Whether it’s for your work bestie or this year’s Secret Santa, chances are good that you have a nurse or other healthcare professional on your gift list this holiday season. Give them something they'll love with this list of the best holiday gifts for nurses and clinicians — and feel free to pick out something for yourself, too!
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15 Great Holiday Gifts for Nurses & Clinicians
The best gifts do more than simply show the nurses and clinicians in your life how much you care. They also help make their day-to-day lives just a little bit easier, more comfortable, and even healthier.
To make it easy to find the best gift, we've split our list into 5 categories. Each one ranges from basic and affordable (think $10 to $20) to deluxe, high-end gifts of $150-$200. Your choice may depend on how well you know your giftee — for example, their shoe size, favorite color, or what food allergies they may have.
Whatever your situation may be, there are plenty of ideas here to get you through the gift-giving season. Happy shopping, and happy holidays from HealthTrust!
> Pro Tip: Always add a note! The most memorable gifts are the ones that come with a thoughtful, hand-written note of appreciation.
Best Gifts for Work/Life Balance
The simplest gifts for nurses and clinicians are often the most useful. Give them something they'll actually use and brighten their day at the same time by upgrading something they use every day.
1. Badge reels, ID clips, and stethoscope tags are instantly useful, and help deliver some much-needed flare during what can be a grey time of year.
- OUR PICK: Find something unique at the Etsy store for nurse badge reels.
2. Pens always come in handy, even in today’s digital world. They’re usually in short supply, too! For less than $10, you can provide a year's supply. Or, if you're shopping for someone you know will appreciate something a little nicer, consider upgrading to a premium weighted or even an engraved pen.
- OUR PICK: Impress them with a stylish, high-end Japanese pen from JetPens.com.
3. Tote bags, backpacks, and lunchboxes — we all use them! Especially useful for travelers, almost everyone totes some kind of bag or backpack to and from work, home, the gym, and a million other places. Insulated lunch boxes and bags also make great gifts for busy healthcare professionals.
- OUR PICK: Colorful, durable, and extremely useful, BOGG bags are always in fashion! Even better, their online store offers discounts to healthcare workers.
Best Gifts for Food & Nutrition
Show them you care with a gift that boosts their health and wellness, from keeping them hydrated with a new water bottle to saving them time (and Grubhub or Uber fees) by delivering great ready-made or easy-to-make meals, right to their home.
4. Meal delivery or subscription box services make it easier to eat healthy every day. For busy nurses and clinicians, having dinner taken care of when they get home — and knowing that it's actually delicious and nutritious — can make all the difference when getting through a long holiday shift.
- OUR PICK: Nurses and hospital employees get a 10% discount on meal kits from Home Chef.
5. Water bottles are essential for staying hydrated during a busy shift. Whether it’s a stainless steel insulated thermos or a stylish Stanley Cup, the choices are almost endless.
- OUR PICK: Tough, incredibly insulated, and available in a huge variety of styles and sizes, Yeti bottles are famous for keeping liquids cold or hot. Even better, healthcare workers can get them at a discounted rate.
6. A portable blender is an affordable way to give a nurse or clinician in your life the gift of on-the-go nutrition via easy smoothies and shakes.
- OUR PICK: Self-cleaning and USB rechargeable, the portable BlendJet 2 blender kit is an amazing gift for less than $50.
Best Gifts for Wellness & Self-Care
What do healthcare professionals really want in a holiday gift? When nurses are actually asked that question, the “resounding answer” is “ways to improve self-care and overall wellness.”
From hand lotion to spa treatment, you can empower the nurses and healthcare workers in your life to get a better handle on self-care with a gift designed to boost health and wellness.
7. A neck or back massager is a great way to offer relief for aches, pains, knots, and other nuisances, and a refresh from a hard day of work (or just life in general).
- OUR PICK: The RENPHO handheld massager is frequently ranked as one of the best and most affordable massagers for on-the-go relief.
8. Lotions, hand creams, balms, and ointments help deliver healthier skin, and a soothing way to relieve the tension (and worry lines) from a long day of work.
- OUR PICK: Burt's Bees offers a bunch of great holiday gift bundles for less than $15. They're also travel friendly!
9. Spa treatments offer more than just a vibe refresh, but a relaxing and refreshing way to spend a day off.
- OUR PICK: Spafinder.com makes it easy to locate a spa for your favorite nurse or clinician, and you can buy gift cards starting at $25.
Best Gifts for Comfort & Sleep
Nothing beats a good night’s sleep, or even just a relaxing night in. But valuable as they are, they’re not always so easy to achieve. You can help a nurse or clinician make the most of their me time with a gift that focuses on maximizing sleep and comfort.
10. A weighted blanket will keep them warm and cozy on those winter nights, and offer a comfy refuge on their days off.
- OUR PICK: Stylish, comfy, and amazingly warm, Gravity weighted blankets make a great gift for those shopping in the $100-$200 price range.
11. Eye masks make it easier to fall asleep and snooze soundly — especially for those on the night shift. From silk to satin, weighted to adjustable, you can find sleep masks that meet virtually any preference.
- OUR PICK: From light blocking to side sleeping, MZOO eye masks are available in a ton of options for about $20.
Best Gifts for Feet & Fashion
There aren't many other jobs where you don't just have to spend all day on your feet, but wear specialty clothing and gear, too. That’s why comfy shoes, healthy socks, and stylish scrubs make such great gifts for nurses and clinicians.
12. A foot spa or massager can make a huge difference after a day spent almost entirely on your feet — especially for those with chronic foot pain.
- OUR PICK: The Reflexology Shiatsu Foot Massager from BCP has been called the best foot massager for plantar fasciitis, a common ailment among clinicians.
13. Socks or leggings boost comfort and wellness, with compression socks often recommended as a way to improve circulation and avoid swelling for those who spend a lot of time on their feet.
- OUR PICK: Famous for their scrubs, FIGS also offers a ton of options for compression socks, plus a 15% discount for new customers.
14. Comfortable shoes are essential for clinical workers. If you’re looking to invest in a gift of $100 or more, and you know your giftee’s size and preference, new shoes are an incredibly thoughtful gift.
- OUR PICK: Dansko Professional Slip-On Clogs almost always make the list of best shoes for nurses. They sell for between $100-$150, and are easy to find — in fact, your favorite retailer may have them on sale right now.
15. Specialized scrubs offer a boost of warmth, color, or fashion to a healthcare worker's everyday routine. They're a great gift if you’re confident of the recipient’s size. If you’re not, a gift card for popular brands like FIGS, Jaanuu or Wink could do the trick.
- OUR PICK: For a closer look at the best options for warmth, functionality, affordability, and other factors, check out our list of the best scrubs.
> Pro Tip: Did you know you can get discounts of up to 20% on brands like Adidas, Nike, and many others? Learn more with our guide to the best discounts for healthcare professionals.
Give Yourself the Gift of a Great New Career!
Looking for a new healthcare job? We’ve got opportunities in your specialty! Apply directly at the HealthTrust jobsite for priority placement and pay rates on exclusive jobs across the U.S.A.
