Nursing students are noble individuals who are dedicated to saving lives, and they deserve recognition. If you’re looking for ideas for gifts for nursing students, you’re in luck: We’ve curated a huge list to help you get started. Check them out below!
Note: These ideas work well for students, recent graduates, and professionals already working in the medical field.
The 25 Best Gifts for Nursing Students in 2024
Novelty Gifts for Nurses and Nursing Students
Looking for a fun and affordable gift with some practicality? One of these novelty gifts for nursing students might be the perfect present.
1. Nurse Survival Kit Cosmetic Bag
Healthcare professionals are often busy and frequently in a rush. It’s always a good idea for them to keep their daily essentials handy.
One way to do that is with this handy nurse survival kit. This zip-up bag makes a great gift for nurses (and nurses-in-training), keeping small items and essentials together in one place instead of rattling around in their nursing bags.
2. Ultra-Soft, Nurse-Themed Blanket
For a practical gift that’s also cozy, consider an ultra-soft nurse-themed blanket. Nurses and healthcare workers are constantly moving around or standing on their feet. It’s often the same for many students. Why not give them a perfect gift to snuggle under after a long shift?
This blanket is printed with a quilt-style design on one side. It’s warm and soft, allowing for comfort and relaxation – especially for long hours spent sitting in a studying chair!
If you know their size, you can also consider purchasing them some themed scrubs!
3. Best Nurse Ever Mug
By now, everyone knows that mugs make fantastic novelty gifts. If you’re looking for a gift for a new nurse, this Best Nurse Ever mug is a solid option. Many nurses rely on coffee to get them through their long days, making this novelty mug an especially practical present.
4. Best Nurse Ever Stemless Wine Glass
If your intended recipient enjoys wine, a stemless wine glass is one of many great nurse gift ideas. This glass is high quality and etched (not printed). This ensures that the text will remain visible over the years. It’s also boxed individually, making it easy to gift wrap if you intend to hand it to the recipient personally. The best part? It’s completely dishwasher-safe!
5. Nurse-Themed Coloring Book
Looking for gifts for female nursing students? You might be surprised to discover that there are nurse-themed adult coloring books. This book includes 40 designs for your recipient to color in, allowing them to “turn off” their brain and unwind after an exhausting day of work or nursing school.
The designs are printed single-sided on removable thick paper. This means that your recipient can use felt tips, markers, coloring pencils, and gel pens.
6. Care Package for Nurses
A care package is an excellent gift for a nursing student. This one is a great option for those who love pink, cute, and useful trinkets. The set contains a nurse-themed stainless steel tumbler (with a straw), an appreciation card, an adorable bandaid clip for ID badges, fluffy socks, and a keychain that says, “You make a difference.”
Self-Care and Relaxing Gifts for Nurses
Nursing students and medical professionals don’t always have time to relax and pamper themselves. These gifts make it possible to grab some quick and easy self-care during rare downtime.
7. Burt’s Bees Hand Repair Kit
A Burt’s Bees Hand Repair Kit makes the perfect unisex gift for a nursing student. Healthcare workers have to wash and/or sanitize their hands often, leading to dry, cracked skin. This hand repair kit contains a lemon butter cuticle cream, almond milk beeswax hand creme, and shea butter hand repair cream to restore moisture. It also comes with cotton gloves to encourage the creams to sink into the skin.
8. Energizing Shower Steamer Aromatherapy Tablet
Busy nurses and nursing students don’t always get the chance to sit in a nice, long, relaxing bath. Instead, give them some energizing shower steamer aromatherapy tablets. The essential oils in this pack provide a spa-like retreat during a quick shower. Proudly made in America, they feature an energizing citrus scent that can uplift a tired person, or lavender for a more relaxing shower.
9. Tempur-Pedic Sleep Mask
Sleep is vitally important when you’re in school or working in healthcare. The quality of your sleep also matters, making this Tempur-Pedic sleeping mask the best gift for a nursing student who has trouble catching zzzs.
Author Note: I personally own this product, and it’s made a massive difference in the quality of my sleep. Not only does it block out all the light, but it’s also incredibly soft without putting pressure on my eyes.
10. Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Herbal Tea Variety Pack
It can be challenging for busy students to relax before bed. If you’re looking for thoughtful nursing student gift ideas, this Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Herbal Tea Variety Pack might be the perfect option.
We love how these flavor selections help soothe and relax. Plus, the tea bags are sustainable!
Practical Gifts for Nurses
Practical gifts are often the best to give (and receive). These ideas include some of the most sensible items that nursing students can use every single day.
11. Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is a game-changer for eating healthy and saving money. They make perfect gifts for nursing students (male or female). This technological wonder means that cooking a lovely dinner takes a few minutes.
Check Price on Amazon or Check Price at Instant Home
12. Infuser Water Bottle
Water is something that we can’t live without, but some days, plain water gets boring. An infuser water bottle is one of many practical gifts for nursing students. It allows your recipient to infuse and flavor their water however they like, making it easier to get the recommended daily intake. This bottle is BPA-Free and comes with a bottle cleaner sponge, too.
13. Insulated Water Bottle
Double-walled insulated bottles are incredibly practical nursing student gifts. These come in various sizes and lid types, but the one I love has a straw lid and can hold up to 24 ounces of hot or cold liquid. If your intended recipient enjoys ice-cold water, they won’t have to worry about their water getting warm throughout the day with this HydroFlask!
