Ideas for hospital doctor please

[HelenHywater]

Hi everyone, my daughter is a recently qualified doctor and is based in a hospital for the next couple of years at least. If you're a doctor or are buying for doctors, what would she appreciate that would make her life easier/make her laugh? Thanks!

A type of mug that keeps a drink warm for ages. I think there are some quite fancy ones now but I don’t know the makes of them. Always handy for when you’re in clinic or on the ward but getting constantly interrupted.
Or something to balance the stress of work so a day spa pass to use on a day off.

My favourite mug is a medicine-themed large mug, I bought it in Germany so all the text is in German which I especially like, but the English version is available in the UK too

She more than likely won’t want anything hospital/doctor themed. It gets boring pretty fast when family base your whole personality on your vocation. My dad is a (now retired) consultant of 50 years. He hated anything that would remind him of work. What kind of things did she like before she became a Dr? Books, travel, music etc.

A good thermos/coffee mug or a stanley type cup or flask if she prefers cold drinks is a good idea. Staying hydrated and caffeinated is important for the juniors.

A good backpack or nice day bag for work (kids these days don't favour handbags but still have plenty of stuff to carry around). Don't go too big as it will need to stuff into a locker while she's at work.

A good eye mask and/or black out blinds and curtains for her room, and/or maybe a noise cancelling headphone/head band or white noise machine, to help her sleep in the day after a night shift.

Handcream is a classic for clinicians as hands get so dried out from all the handwashing.

The idea of a spa voucher, or maybe vouchers for yoga classes or something else to help her unwind is a great one - one of the few benefits of the crazy work pattern of a doctor is random days off in the week so something nice for her to do in that time is lovely.

Well it's far from her identity, I just wanted to make her life easier. In fact she has put an insulated, non spill, coffee cup on her list.

She's new to it all and is finding the night shifts quite challenging at the moment.

Much love to your daughter… being a junior doctor was horrendous .. I lived in a state of constantly feeling I had/was about to kill someone.
What I would have appreciated
-some snacks as food can be unreliable/not available when you want to eat .. some of those high protein bars to stick in pocket
-a bit luxury days off so a lovely warm blanket to cuddle into, some lovely skincare, a voucher for a facial or haircut
-you need really good shoes because the no. steps you do running around hospitals are horrendous .. so comfortable shoes but still a bit trendy so you still feel good ? NB are great
-hospitals can be hot .. even in dead winter so cotton tops, vests eyc
-if she wears scrubs then really nice ones.. figs are great
-most of all lots support, a shoulder to cry on

When I was a junior doctor, I was very grateful to my mum for batch cooking for my freezer! Especially pasties!
Things I could take into work and microwave especially at night.

Really helpful posts thank you. I'll definitely send her back with a large amount of snacks.

It is hard! She's arriving at 3am on Christmas Eve straight from work (although she's very grateful to get Christmas Day off - as she wasn't expecting to).

If she's doing surgery then crocs might be useful

book her a series of treats to look forward to after each week of nights, my parents booked me in to a hotel once, it was great, or a nice meal delivery, fancy chocolates or cheese

Coffee machine
Phone strap
Clothing with short sleeves - assuming she isn't in scrubs all the time
FIGS scrubs if she does wear scrubs
Blackout curtains

When I did nights the blackout lining was my best purchase. Followed by crossbody phone bag.

Maybe some things to make her time at home relaxing and peaceful to help her unwind and get a good rest!

Comfy good quality bamboo socks as she will be on her feet a lot.
Also comfy but smart trainers but you might need to ask her about that to get it right, or buy a voucher.

Nice hand cream because of the handwashing (maybe a set of mini ones so she can have in various pockets and bags)

Hat and gloves for wearing for travelling to and from work at night when she’s on shifts (leather gloves she can drive in if she drives to work)

Pen with her name on (good pens always go missing!)

Any kind of sleep stuff like pillow spray, eye mask, “sleepy” tea/shower gel/bubble bath

Coffee shop vouchers for take away coffees/breakfasts on the way to work

Snack box with lots of on the go snacks, healthy granola bars, nice noodle pots, percy pigs for energy, stuff like that.

When my son was still training and working in hospitals he used to complain that he got really cold on night shifts so I bought him some very nice thermal underwear to wear under his scrubs. He was very grateful.