10 Gifts All Nurse Practitioners Should Ask for This Holiday Season

It’s that time of the year again – winter is beginning, the temperatures have started to drop, and the holidays will soon be upon us. No matter what holiday you celebrate, gifts are likely on your mind, and while you might be ticking items off your shopping list for your loved ones, you might not know what to ask for yourself.

The best gifts tend to be the ones that you can use in your daily life. We know how passionate nurse practitioners are about their jobs, and asking for some fun, nursing-themed gifts can help make your workdays a lot easier. It can also help your family have a little fun with the items they buy for you, while not breaking the bank if money is tight.

Whether you are already a nurse practitioner or working toward becoming one, here are ten practical, but fun gifts you should ask for this holiday season:

1. Smartwatch

Timing is everything to a nurse practitioner, and having the right tools can make staying on top of it all much easier. That’s why you should ask for a watch this holiday season. With a smartwatch, you can easily set reminders for yourself, check your notifications and keep track of your calendar—all while on the go.

2. Coffee tumbler

If there’s one thing every nurse practitioner needs to get through the day, it’s energy! However, with your busy schedule, you might not have time to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee before the start of your shift. Ask for a well-insulated coffee tumbler to keep your coffee warm on the way to work so you can stay energized all day.

3. Water bottle

Being a nurse practitioner can be physically demanding. Not only do you spend a lot of time on your feet, but you might also be running from room to room with limited time for breaks during a busy shift. Ask for a new water bottle this holiday season so that you can remember to stay hydrated even on your longest days.

4. Comfortable shoes and compression socks

When you are on your feet all day long, you need a pair of good shoes. There are plenty of comfortable shoes designed especially for nurses so that you can survive your shift without ever feeling the ache of tired feet. Compression socks can also help improve blood circulation to your feet and ankles, which reduces soreness and swelling. They can make a long shift feel much more comfortable.

5. Stethoscope

Depending on where you work, you might be allowed to bring your own stethoscope. Not only can you ask for a higher quality one, but you can also personalize it with a stylish, monogrammed ID tag that attaches to the tubing. With your own stethoscope, you never have to rush to find an available one, and you never have to worry about someone misplacing or losing yours.

6. Clipboard

Just like stethoscopes, clipboards are a hot commodity in a medical setting. The front desk uses them, nurses use them, and even doctors use them. Sometimes, clipboards go missing from where they should be. Ask for your own clipboard so you never have to search for one again. You can ask for one that’s personalized with your name on it, so everyone will know it belongs to you.

7. Retractable badge clips

As a nurse practitioner, you’ll have some sort of ID badge that you’ll have to carry on you at all times. Typically, it’s put on your shirt/scrubs with a normal clip. However, as technology advances, many hospitals are combining these IDs with key FOBs to get into locked doors. If you weren’t provided a retractable clip, it can become annoying to have to line up your shirt with the lock or remove your ID every time you need to go in a door. If you weren’t provided a retractable clip, you should ask for one for this holiday season to improve your daily quality of life at work.

8. Pocket organizer

Are you constantly misplacing your pens, scissors and other supplies? Ask for a medical pocket organizer to tuck into your scrubs. These are must-have for any nurse practitioner and will help you stay organized with everything you need.

9. New scrubs

You can never have too many scrubs! Start the year off right with a new set, or ask for a scrub jacket so you can stay warm during the chilly winter months. Underscrub t-shirts can also be game-changer when it comes to staying warm and comfortable throughout your shift.

10. Bag/Backpack

A nurse practitioner’s life can be chaotic, busy and unpredictable. You probably have a lot of items to carry between work, school and home -- and a tote bag or backpack can make it a lot easier! Ask for a new one this holiday season so that you can keep everything you need in one convenient place!