Thank you gift for floor of nurses?

[Maddie2]

In the past week, our family has had low lows and now some pretty high highs. From basically being told to say our good-byes, to Mom being able to tell us "I love you" back and now to Mom remembering what's in the fridge at home (2 containers of cottage cheese, one almost expired, be sure to throw it away ) and more.

We know the road ahead will be tough at times (she's very stubborn and doesn't want to eat or do PT), but there is HOPE where there was very little of it a week ago. She had a heart attack in the ER (thank goodness she realized that something wasn't "quite right"), coded twice, had emergency bypass surgery and several procedures.

We would not be where we are today if not for the FABULOUS care of her nurses. Especially the Critical Care nurses. They were wonderful. She is now categorized as "Medical/Surgical". We don't see the nurses much as she doesn't need that level of care anymore. We kind of think it would be nice if there were a mid-level so that the nurses would be checking on her more, but that's where we come in, I guess.

I am looking for ways to THANK the nurses. Any great ideas out there? I talked to a pharmacist who happened to be sitting at a nurse's station, and, not surprisingly, there are rules. It must be something that the whole floor can share. Nothing can be given to individuals (though we wish we could, because there are some that really rose above). He suggested flowers, but, eh, there are enough funeral bouquets around from people who didn't make it and the families have sent the flowers to the hospital after funerals. Nope, definitely NOT flowers!

So, it needs to be something we can put in the nurses lounge, something individually packaged. And, it's a HEART Hospital, so nothing real junky. I've thought of a huge fruit basket or a big basket/tub of popcorn balls. Any other ideas? Thinking we'll need need about 50 of them.

Has anyone ever ordered from The Popcorn Factory? Want something that will arrive fresh and chewy. Not hard and full of hulls. There are good popcorn balls and then there are yucky ones. Know what I mean?

Suggestions Welcome! Thank you!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I order stuff from the Popcorn Factory all the time. Their stuff is good. Google and you can usually find a discount coupon for $5.00 off.

Even though the Nurses are on a heart unit I am sure they would still enjoy a cookie or two. The ones in the link below are individually wrapped


http://www.cheryls.com/sunflower-cutout-cookies-68381?categoryId=3200000068

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I don't know how many people you'd be talking about, but what about a catered meal, like pounds of pulled pork, baked beans and garlic bread from a bbq restaurant, or family-size portions of lasagna, salad and breadsticks from Olive Garden, or a couple of huge sandwiches from a sub shop? I know nurses work long hours and I am sure food would be appreciated.

 

[yeahdisney]

Fruit yummy. If strawberries were inexpensive you could get bowls from the dollar store and fill them for different shifts. I always think "wow, yummy" when families bring those. Probably cause you can grab a few and pop them in your mouth when you have a second. And no mess, cause we do have the tendency to pop the whole thing in.

 

[bear_mom]

Any kind of food is appreciated. Something nice would be to split what you give in two, make sure 1/2 goes to the night shift. Sometimes, the day nurses forget to share.

A way you can recognize individual nurses is to write a note to the floor manager and name those who went above and beyond. Our managers always shared those with us if we were named individually, and most often they were posted in the break room.

 

[Gizmo87]

I am a nurse so I have some insight on this subject. Fruit is a great idea. Things like edible arrangements are always nice and pretty. We get sweets and junk food all the time and it gets old and it is hard to stay away from. I have had people bring us nice nut mixes. They are heart healthy and give you the protein you need to get through a 12 hour shift. You could get individual packs of nuts at Sam's club or Costco. Like someone else suggested, sandwiches and catered food is wonderful but expensive. Nurses often are only allowed a half hour lunch and are lucky to take that, so having a meal waiting for them is very appreciated. A heart felt card is always the best gift. They make the job worth everything nurses go through. Also making sure you fill out surveys and let management know who really helped you and your family member so they can be recognized when it is time to get pay increases. My last tip is don't forget night shift. Night shift often gets leftovers that have been left out from day shift. When I worked night shift it was always nice to have someone bring something specially for us or buy two of whatever you decide on and label one for day shift and one for nightshirt. Whatever you decide they will just be happy that you took the time to thank them.

 

[Andrea464]

This is so sweet of you. I'm glad to hear she is improving.

This is why I loved what I did when I worked in the Cath Lab. It was one of the few areas in nursing where our patients said "Thank you". It was a big turn around from working in the ER where the patients are usually drunk and cussing at you!

We've had patients bring in the buckets of mints from Sam's Club and donuts. Those are the two biggest things we get. I think edible arrangements would be nice but if you do that I'd sent one at day and one at night (or try to speak to someone from management the day you send them so they know to save one for the night shift crew).

 

[Andrea464]

A way you can recognize individual nurses is to write a note to the floor manager and name those who went above and beyond. Our managers always shared those with us if we were named individually, and most often they were posted in the break room.

THIS! ^

Write the unit manager to let them know about the nurses/doctors/therapists/nursing assistants who went above and beyond. Those are usually shared and then also kept in their file for their annual performance review!

 

[Maddie2]

Thank you for all of the great ideas. I like the meal idea, but I think we'll have a better chance to catching most/all of the nurses if we do something pre-packaged and shelf-stable. In talking with some of them, some work 3 12s and then are off for 3-4 days, so a meal would miss them.

We've been trying to write down the names of the ones that really were great, but I'm afraid we've probably missed some. Those first few days are a bit of a fog, even for us. Mom has no memory of the first 4-5 days and even now, doesn't always remember earlier today (though she remembers 2 weeks ago; her days/nights are mixed up).

