medical issues for the past few years,” she reveals. Margaret chose to remain silent regarding her health battles even when she was told she was approaching Stage 5 kidney failure (and may face dialysis in the near future). “Having diabetes led to kidney disease which was progressively getting worse,” she says. Eventually, Margaret’s nephrologist suggested she be evaluated for the waitlist for a kidney transplant. The nurse manager notes, “Dialysis can be very time-consuming, it’s three days a week, three hours at a time. It really impacts one’s quality of life.”
Neither of her two daughters nor any other family members, including her husband, were the right blood and tissue match so Margaret put her name on the list for a kidney donation at her sister hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
“I was expecting to be on the waitlist until the distant future,” says Margaret who was shocked when she received the call from the transplantation team that they had a kidney for her within such a short period of time. “I thought it was a telemarketer calling me, I almost didn’t pick up,” she jokes.
Margaret, who was at work when she received the news that they had a kidney for her, couldn’t be more grateful to the deceased donor and his family. “I don’t know much about him other than he was in his mid-fifties and obviously, an altruistic man,” she says.
It was hard for her, however, as “the nurse who never missed a day of work in 15 years” to not only tell her director she would have to depart in the middle of her shift that day – but that she would be on medical leave for several months following the transplantation.
“Obviously, I had her full support but still it was difficult for me to leave my patients to go be a patient,” says Margaret who is now recovering at home after her successful kidney transplantation.
“I’m so grateful to (surgeon) Dr. Goldstein and the entire transplant team for restoring my quality of life,” says Margaret. She’s looking forward to getting back to work with her patients and team for one reason – because she loves her job. “That’s why I never missed a day of work until now, because it’s where I want to be and I can’t wait to get back.”
Happy National Nurses Week Margaret, and all the best for a speedy recovery!
Nursing in 2022 looks much different than nursing 20 or 30 years ago. Social media is a part of our lives now, for better or worse. To young nurses who grew up in the digital age, it’s an integral part of their lives. Social media is a natural extension of their social circles—a means of staying connected, checking in, verifying schedules and plans, and disseminating vital information.
Transitioning to a digital world has introduced new issues in healthcare regarding what’s appropriate and what’s protected. To a generation accustomed to sharing the moments of their lives, social media policies can seem unnecessarily restrictive and irrelevant.
The generations raised before widespread digital sharing grew up with different standards of privacy and professionalism and a work ethic that separates the personal from the professional. For many of them, social media seems intrusive, irrelevant and a waste of time.
Generational differences aside, they’re both right and wrong. Like most issues, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
When used carelessly, social media can be a destructive force. But it can also be used to educate, inspire and connect.
The Do’s and Dont’s of Nursing and Social Media
We’ve become accustomed to sharing our triumphs, frustrations, accomplishments and complaints to let off steam and garner social and emotional support. With a few seconds of typing and a click, your emotions have flown out into the ether, never to bother you again—until the wrong person sees your post.
Complain about a coworker, disparage your hospital, or even share an inspiring story about a patient who overcame unimaginable barriers, and the post you forgot seconds after you pressed “Send” may come back to haunt you.
Think before you click! Here are some nursing tips for using social media responsibly:
Do’s of Social Media Use
Used responsibly, social media can be used to educate and inspire. For example:
Do blog about being a nurse, insight about the profession, and advice or tips.
Do tweet about medical breakthroughs, facts about nursing or kudos to people or organizations making a difference.
Do connect with professional organizations or groups.
Do post videos with professional tips, new technology or health and safety.
Don’ts of Social Media Use
Privacy and appropriateness are critical to your patients, organization and license. When you post on social media, be careful that you:
Don’t use work resources for social media.
Don’t violate your employer’s social media policy.
Don’t post to your personal accounts on work time.
Don’t post about a patient—ever.
Don’t post anything negative about a coworker.
Don’t post anything but approved information about your organization.
Don’t post negative comments about being a nurse.
Aside from appearing unprofessional, careless social media use can appear unprofessional, inappropriate, cruel, and can cross the line into a HIPAA violation devastating to your employer, coworker, patient or career.
The bottom line is to think before you post.
