Nurses can be challenging to buy gifts for, so most people resort to cutesy Christmas items such as engraved cups and badge reels. While there is NOTHING wrong with those gifts (I do need a new badge reel, actually), I’m frequently asked for unique travel nurse gifts that we would be surprised by and appreciate! Most people ask me, “How do I buy something for someone who probably has the money to buy themselves anything they want?”
You know your traveler better than I do, but I’ve researched with co-workers and compiled an organized gift guide for you!
#1: Gift Cards
Let’s be honest, we spend far more time in the car than we’d like. Many of us make frequent visits back home to visit our family, which can be difficult to afford even on a traveler’s salary. Gift cards to fast food restaurants, gas stations, or even airlines are guaranteed to be appreciated by any travel nurse!
Scrubs
Not all hospitals use the same scrub colors, and I have four different colors in my closet! When we start a new contract, we occasionally have to buy multiple pairs of scrubs to match the hospital’s required color. Depending on the store, one set of high-quality scrubs costs $50-100. Even though some people think gift cards are too impersonal for a Christmas present, I’ve never heard a travel nurse be disappointed by a gift card for new scrubs! Shopping suggestions:
- Figs (my personal favorite)
- Jaanuu
- Cherokee
- Grey’s Anatomy Scrubs
- Dickies
Pampering
Maybe this is just personal wishful thinking, but nothing can top a massage gift card. My back hurts just thinking about being at work! Gift cards to hair stylists, nail salons, and massage parlors for pampering make great travel nurse gifts for a lady (maybe even a guy, too!).
#2: Packing Cubes
Moving between locations for every contract gets old fast, and it becomes extra exhausting when we don’t have efficient packing methods. A traveler friend of mine got vacuum packing cubes for Christmas last year, and she said it revolutionized how she moved! A packing cube reduces the amount of space that items require, keeps them organized, and protects them from damage. I travel between contracts in my SUV, and I must carefully plan to ensure everything will fit safely. Give your travel nurse something that will benefit them long-term (vacations, anyone?) and help them stay organized with different sizes of packing cubes!
- For detailed suggestions on the best packing cubes, try reading this article.
#3: Portable Battery
If your travel nurse commutes between cities or comes home to visit often, then odds are they spend a lot of time in the car or on a plane. It can be so hard to keep our devices charged! Solution: a portable battery. Bonus points if it’s solar-powered! Most battery packs only offer USB charging, but a solar-powered battery with actual plugs on the side (AC outlet) would provide plenty of backup. Shopping suggestions:
#4: Space Heater
Rentals don’t usually have the best heating options, and I’ve personally experienced difficulty maintaining my space at a comfortable temperature when there are multiple tenants. A space heater lets me heat my bedroom, bathroom, or even my desk at work during these cold winter months! Since we tote a lot of stuff around, a heater on the smaller size might be best. I once saw a gal with a USB-powered space heater that fit on her work desk, and I was grateful to stay toasty with her through the entire shift!
Shopping suggestions:
Note: Some hospitals don’t allow personal space heaters or fans, so dayshifters may be unable to utilize one at work.
#5: White Noise Machine
Nightshift, anyone? Sleeping during the day is harder than you’d think; mowers, chatty neighbors, slamming doors, and car noises make it hard for us to stay asleep. My roommate and I are struggling with construction happening in the apartment above us, and we sleep during the day, so there isn’t a good way for our landlord to help us. Our idea: white noise machine! A noise machine can provide multiple sound options, have sleep timers, and using one doesn’t drain a cellphone battery (great time for that portable battery, though!). Even day shift nurses might appreciate this gift too. Shopping suggestions:
- Amazon’s Choice: Colorful Noise Machine with 25 Sounds
- Serenlux White Noise Sound Machine with Sleep Timer
- Hatch Restore: Light Therapy White Noise Alarm Clock with App Control
Bonus #6: Anything Personalized
I joked about personalized cups and badge reels, but we really do appreciate anything that shows that you care about us. Being a healthcare traveler tends to be a lonely lifestyle. Travel nurse gifts that reflect your love for us, especially if they’re personalized and thoughtful, will be winners in our books! My go-to for personalized items with a handmade flair is Etsy! 🙂
For more ideas on what travel nurses need, click here: “3 Practical Ways to Care for Yourself as a Travel Nurse!”
*New feature! Hover over a photo to pin to Pinterest! 🙂