How do you tip a nurse?

[Noah930]

Most hospitals have some sort of recognition system in place. You can fill out a form to express your gratitude. Sometimes the "nurse of the month" may get some small gift from the hospital or a designated parking spot. Sometimes it's just their picture on a wall.

Food for the floor is always appreciated. A couple weeks ago a grateful family brought in a large basket fitted out with bags of chips, full-size candy bars, etc. that the nurses loved.

But if you want to single out that one particular nurse, hospitals may have policies against that. As in, the nurses aren't allowed to accept anything individual. Though I suppose if you left a thank you card for her at the nurse's station with a gift card inside, maybe no one would notice.

[GH85Carrera]

The week before I had my hip replaced, I went to Starbucks. I bought several $10 gift certificates to Starbucks. It is the ony time I have even been inside a Starbucks, as their coffee sucks.

Anyway with the really nice nurses, I gave them a gift certificate. Nurses run on coffee. They all refused and I said I will just throw it away then, and maybe you can pick it up and get some coffee tomorrow. They all finally took the certificate. I had some great nurses, and I hope they all appreciated the gesture.

I did NOT give one to the nurse that came in at 4:00 AM, turned on the lights, and used the built in scale in the bed to weigh me, turned off the lights and left. WTF, why not do that at normal waking hours? I would weigh the same at 4:00 AM as 8:00 AM.

[A930Rocket]

A letter with full names of the nurses should be written to the CEO and the CNO of the hospital.

Nurses can only take food.

[Alan A]

Chocolates.

[rattlsnak]

If she wont give you her Venmo, then get her cell number and send her apple pay. I do that for my elderly father's nurses all the time.

[look 171]

Sister is a RN. When Dad had surgery, she told me to get the nursing station food, pizza or something sweet. I did that once every couple days and felt that they deserved much more then that. Some nurses stood out and lets not forget the unsung heroes, the nurses aid or the LVNs that did the dirty work keeping my father comfortable. After my father was mobile again (lung surgery) he made sure to walk in himself and gave the station a few pizzas. One nurse said, we almost don't see them after and doing so well. Seeing him walk in on his own power carrying a couple of pizzas made their job all worth it.

[Baz]

Can't go wrong with some Sam Adams!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

A lot to work with, thank you all, this appreciation gift will become a full time job for me.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Baz

Can't go wrong with some Sam Adams!

That's what I give to the inspection sticker guy every year for each car.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Girlfriend had surgery yesterday, was supposed to be in and out of the hospital but she/we ended up staying overnight, looking good for picking her up today.

We worked with 3 nurses yesterday, all were great, but one was over the top awesome to my gf and it was she who got permission for me to stay overnight which was perfect.

Girlfriend wants to get her something nice, more than flowers...

What would a nurse appreciate as a sincere thank you for great care and service?

I noticed one particularly nice nurse was drinking a Starbucks coffee from the food court in the hospital so I got her a gift card from Starbucks.

[gsxrken]

Glad she’s in and out! We’re in the unfortunate situation of a month+ inpatient stay and have slipped the nurses $100 Amazon gift cards and the aides $25 Starbucks ones. We also drop things at the nursing station every day, and don’t forget about the second shift! They rarely get offerings as it turns out and they are visibly delighted to get stuff. Over the course of even one week, there’s a lot of individuals involved; they work 3 12 hour shifts, so that’s 12 different nurses when you count both shifts. Only 1 of the nurses turned over her gift card and ratted me to the charge nurse, who sternly told me it is not allowed. I told him to buy something for the floor then because I won’t take it back.
He’s getting good care anyway- but to give is to receive and I don’t mind sprinkling some genuine appreciation around to some very hard working people.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

That's what I give to the inspection sticker guy every year for each car.

I gave a case of it to the doctor who helped my Mom when she had her fall a few years ago.

Good friend of mine's wife was the HR Director there, so I gave it to her to give it to him. It was in a plain cardboard box w/thank you note inside.

[craigster59]

Glad things worked out Shaun! I'm sure you'll be helping her along with the convalescence.

Good suggestions so far but I think a well written personal letter to hospital administration is a great start. An individual gift may be against policy and nurses are well known to be "team players" so a gift for the nurses on the floor would work great.

I would sometimes need help "procuring" items for shows at the last minute and to show appreciation nice cakes or pies were ALWAYS welcomed. Another was Girl Scout cookies. 10-12 boxes usually covers it.

[wdfifteen]

I think Rutager’s advice was spot on.

On the other hand, everybody loves Benjamin.

[David]

I think a thank you letter means the most.

A co-worker's daughter who I've known since she was a young girl is an emergency room nurse. She served in the Air Force in Ramstein as a medic before going to nursing school. So she'd dealt with the worst of the worst before nursing school which helped her really succeed in school.

She received a letter from an emergency room patient that she shared with her dad. Her dad shared it with us because it was so powerful. I don't recall the words but it essentially said, "thank you for being one of the few non-f'ups in the world because without you, I don't think I'd be alive right now" But it was written in a very moving way to where I even got a little misty

[rwest]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I think Rutager’s advice was spot on.

On the other hand, everybody loves Benjamin.

Thanks Wild!

Where do I send that twenty dollar bill too?

Just another point is that the last thing you want to do is make a person uncomfortable or put them in a position where they could get reprimanded by accepting the gift.

Alcohol is never a good gift in a professional setting to someone you don’t know well. Most HR departments frown and could discipline an employee for having alcohol on the property. Now bringing by a case to your buddy who owns his own business, yea, probably cool.

[john70t]

Pens. Badge protectors. Gift certificates for local restaurant delivery. Or oil change place. Prepaid parking permits. Small tokens.

Delivered flowers to an individual. Kind note. Be the star.
Okay.
But NEVER permitted if they are LIVE FLOWERS in DIRT with GERMS in a hospital.

Cash is always king.
Private delivery.
People always think of it different..lessor..compared to...but it should rightfully be the same as any physical gift.

[Baz]

Pro tip.....

The thank you note can be included with the case of Sam Adams......

[berettafan]

Just visited my neighbor in the hospital. Dealing with cancer. His family bought pizza for the nurses/docs on the floor and today brought in crafty gift cup things with snacks.

[speedster911]

Most hospitals have rules of no gifts of any kind- it can lead to termination if accepted or in more liberal major cities, union grievances. . The majority of hospitals will not allow a vender to take a hospital employee to lunch or dinner. The employee can go but they have to pay for their dinner.

5lb box of Sees candy left at the nurses station with a general note of thanks. (NO FLOWERS - most hospitals have a scent free policy)

A note of thanks to the CEO/COO stating overall happiness with the department/level of care

A positive review on the hospitals website