Whether you’re buying a gift for a NICU nurse in your life, or you’re a NICU nurse buying yourself a gift, (which we all deserve); these are 10 essential gifts for every NICU nurse! Below you’ll find gift ideas for “thanking your NICU nurse”, plus gift ideas to be used at work in order to have a comfortable shift at the hospital. Happy shopping!
1. NICU Course
One of the more thoughtful gifts you can give a NICU nurse (especially a new NICU nurse), is the gift of education. I highly recommend checking out the NICUity Academy for the best NICU resources and learning materials; made by NICU nurses for NICU nurses.
- New to the NICU: Experienced Nurse Essentials
- The NICU New Grad Minerals
- The NICU Essentials Masterclass
2. NICU Nurse Badge Reel
Having a fun badge reel can really show your personality and be a great conversation starter on your unit. Plus, if you’re working at a hospital where you’re not able to wear your own scrubs – a badge reel can really make you stand out and personalize your work “outfit”. A specific “NICU” badge reel is the perfect, affordable gift for NICU nurses everywhere!
My favorite badge reels on the market are Badge Beauties (find NICU related badges by searching “NICU” on the website).
3. NICU Nurse T-Shirts
Another fun gift idea for NICU nurses, is NICU specific t-shirts! I love wearing t-shirts to work instead of scrub tops; not only are they much more comfortable, but they also show a little bit of personality! On the off chance you can’t wear a t-shirt to work, they still make great gifts to wear outside of work too!
The Minimal Nurse has some of my very favorite t-shirt designs; plus they are so comfortable!
4. Scrubs
Whether or not you’re a NICU nurse, everyone nurse needs a pair (or 10) of scrubs! I love buying scrubs for myself and I also love getting scrubs as a gift during the holidays. (Hint, hint if you’re a parent who has a daughter/son that’s a nurse ;)). Before purchasing, make sure to ask what color scrubs the hospital allows and to also ask if scrubs are provided by the hospital.
My favorite brand of scrubs is Wear FIGS because I love each design and the colors! (By the way, if you’re new to Wear FIGS, this link will allow you to get $20 off your FIRST purchase of $100+).
5. Compression Socks
Another great gift for a NICU nurse, and something that will absolutely save nurses legs, are compression socks. Compression socks not only help with swelling (and being on your feet for 12+ hours can cause a lot of swelling), but they also help prevent spider veins as you age.
6. Headband with Buttons
Since medical professionals are now required to mask up in the hospitals, something that I don’t think will be changing for a while, a great gift idea is to buy headbands with buttons to save nurses ears from irritation after masking up for 12+ hours. I like these ones from Huachi.
7. Cute Work Bag
I personally like to have a separate work bag, different from any other bag that I use, simply because when your work bag goes to the hospital with you – it can get a bit… gross. When you’re looking for a work bag, here’s what you should consider…
- Do you want a backpack or a shoulder bag? If you’re carrying a lot of things around like books, etc you might want to consider a backpack to distribute weight more evenly.
- Are you walking to work or driving? If you’re walking to work again, you might want to consider a backpack just to help with weight distribution and to keep your arms/hands free.
- How much will you be bringing in your work bag? This will determine what size of bag you need.
These are some of my favorite bags for nurses to take to work:
- MATEIN “Nurse Backpack”
- Fjallraven “Kanken Backpack” – I personally use this one because it’s so lightweight and I don’t carry many things with me to work; plus I like that you can choose from tons of different colors! I would not recommend it however, if you’re going to be carrying a lot of things around because it doesn’t hold much.
- Trunab “Nurse Tote”
- Kimoli “Cosmetic Pouch” – While I certainly wouldn’t use this pouch for makeup, I love it for putting loose pens, misc items in so that you can easily grab it when getting report!
8. Customized NICU Nurse Accessories
By far some of the best gifts for NICU nurses are gifts that are customizable! Below are my favorite accessories for nurses, both customizable and non-customizable.
- Nurse Daily Affirmations Tumbler
- Personalized RN Fleece Jacket
- Before/After Patients Cups
- NICU Nurse Makeup Bag
9. Neonatal Stethoscope
As a NICU nurse, you’re definitely going to need a stethoscope to assess your patients. Now, before going and buying a stethoscope for yourself or someone else, make sure that the hospital doesn’t provide their own stethoscopes first. If they don’t, you’ll want to purchase a neonatal stethoscope.
10. Hands Free Light
Every NICU nurse knows that a hands free light is a workplace essential! When you’re working with teeny, tiny babies who are very sensitive to light, sometimes you need a light source without turning on the bright overhead light in the room. That’s where hands free lights come in handy! It’s the perfect item to throw in your bag, put in your pocket, clip onto your scrubs, to be able to use on the go!
11. Gift Card
If you’re looking for a way to thank your NICU nurse, a gift card is the perfect choice. Some gift card ideas include a manicure/pedicure (look up somewhere close to the hospital), a gift card to Starbucks, Amazon, Target; the options are endless! And as a NICU nurse myself, I know that your NICU nurse will be touched by your thoughtfulness.
12. Quality Water Bottle/Coffee Mug
Whether you’re a NICU nurse or a nurse working on a different unit, I can confidently speak for nurses everywhere when we say that a quality water bottle and/or coffee mug is a necessity for a long shift. Having experimented with many different brands, my go to brand for water bottles and coffee mugs in Corkcicle. Not only are the designs cute, but they keep your water cold or your coffee hot for hours on end.
Nurse Essentials
Whether you’re a NICU nurse shopping for yourself, a parent of a baby shopping for your infants NICU nurse, or a parent of a NICU nurse, I hope that this list of gifts for NICU nurses was helpful and inspiring! Did I miss any gift ideas? Let me know in the comments below!
For more ideas, don’t miss…
For more on nursing, head to my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching #ppinscrubs or the “Nursing” highlight; alternatively, head to my TikTok and look for my “Nursing” highlight
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Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.
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