The Best Gifts for Nurses [2025 Edition]
Main image courtesy of Registered Nursing.
Nurses are on the front lines in a variety of healthcare fields, offering their skills, expertise, and compassion to patients across the world. Their tireless dedication to those in their care means they often tend to put everyone else’s needs above their own. Unfortunately this can often lead to burnout, especially when they’re working in a facility that’s short on staff. According to one study, around 62% of nurses have experienced burnout. These healthcare heroes don’t like to complain and they’ll always take on more work if that’s what needs to be done, which is why if you know a nurse, take the time to show them some appreciation with one of our best gifts for nurses!
No matter if it’s for their birthday, the holidays, a work anniversary, graduation, or for no reason at all, nurses deserve our heartfelt thanks for all they do to ensure the safety and comfort of patients. Wondering what to get a nurse in your life? Well we have 8 can’t-miss options right here, including:
Gifts that will help them unwind after a long shift
The best gifts for nurses that can help them give 100% each day
Fun gifts that are sure to bring a smile to their face
The best gifts for nurses (that they actually want!)
Choose any one of these fantastic gifts for nurses, or more than one!
We know nurses are on their feet a lot, and they’re busy from the start of their shift until it’s time to leave. That’s why at the top of our list are gifts that can help them relax and find a little serenity after a crazy day. After all, they deserve it!
Gifts to help nurses unwind and relax
1. Shoulder or foot massager
Any nurse would give a big thank you to someone who gifts them a way to help work out the stress in their shoulders or rejuvenate tired feet. Image courtesy of Amazon.
At the top of every nurse’s wishlist is either a shoulder massager or a foot massager. Both of these items would make a wonderfully thoughtful gift for a nurse who wants nothing more than to de-stress after a long shift. This shoulder massager from NeckTek offers relief to your neck, shoulders, and upper back with the help of deep tissue kneading. It features 8 Shiatsu nodes that can ease stiffness and help to relax fatigued muscles. The nurse in your life can easily strap it over their shoulders and sit back and relax while the stress from the day is worked out of their muscles. It offers three speeds to choose from, as well as an adjustable level of intensity, not to mention it will stay in place thanks to the handy straps. This massager will auto turn off in 15 minutes, but you can also turn it off manually. It only takes 15 minutes a day to help prevent pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, which can linger long after their work day is done.
Give a nurse the gift of a foot massage to help them keep their feet feeling their best. Image courtesy of Target.
Alternatively, you could choose to give a nurse a foot massager instead. Nursing is a profession that requires people to be on their feet most of the day, which means they’d definitely appreciate a way to help their sore, tired feet feel better by the time of their next shift. This foot massager would make an excellent gift for a nurse and it offers a variety of massage modes, heat, and air compression that is adjustable. It’s designed to target foot reflex zones that will relieve tense muscles and sore feet. This massager makes it easy to slip feet in and out, and the foot sleeves are washable.
2. Soothing gift basket
A relaxing gift box is hands down one of the best gifts for nurses that you can get! Image courtesy of Giftbox Love.
When nurses come home, they’d love nothing more than to take a load off and relax. Sometimes it can be hard after a long day, but not when they have a thoughtful friend or family member who gives them this fantastic gift basket. When it’s time to put themselves first, most nurses can think of nothing they’d rather do than sit back on the couch with a cozy blanket, or to enjoy a long soak in the bath. With this gift basket, they can easily do both, whenever they choose! In this gift you’ll find:
A wonderfully cozy blanket that’s soft to the touch and perfect to cuddle up to on cold days, or when they just want to get a quick nap.
Fuzzy socks are a must when it’s time to lounge around the house.
A 2 oz. bottle of body butter is essential for those in a profession that requires them to wash their hands all the time. Not to mention it’s perfect at keeping arms and legs moisturized as well.
Lavender sugar scrub is the perfect way to exfoliate in the bath or shower.
A scented candle and matches will create a spa-like atmosphere, or just make their house smell amazing.
And finally, gourmet sea salt caramels that are a well-deserved treat whenever they want to indulge.
3. Personalized wine glasses
Give the gift of a cute wine glass that pays homage to their chosen profession. Image courtesy of Etsy.
If the nurse in your life likes to have a glass of wine at the end of the day, why not get them some stemless wine glasses that show they take pride in their nursing profession? These adorable glasses hold 17 oz. of their favorite vintage, and feature a heartbeat along with a stethoscope in the shape of a heart. Nurses really are the beating heart of the healthcare profession, and their kindness and gentle treatment of patients is much appreciated in a variety of specialties.
