To ask if you’re a nurse

[y0rkier0se]

What things are essential? My best friend from childhood is retraining and starting a nursing degree in February. What can I buy as a gift to make her life easier? All ideas appreciated as I don’t know any real life nurses! Thank you.

Support tights get you through 12 hour shifts no problem.

support socks / tights ( 13 hour shifts standing in ICU these are essential!!! )
pen torch
fob watch
pens ( black) it the multi colour clicky ones. not expensive ones as they will go missing.
hand cream
water bottle

pocket calculator not expensive as will go missing!

A bloody medal for anyone going into training right now!

Please tell her she's appreciated already

I’m still going through my training and if anyone asked me what I wanted as a nursing gift it would be Manila blood pressure machine (they cost roughly £15) as manual blood pressure is okay to do once you’ve figured out what you’re listening for and a lot of practice makes perfect

A manual blood pressure machine *

I've not nursed for ages myself but an ex colleague is a training mentor and various things have come up in our conversations in recent months

Vouchers for textbooks will be the most helpful as students are currently being encouraged NOT to buy second hand as they usually would due to covid.

Packs of notebooks and pens that come in plastic wrappings that can be cleaned ie not open notepads, make sure notepads are pocket size with hardback or semi hardback coverings (to protect it when the user is bending over and the notepad gets bent)

Water/fluid resistant fob watch - it WILL get vomited/peed/bled on or put in washing machine by accident!

gel style insole thingies can't remember what they're called but they're great for keeping in fridge to put in your shoes to soothe feet when you get off shift and have to do something else on your feet!

Long hot water bottle for placing along spine at end of a long day or wrapping around back of neck - bit niche but my mum got me a long wheat heat bag type thingy like this and it was great but a long hot water bottle would have been better.

Contigo travel mug. And black pens.

And a big tub of diprobase hand cream.

A name stamp. That will save her about 10 minutes a day and she will love you for it!