Ok I honestly didn't know this was a real thing. But I was looking through hospital bag list on Pinterest and like everyone of them says nurses thank you gift. So is anyone doing this? If so what are you doing? A basket of goodies? Thank you notes? I feel really bad now that I didn't do something for the nurses when my DS was born 3 years ago.
Re: Nurses thank you???
That being said, I think I will do something like an edible arrangement (maybe one for them and one for me!). On the other board I read a nurse's post that they don't tend to eat homemade treats because you just never know and while they appreciate any thought, they tend to always get sugary treats so things like a fruit basket actually are way more likely to be munched on.
I I
**edit...fixing my grammar!
1) Pleasant Patients,
2) Hearing "Thank You" or "Good Job" from time to time, and
3) If you gift, they usually all agree that treats are the best since they have such a hard time making time for meals.
If you feel like it, however, a thank you note wouldn't be weird. And sweets are generally always appreciated. Monetary gifts are a no-no, as is anything that can't be shared with the entire shift. i.e.: gift cards, bottle of wine, etc.
Depending on the time of day, I may have my husband get donuts, muffins, cookies, or something similar to thank the nurses on shift when we deliver.
Baby GIRL born 9/16/201
BFP! EDD 8/1/2019 CP 4w2d
I will probably write a thank you note and then maybe get something special for my good friend who is an L&D nurse outside of that.
DH: 34
Married: May 2011
TTC #1: May 2015
DS: 10/20/2016
TTC #2: June 2019
#2 EDD: 2/20/2020
ETA: I also really like the idea I'm reading here about writing a thank you note. It'll mean more.
As as a healthcare professional, I would feel very uncomfortable if I was offered a gift card, and I sure as heck wouldn't take it. I'd side eye the hell out of any nurse or tech that did, too.
Baby GIRL born 9/16/201
BFP! EDD 8/1/2019 CP 4w2d
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
Carry on.
P.s. I don't watch the Kardashians but the things I have read that Kourtney and Scott have said make me laugh. And then to add to that I hate that their names are all spelled with a K. I feel like their mom was branding them before they were born. OR she's just really self absorbed because her name starts with a K so everyone's did. (Random comments about your gif over
@maf9866 - To preface - I'm in healthcare. This is my 3rd pregnancy. There's always a thread for "nurse thank you's" on every BMB. It's well meaning, I get it.
Everybody gets all excited trying to think of gifts to give to people for *doing their job* months before they have even met this team of people, and before they know whether or not these HCP's are even doing a halfway decent job or not. In no other situation (that I've come across) does this phenomenon occur. You don't plan how much you're going to tip your server before going out to a really nice restaurant. I know that's a weak analogy in comparison to the people who (hopefully) safely deliver your child into the world, and I truly do hope that you get the best team that your county or province or whatever has to offer. However....your team could also be utter shite. For most of us (at best) your baby's birth day will be an utterly average day at work for them.
Definitely say thanks! It's the polite thing to do.Even if you don't like the way your birth went, no doubt there's tons of work your nurses and others have done behind the scenes to try and make things safe and comfortable for you. I lost my first baby late in second tri, and you bet I wrote those nurses and doctors my most heartfelt thanks for the way they handled things.
All the talk of gifts and etc just tend to rub me the wrong way. *Steps off soapbox* I'm fully aware that I'm probably in the minority here. However, I just want people to know that if they forget to bring donuts and starbucks gift cards in their hosptial bag - it's really not expected.
Edit: I just reread this and I want to clarify that I don't think all teachers expect gifts. I have meet a few who do, but I don't think they speak for everyone. But I do thinks parents feel the obligation to get the gifts regardless. 'Teacher' is automatically on my sisters Christmas gift list.
edit to add: I did write a little thank-you note to the nurse who was so supportive and did an awesome job during my delivery. However, I also had a nurse who was just awful to me and pushing her own agenda the whole time, so you bet I did not feel like offering a gift to the whole team.
I teach college and I've only gotten one or two gifts over the years, things like Christmas cookies or a candy bar. I've also gotten a few nice notes saying how much a student enjoyed and benefited from my class - and honestly, the note means more, to me anyway.
SIDE RANT
The whole "be a good patient" thing rubs me the wrong way, too. You are not an inconvenience to them [the nurses]. You are the reason they have a job. They are there to work with you. I feel like so often people get caught up in doing what the nurse (or doctor for that matter) tells them that they forget to advocate for themselves and their wishes because they fear being labeled a "bad patient" and receiving inadequate/subpar care. Same idea for giving gifts in the hospital. As a healthcare worker, you are strictly warned about this because of the perceived impropriety of giving better/worse care because the patient got you something.