So at the end of a particularly long day, the nurse you know is definitely going to reach for this glass while they enjoy a sip of wine and have a little time to themselves.
Gifts that can help nurses be at their best
We all know nurses need the right tools to succeed, which is why another great idea is to give them a practical gift that they can definitely use on a daily basis.
4. Nurse notebooks and pens
Having a cute set of notebooks and pens is a great gift for nurses who are always going from patient to patient. Image courtesy of Amazon.
Nurses are managing multiple patients at once, and they need to be able to keep track of all their vital information. They are also pulled in different directions throughout their shift, which means they may need to make notes about something or someone they need to check on. You’ll always see nurses with pens and small notebooks because those are so easy to fit in the pockets of their scrubs and sweaters. Chances are a nurse you know goes through a lot of pens and paper, so why not get them something incredibly useful (but still stylish) like this notebook and pen set?
Included you’ll find three spiral notebooks with 80 sheets of perforated pages. You’ll also get a set of five black gel pens that come in cute, calming pastels with ink that is designed to stay on the page and not smudge or smear. In addition, each set includes 12 colors of sticky notes that can be used anywhere! This useful gift is sure to help a nurse you know stay organized and on top of everything they need to take care of.
5. Compression socks
What nurse wouldn't love a pair of compression socks in fun, vibrant colors? Image courtesy of Crazy Compression.
Nurses and other people who are constantly on their feet certainly know the benefits of good compression socks. These specialized socks are designed to give those wearing them added support as well as better blood flow throughout their legs. Going through long shifts means little time to sit down, which is why compression socks are so popular with nurses and other healthcare professionals. You could pick up socks in black or white, but why not get them a pair that really let them show off some of their personality! Crazy Compression offers socks in men’s and women’s sizes as well as a colorful array of choices. Every pair is made in North Carolina and features padded soles, seamless toes, moisture wicking fabric, and reinforced stitching.
6. Water tumbler
All nurses know that staying hydrated throughout the day ensures they’re ready to meet any challenge head on. Image courtesy of Stanley.
It’s so important to stay hydrated, and nurses are no exception. While they may not have much time to eat and rest during a busy day, they can still take the time to get some sips of water. That’s why we suggest getting a nurse in your life a Stanley tumbler, because it will keep their water cool all day, and they won’t have to worry about constantly refilling it. These popular water bottles are available in 5 sizes, and in all kinds of colors. Did you know you can also customize the container as well? That’s right, you can include their name or their initials to the tumbler, so there will never be a question as to whose it is!
Gifts for fun
Because nurses deserve to have some fun too!
7. Gift cards
All nurses deserve to spend their time away from their job relaxing, enjoying hobbies, being with friends and family, or just treating themselves to a little pampering. One of the best ways you can ensure a nurse will use and absolutely love their gift is if you choose to get them a gift card. Folks adore receiving gift cards because it gives them the freedom to decide what they want to redeem it with. And if you’d like to give a special nurse a gift card, head over to Perfect Gift, because they have a variety of ways you can send one.
Choose to send a nurse a gift card to their favorite merchant so they can enjoy themselves! Some of the most popular brands for nurses include:
Ulta or Sephora for all their makeup, skincare, and hair care needs
Marshalls, where they can pick up clothes or home goods
Ruth’s Chris or Chipotle for a delicious meal
Or Dunkin’ if they love having their coffee in the morning!
Additionally you can also send a customized Visa gift card (either an e-gift or a physical gift card) and include a photo and a customized message.
Or opt to get them PerfectGift+ that allows the recipient to choose the merchant they want to spend the balance on, transfer it to their bank account or debit/credit card, or choose to get a versatile Visa gift card.
8. Funny badge reel
A silly badge reel is something every nurse could use! Image courtesy of Uniform Advantage.
Another fun gift for a nurse would be to gift them a cute badge reel. Nurses and health practitioners often need quite a few ID cards and badges to go about their job each day. That doesn’t mean the badge reel has to be boring! There are so many cute badge reels out there, whether it’s an adorable kitty with a ball of yarn, a smiley face, flower, a sloth, or a gnome nurse, why not get them something that will make them smile each time they put it on? This inexpensive gift would be a great addition to one of the pricier gifts on this list, or as an accompaniment to a PerfectGift gift card.
Which gift will you give to a nurse in your life?
Nurses are some of the most compassionate people in the world, and they can easily make patients feel more comfortable with their kind, friendly demeanor. They work hard to care for a variety of medical problems, and are often put in challenging situations that require their specific expertise and knowledge. Getting them a gift to thank them for all that they do is a great way to show your appreciation, so which one of these gifts for nurses will you pick up first?