As a member of the most trusted profession, you have an opportunity to educate, support and champion positive change. Take it!
Higher education is evolving. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, distance education in master’s nursing programs has been steadily rising since 2015, offering improved access, flexibility, and student advancement. In fact, a recent survey reports that a primary target demographic for online programs is adults returning to school.
Distance education opens opportunities for non-traditional students to advance their careers under different circumstances. A recent report by Deloitte showed that 26% of higher education students hold full-time jobs while attending school, and 44% are 24 or older. A virtual learning experience is a good fit for professionals juggling work and home responsibilities along with their post-graduate education.
A roundup of data on higher learning noted that, among graduate students in the United States, 52% felt their online courses were a “better learning experience” than their onsite classes. The flexibility of online learning accommodates the schedules of busy professionals, while the constant technological evolution of distance learning provides a more customizable experience than traditional classroom learning.
Early distance education was similar to the one-dimensional lecture style of in-person learning. From the original mail-based correspondence courses and televised classes to the first fully online degree programs in 1989, the concept largely remained the same—you read, watched, or listened to an educator lecture.
This model may be familiar, but it’s an inflexible learning environment that is only optimal for some students, while others struggle to adapt their learning needs to fit. In recent years, this approach has begun to evolve, leveraging more innovations in technology.
The Harvard Business Review reports that colleges allocate only 5% of their budget to IT, but that is expected to quickly change. Global impact intelligence platform HolonIQ predicts that EdTech venture capital will nearly triple over the next decade.
As distance education shifts from simple remote learning to next-generation technologies and as non-traditional students become the new normal, it’s time to set aside the old one-dimensional learning tools and engage your graduate students in a learning experience that empowers them to reach their next-level goals.
Digital Test Prep Is the Next Step
The growing momentum in the digital learning environment has created new ways to reach different types of learners. Online learning has gone from static to interactive, using innovations such as virtual simulations, virtual and augmented reality, mobile devices, and cloud technology.
As education evolves with technology, educators are finding modern ways to adapt the one-size-fits-all lecture style to accommodate different learning needs.
Interactive exam preparation is the natural next step for today’s nursing and social work graduate students. One tool has everything you need to connect your faculty and students for a powerful learning experience. Using technology and analytics, ExamPrepConnect University Solutions creates a personalized interactive learning experience to prepare your students for the culmination of their post-graduate education—their certification and licensure exams.
Supercharge Your Recruitment
When you give faculty a customizable tool that improves student engagement, outcomes, and exam pass rates, you create a compelling recruitment narrative for prospective students. Your graduates’ successes say more to prospective students than a brochure ever could.
Empower Your Faculty
While other exam prep tools leave students to prepare on their own, ExamPrepConnect University Solutions brings your faculty into the process to provide students with support to achieve passing scores. Increase engagement and identify the unique needs of your students’ by assigning curricula backed by a powerful metric dashboard to prepare them to pass their certification or licensure exam.
ExamPrepConnect for Faculty:
Assess test performance.
Assign and tracking curricula.
Identify strengths/weaknesses.
Intervene based on data.
Tailor teaching to student needs.
Engage Your Students
Interactive content is designed to boost student performance through customizable study plans, optimized to support personal learning styles. Students can review content any time, on any device, that accommodates their preferred learning styles.
Whether they learn best through visual, auditory, reading/writing, or hands-on means, ExamPrepConnect University Solutions has the tools to support their learning process and ensure they’re certification or licensure ready.
ExamPrepConnect for students:
Interactive content review.
Q&A with rationales.
Simulated exams.
Discussion boards.
Flashcards.
Games.
Seeing Is Believing
Meet with an ExamPrepConnect expert for a demonstration of how ExamPrepConnect University Solutionsprepares your students for high stakes exams, such as FNP, PMHNP, and AGNP certifications in nursing and ASWB, master’s, and bachelor’s licensure in social work. The demonstration is customized to your needs, just as ExamPrepConnect University Solutions is customized to your faculty and student needs. Click Request Demo to send a message to our demo team.
The Do’s and Dont’s of Nursing and Social Media
Do’s of Social Media Use