14. Compression Socks
Anyone who’s active on their feet can benefit from compression socks. They’re thoughtful yet practical gifts for new nurses, as they help support the muscles and reduce the impact of standing and walking. These compression socks in particular are unisex, though you can also find sets in various designs!
15. Nursing Bag
Looking for practical gift ideas for nursing students? You can’t get any more practical than a nursing bag! This particular item can hold personal items, medical supplies and tools, face masks, and just about anything a nursing student or professional may need. It even has a pocket for laptops up to 15.6”, tablets, and iPads. We appreciate that the bag comes in light grey, dark grey, grey floral, and black.
Since crossbody straps aren’t the best for carrying heavy loads, consider backpacks for nursing students, too!
16. Insulated Coffee Cup
An insulated coffee cup can be a lifesaver on days when your favorite nurse (or nursing student) just hasn’t gotten enough sleep. Choose a brand you trust, like this Yeti product. It keeps beverages hot for longer than a standard ceramic mug. It also comes in a ton of colors, so choose something a bit more personal. Looking for birthday gifts for nursing students? This might be it!
17. Insulated Lunch Bag
Eating out all the time can be expensive (not to mention unhealthy). An insulated lunch bag means that meal-prepped food can stay hot and appetizing. This bag is spacious, has pockets for various items, and comes in various colors.
Gifts for Nurses Under $30
Presents don’t always have to be expensive – it really is the thought that counts. These “$30 and below” gift ideas are useful yet practical.
18. ID Badge Reels
Nurses often have to walk around with ID badges, access cards, and keys. ID badge reels keep everything together in one place. Retractable reels (such as this one) also make it convenient to use keys or access cards without getting tangled up in cords.
Badge reels also come in a range of patterns, like these marbled designs.
19. Pen Light
Since every nurse will need a pen light at some point, they make excellent nursing school gifts. This two-pack comes in a variety of colors and includes a pupil gauge as well as a 5-centimeter ruler. The aluminum-body pen lights are also designed to protect the bulb from damage or breakage in case of drops or bumps.
20. A Comfortable Refillable Pen
A pen can seem like a boring present to give someone. However, nurses (and nursing students) will inevitably do a lot of writing. Once they try a well-designed, perfectly balanced pen, they’ll never look back. This Pilot Dr. Grip pen comes in fine or medium point, is refillable, and allows for a lot of writing without too much hand fatigue. They make for the perfect Christmas gifts for nursing students, whether standalone or in personalized care packages.
21. A Yearly Planner
Busy nurses and nursing students could always use a little help with getting organized. This hardcover planner can be just the tool they need to keep all of their appointments and important dates in check.
This 14-month planner is also designed with durability in mind. After all, there’s a pretty good chance it will see a lot of use and regular wear and tear. There are also a few bonus features, such as a sticky note set and a page finder.
Graduation Gifts for Nurses
Fresh nursing graduates can use a little extra help to get them started on their brand-new careers. These gift ideas can help in many ways!
22. Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination (8th Edition)
Academic materials might not sound like the most exciting gifts for a nursing student’s graduation, but they might be more helpful than you think. Nursing graduates will eventually need to take the NCLEX if they want to be able to work as nurses.
This Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Exam book can help your favorite nursing graduate prepare for one of the most intimidating exams of their life. The reviewer includes more than 5,200 practice questions, as well as plenty of online testing practice. There’s also a 75-question comprehensive test that covers all the book’s topics. The questions are divided into the same percentages that match the topics in the NCLEX-RN tests. You can also direct your recipient to a few tips for passing the NCLEX-RN.
23. Scrubcheats Clinical Cheat Sheets
Whether they’re fresh graduates or have been working professionals for a long time, nurses sometimes need a little help to remember things. This is where Scrubcheats Clinical Cheat Sheets can save the day.
Scrubcheats includes 56 cheat sheets that are color-coded, pocket-sized, and laminated. This makes them durable for day-to-day use. Each card is packed with vital clinical material. They can also help save time, as nurses no longer have to search Google or pore through books for information that’s at their fingertips!
24. 3M Littman Classic III Monitoring Stethoscope
The 3M Littman Stethoscope (specifically the Classic III) is one of the best, most reliable products on the market today. It helps nurses assess and monitor patients in non-critical care environments, such as general wards, medical offices, urgent care, ambulatory clinics, and OB/GYN. It’s a great stethoscope that any nursing graduate would love and use through many years.
If this particular stethoscope doesn’t feel like the right fit, you can check out our curated list of the best stethoscopes for nursing students.
25. Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum might feel like an excessive gift for a fresh nursing graduate, but if they’re moving into their own place, it can be incredibly helpful. Not having to vacuum manually can take a load off if the future nurse needs to study for the NCLEX-RN, is job hunting, or is simply exhausted.
Conclusion
With so many options, it can be tricky to know what to get a nursing student. I hope that my curated list has helped you choose meaningful and practical gifts for nursing students. And don’t forget: You always have the option of giving gift cards if you think it’s the better option!
Looking for something to give your professor instead? Check out our favorite gifts for professors.
Chriselle has been a passionate professional content writer for over 10 years. She writes educational content for The Grad Cafe, Productivity Spot, The College Monk, and other digital publications. When she isn't busy writing, she spends her time streaming video games and learning new skills.