I do like the nuts idea. And, that would be easier to find than popcorn balls. I know for my kids in school, nuts are a no-no, but do you think it's safe to take a hospital? I don't want to chance someone having an allergy.

Grapes and berries would be great, but hard to be sure they are clean before serving, etc. My adult nephew wants to get a bunch of pizzas on the day Mom/Gma is released (it'll likely be a while, hoping for inpatient rehab, because we know her cooperation level will be greater in the hospital than out), but I am NOT for that idea at all.

I'm almost afraid to write a note with nurse names on it, with the fear that we are forgetting someone crucial. I wish there were a photo we could look at to i.d. them. I saw a nurse yesterday that looked familiar and then she told me she started cpr on Mom the first time she coded - and was down for 30 minutes. She (and a team) saved Mom's life!!!

This past week so easily could have gone differently. She was in the ER with the first heart attack and with nurses both times she coded. Each time, she had oxygen, and thus, has been able to keep brain function. Her doctors have been great too, but really, a good chunk of the credit goes to the outstanding NURSES!

For all of you who are nurses, assistants or anyone who works in healthcare, THANK YOU, for all you have done and continue to do. Even when you don't hear it, please know your patients (and families) are VERY GRATEFUL even when they grumble.

 

[Maddie2]

This is why I loved what I did when I worked in the Cath Lab. It was one of the few areas in nursing where our patients said "Thank you". It was a big turn around from working in the ER where the patients are usually drunk and cussing at you!

Ah, yes, CATH LAB!!! We've been there - a few times! Two angios and a balloon pump. We'll need to send something there too. Even the security people have been great. It's a bit weird when you arrive in the middle of the night (when the hospital is locked up) and when you knock on a window to get in (rather large hospital, town population 170,000+) and say who you are, they KNOW you. We also need to thank the chaplain and the therapists that are TRYING to work with her. Respiratory too. Good to see her spunky, but I think they'd like a little LESS spunk right now.

 

[kymom99]

My sister is a hospital nurse, so she was able to steer us the right way on this issue. After our dad died, we sent in baskets full of stuff for everyone to pick something from. Things from bagged snacks to hand sanitizer and lotions. We also sent a basket for each shift, because as mentioned above, the night shift gets the left overs otherwise.

 

[smokeyblue]

I worked in nursing for 10 years. We received a lot of gifts from folks and they were always given from the heart. Gifts that were not well received were ones that were homemade, like baked good. Not because they weren't nice, but because nurses are a bit leery of their origin

Good chocolate always went over well. I don't know if we ever got nuts, but I think they would go over great, especially raw almonds. We did have families that did pizza or Subway and one family even got us ice cream treat of our choice from the place down the street. That was really going out of their way! I can remember some amazing a nice families from over those years and the not so nice ones have pretty much faded from my memory.

The most helpful thing you can do is send a letter of appreciation. I would direct it to the hospitals Chief Nursing Officer. At my hospital, letters that are sent this way get the recognition of administration. Definitely a great pat on the back for the folks that helped out your mom.

 

[jessiesue]

My son was in the hospital and I was looking for a way to say "thank you" too. After pricing edible arrangements and the popcorn factory, I decided to get sheet cakes delivered from a reputable bakery. I had the bakery write "thank you from (my sons' name)" on it. I had 2 cakes sent to 2 different floors. It was not costly at all. The sheet cake was big enough for both shifts and other personnel to eat from for a couple days. My son was hospitalized again and they were all thanking me for the cake and saying how good it was.

 

[danygirl]

My parents spent a LOT of time at the hospital - 2 bone marrow transplants , alpha patient in a major trial etc
They would bring a dozen donuts to the parking valets, donuts to the phlebotomy lab, good chocolate to some depts

At that hospital there was a system to commend the nursing staff, and some if those commended got extra days off, so they would put in commendations

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have given Starbucks cards.

 

[McKelly]

On Costco.com they have a 48 pack of individual popcorns from Popcornopolis. Haven't ever tried it, but I eye it up every year for staff gifts. Also QVC has individual caramel apples. That might be good this time of year. Both aren't super healthy though.

 

[AnnaS]

We have had our share with family staying in the hospital. We have written letters and brought cookies from a bakery/chocolates and donuts from Donkun Donuts.

 

[smcabee]

I cant speak for all hospitals obviously, but as a manager of a nursing unit one of the greatest gifts you could give us is sending a letter, email etc to our CEO to express the gratitude. We get individual kudos and a unit kudos which goes a long way to improving morale and enforcing our "why" we got into this field. Food and gifts are great but temporary, I have scanned copies hanging in the office at work that we bring out from time to time to show staff how much they are appreciated by the patients and their families for providing excellent care and compassion during difficult times.

 

[sherreis]

Thank you for thinking about the nurses.

You've gotten some great advice so far. As someone who worked night shift for a while, I highly suggest making sure that night shift gets something as well. We used to get the stuff that was picked over. We never saw the basket, the cake, the fruit arrangement, when it was pretty.

As for the letter, just put in there you know there are names you are forgetting. In the past, when I have sent my letters of commendations, I have sent them to the hospital CEO. I always wanted it to start at the top.

Best wishes for a smooth recovery!

 

[ceecee]

Any kind of food is appreciated. Something nice would be to split what you give in two, make sure 1/2 goes to the night shift. Sometimes, the day nurses forget to share.

A way you can recognize individual nurses is to write a note to the floor manager and name those who went above and beyond. Our managers always shared those with us if we were named individually, and most often they were posted in the break room.

I vote for Edible Arrangements! One for each shift, it's healthy, fun and can be easily eaten anytime.
It's nice of you to think of that!!! A note would be a nice touch too.