18 Super Useful Graduation Gifts For Newly Qualified Nurses

Help a freshly qualified nurse get started out with a gift that will make the whole transition to full-time nursing that little bit easier.

Getting through nursing school takes a lot of hard work and perseverance, which means graduation day is a definite cause for celebration.

As they can finally ditch the textbooks, stop worrying about exams, and forget about attending endless lectures.

However, becoming a newly qualified nurse is just the beginning of the nursing journey. as they then become a full-time nurse, which brings a whole new set of challenges and pitfalls.

So, why not help a freshly qualified nurse embark on their new career with a useful gift that can help them on their rounds, and to relax afterwards.

As you'll find plenty of ideas in the following list of gifts for newly qualified nurses that can do both of these things nicely.

1. A Reliable Stethoscope For Their Rounds

When you picture a nurse or doctor in your head, you'll probably imagine them with a stethoscope hanging around their neck.

And there's a good reason for this.

Because this is an absolutely essential tool for them to have to be able to accurately assess and evaluate a patients condition.

As the stethoscope amplifies the body's internal sounds, meaning your nurse can listen out for any irregularities in your breathing, heartbeat, and bowel function.

So, it's important that they use a high quality and reliable stethoscope to be able to do their job properly.

And given that many hospitals require their nurses to supply and use their own stethoscopes, getting a freshly qualified nurse their first one is the ideal graduation gift idea.

So, for a top drawer stethoscope that won't let them down in their new job, you should consider the Littmann Classic III.

As this one has great sound quality meaning they won't miss a thing during patient examinations.

And they are really comfortable in the ears too, which is important, as they'll be using them frequently every day.

2. A Leather Stethoscope Holder

While the image of a nurse with a stethoscope around their neck is a true one, this can cause problems over time.

As the rubber tubing can begin to dry out, crack, and deteriorate from the oils in their neck, meaning they'll need to replace expensive stethoscopes more regularly than they should have to.

So, a gift that can help a nurse get longer usage from their stethoscope is a stethoscope holder, such as the Secure-A-Scope 2.0.

As this is a leather holder that clips onto the waistband of a nurse's scrubs and holds the stethoscope safely in place, away from anything that could damage it.

And it works perfectly with the Littmann Classic III stethoscope if you want to combine them into a really useful gift package for a new nurse.

3. A Pair Of Bandage Scissors

Another essential item that a nurse will use daily is a good pair of bandage scissors.

These are different to regular scissors in that they are angled to allow them to slide underneath the patients bandage, but without touching or cutting their skin.

And they have a serrated edge which is perfect for cutting through thick bandages, dressings, and tape with ease.

So, getting a new nurse their first pair of bandage scissors is a cool little gift idea, and you won't go wrong with the ER Life One trauma shears.

As these are professional grade medical scissors that are sharp enough to cut through what they need to first time.

And being the standard size required by most hospitals (7.5 inches) they are ideal for nurses in the ER.

4. A Penlight For Checking A Patients Pupils

A penlight is another invaluable tool for a nurse to have in their scrubs pocket when they're carrying out their rounds.

As not only do they allow them to check a patients pupils for activity and examine their mouth and throat.

They are also handy for finding things in drawers, and checking papers and charts on wards during a night shift.

However, not just any penlight will do, as they need one with a low LED light so it doesn't damage the patients eyes.

And a good choice that is designed for medical professionals is the Lumintop penlight.

Because it has a low LED setting of only 1.5 lumens, which is a good level for shining into patients eyes.

And there are higher settings for other tasks that require more light and less sensitivity.

5. A Nurses Clipboard With Cheat Sheets

As a newly qualified nurse you'll need to carry a clipboard around with you to take notes and refer to your nursing charts throughout the day.

So getting them a nursing clipboard such as the one above will prove to be a great gift for them.

As this one provides the perfect surface for them to write on and clip their notes and charts to.

And it also opens up to give them storage inside, where they can keep a notepad or other things.

While the reference charts and cheat sheets that come with it contain the medical information nurses will use on a daily basis, such as lab values, injection sites, and pain scales. 

So it's perfect for a new nurse that is still learning the ropes.

6. A Gift Card For New Scrubs

Nurses will go through plenty of sets of scrubs in a year, as they tend to take a bit of a hammering.

And they usually have to buy their own replacement scrubs, which can leave them even more out of pocket, with nurses wages not being the highest to start with.

So, a gift card for scrubs at their local uniform supplies store will be a really welcome gift.

As it's soul destroying spending your hard earned wages on things like a work clothes!

7. A Scrubs Watch For Checking Patients Vitals

Nurses need to have a watch with them on their rounds, and not just to see how long they've got until they can clock off.

Because being able to time things accurately is vital when caring for a patient.

As this allows the nurse to check the patients vitals such as breathing rhythm and pulse rate.

And it also helps them keep track on when to give out medication and to mark the time accurately on the patients charts.

So a watch made for nurses would be a top gift idea, and the Speidel scrubs watch would be my choice.

As this one has a flexible rubber wristband that is comfortable, water-resistant, easy to clean, and comes in a range of colours to match in with their scrubs.

And it has a clearly visible red second hand and easy to read face that makes timing examinations a breeze.

While the hour and minute hands are luminous and will glow in the dark, making this a great watch to wear on a night shift too.

8. A Pulse Oximeter For Checking Heart Rate

Testing a patients oxygen to blood levels and heart rate by placing an pulse oximeter on their finger is something a nurse will do as part of their regular checks.

As this tells them how well the oxygen is being sent around the patients body, and alerts them to any potential problems.

And nearly every hospital will have their own equipment that the nurses will use to do this.

However, this may mean having to wait for the wards oximeter to become available, or running around trying to find it.

So, it can be really handy for them to have their own pulse oximeter in their scrubs pocket to use instead.

Which makes one of these a nice little gift for a nurse, and a good one to go for is the Innovo fingertip pulse oximeter.

As this is accurate, reliable, and will alert them if they're not taking the readings correctly.

9. Comfy Shoes To Wear On The Ward

Being on your feet for a whole 12-hour shift day after day is seriously hard work for nurses.

And this can really take a toll on their feet, toes and ankles after a while.

So, a gift they will absolutely love you forever for is a pair of super comfy and supportive shoes that they can wear while on the ward.

As not only will this ward off sore feet, it can also make life easier on their ankles, knees, and lower back too.

Now there are lots of alternatives that could fit the bill here depending on their preference,

So, you could go with a shoe that has a memory foam cushioning like a pair of Sketchers.

Or athletic shoes that are comfortable and have cushioned support, such as the Brooks Ghost 12 running shoes or the Nike Flyknit trainers.

And some nurses prefer a pair of clogs like the Dansko Pro ones above, as these have great arch support and are wipeable from any fluids or spillages that occur on the rounds.

So, find out what your new nurse likes to wear and treat them to their first pair of work shoes.

10. A Few Pairs Of Compression Socks

One way to look after the health of your lower limbs when you're on your feet all day as a nurse is to wear a pair of compression socks.

As these socks help to keep the blood circulating freely, which is great for a number of reasons.

Firstly, as it reduces fatigue and soreness developing as the day wears on.

While also helping to prevent any swelling in their lower limbs and guarding against varicose veins.

So, a few pairs of compression socks is a gift you can give to a new nurse to help them safeguard their health.

And the ones above make an apt gift for nurses, as they have a pulse rate design on them.

11. A Heated Deep Foot Spa For Relaxing

12. A Gift Card For Spa Treatments

While the foot spa is great for a nurses aching feet, don't forget about the rest of their bodies.

As working tirelessly on long shifts can really take it's toll on them.

Not to mention the stress and pressure they come under working in such a fast-paced and emotionally charged environment as a hospital.

So if you really want to treat them and help them take care of themselves, then a gift card for spa treatments will work wonders.

As then they can pamper themselves, switch off, and forget all about the ward for a couple of hours.

Which is great for their mental health, as they can relax, unwind, and let go of their worries, so they come back to their next shift feeling refreshed and ready to go again.

Plus the massages will take the tension out of their necks, shoulders and backs too.

So all in all, this is a really thoughtful gift idea for nurses, and one that is often much needed!

13. An Insulated Water Bottle To Keep Them Hydrated

Staying well hydrated on their shift is really important for nurses.

As this will keep them energised, healthy, mentally alert, and helps them to avoid aching and painful muscles.

However, sometimes fridge space in the nurses room is at a premium, and drinking room temperature water isn't quite as appealing.

So giving a nurse a vacuum insulated water bottle such as the Hydro Flask can make for a really useful and practical gift.

As this will keep their water (or whatever they like to drink) cold for up to 24 hours (so basically their entire shift).

Meaning they'll always have a cold drink on hand, and can keep themselves topped up whenever they need too.

14. A Gift Card For Coffee

Another necessity for many nurses to keep their energy levels up and make sure they stay mentally alert is a strong cup of coffee at regular intervals.

However, the truth of the matter is that the coffee most hospitals supply to their stuff in their break rooms is awful.

And while glugging down a few cups of it will still get them through their shift, it's not the most enjoyable experience.

So giving them a gift card for a local coffee shop (or one in the hospital grounds) can make a huge difference.

As this way they'll have an ample supply of great coffee that they'll actually look forward to drinking, rather than forcing down.

And they can even treat themselves to a muffin or a pastry while they're at it too!

15. A Nurses Bag To Keep All their Stuff In

Nurses end up spending a lot of time at the hospitals they work at.

Because even though the 12-hour shifts seem long enough, this may also be followed by a consecutive shift, which only gives them a couple of hours break in between.

So they could end up being there for a couple of days at a time.

Which means they'll need to bring plenty of stuff with them to work, and this makes a good nurses bag a necessity.

And they'll want one with plenty of compartments and pockets to keep everything organised.

As they'll have to carry a multitude of things, such as toiletries, their lunch and water bottle, stethoscope, scissors, scrubs, and other equipment, as well as pens, highlighters, and their clipboard.

So, getting a nurse a bag such as this one by Nurse Mates is a really useful gift idea.

As it's spacious, has multiple compartments to keep things separated and organised, and has an easy carry handle and shoulder strap.

16. A Sleep Mask For Sleeping Well At Any Time

When you have a run of night shifts to do as a nurse, it can play havoc with your body clock and internal rhythm.

As you come home in the morning feeling wired and awake, and it can be hard to then get to sleep during the daytime.

And if they struggle like this for a few days, it can really affect their energy levels and mental capacity.

Which is bad news and can make it hard to do their job and care for the patients as well as they'd like to.

So, getting a nurse a blackout sleep mask like the Manta Sleep Mask Pro is a top gift idea.

As this will give them the darkness they need to drift off and maintain a deep and restorative sleep no matter what time of day it is.

Leaving them refreshed and full of beans by the time they next have to clock on.

And they're also good if they want to get a quick nap in on the ward between shifts too.

17. A Funny Mug & Wine Glass Set

18. The 'Oh Shit, I Almost Killed You' Book

And finally how about getting them a book that will make them laugh.

As the Oh Shit, I Almost Killed You book by Sonja Schwartzbach is full of the anecdotes, stories, and experiences of a critical care nurse.

And some of the mishaps, situations, and disasters on the ward will have them relating and laughing out loud.

However, there is also plenty in here that will act as guidance and be useful for new nurses to help remove some of their fears and anxieties.

Showing them both what to do, and more importantly what not to do!

So this book makes a decent stocking stuffer, and is good preparation for their first shift as a nurse.

Rounding Up

Graduating from nursing school is a big achievement, and the start of a whole new adventure for new nurses.

So treat them to a gift that will make this transition more seamless.

As there are many things a nurse will need when they start their new career, and it's these items that will make for great gifts to give them.

So I hope you've found something suitable among the graduation gift ideas for new nurses that I've given you here.