The most wonderful time of the year is right around the corner, so it’s high time you start preparing presents for your friends and family. A practical and helpful gift will surely be appreciated by those who have loved ones in the nursing profession or aspiring nurses. We have rounded up excellent holiday gift ideas for nursing students.

Educational gift ideas for nursing students

As they still earn their bachelor’s degrees, nursing students dedicate much of their time to learning and studying. Educational presents such as books, flashcards, and reviewers make good gift ideas for nursing students to help them get through college. 

Here are some educational gift ideas for nursing students that you may want to consider:

Nursing books

Textbooks are essential to nursing students because they are their reference materials during lectures and study time. Nursing books can get quite costly, especially when bought brand new.

A new set of nursing books will surely make the receiver happy. If new books are outside your budget, you may also opt for second-hand books from nursing graduates. Ensure that the nursing books you will give are still in mint condition and usable.

Human Anatomy and Physiology flashcards

Nursing students spend many waking hours studying and reviewing the human body. Human anatomy and physiology are essential in their line of work when they become nurses in the future. 

To help them with these subjects, one of the practical holiday gift ideas for nursing students is a set of human anatomy and physiology flashcards. With these flashcards, nursing students won’t have to scan through their notes to look for facts when reviewing. Convenient, easy to use, and educational!

NCLEX reviewers

Once a nursing student gets their bachelor’s degree, the next step is taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse. Nursing students and graduates gearing up for the NCLEX will surely be ecstatic when they receive reviewers as a present.

If you’re looking for an educational gift for nursing students, NCLEX reviewers are a good choice. These reviewers contain practice questions and tips to help nursing students ace the NCLEX.

Apparel gift ideas for nursing students

In the search for a present that you know your nursing student recipient will use? Apparel such as scrubs, shoes, and other valuable garments will surely be put to good use.

You may want to consider the apparel gift ideas for nursing students below:

Scrubs

Scrubs are worn not only by registered nurses but by nursing students, too, when they go on duty as student nurses. Uniforms during shifts as student nurses depend on the healthcare facility, but some do require scrubs, especially during lab work.

There are many scrub brands and designs in the market. One famous brand in the healthcare community is Figs. This brand has a wonderful line of scrubs for men and women with various designs and colors.

Shoes

Footwear is another excellent and practical gift idea for nursing students. Having comfortable shoes for classes or duty will help nursing students focus more on their tasks instead of worrying about the pain in their soles or heels.

Get suitable quality footwear as a holiday present. You may give black or white shoes for everyday wear depending on the uniform code of their university. Likewise, you may also provide a pair of rubber shoes or clogs for duty.

Socks

On a tight budget but still, want to give apparel as a present? Take our word for it: Socks are highly appreciated! A pair of comfy cotton socks are useful for nursing students, especially if these are compression socks.

Compression socks reduce the chances of foot swelling and varicose veins, often resulting from being on one’s feet for hours during shifts. If you want to be more personal, pick socks with a cute design that matches the recipient’s personality.

Practical gift ideas for nursing students

Aside from books and apparel, there are other practical items that nursing students will love to receive. These items can be used during their shift as student nurses or lectures and laboratories in their university.

Look at our list of practical gift ideas for nursing students:

Stethoscope

If there’s one thing that an aspiring healthcare professional would be delighted to receive, it would be a stethoscope. Having their stethoscope is considered an achievement by aspiring nurses.

A brand that is preferred by nurses and doctors alike is Littmann. There are various colors to choose from, such as classic black and other bright choices like pink, purple, and blue, to name a few.

Nursing bag

Nursing students must have a set of supplies they will use during their practical lessons. Help your nursing student friend stay organized by giving them a nursing bag. 

Bags with pockets and built-in organizers are available in many stores. These come in different styles, such as backpacks, duffels, or even satchels. Apart from classic colors like black, white, and gray, there are also bags with quirky and fun designs and colors.

Penlight

Besides a stethoscope, one piece of equipment that nurses usually carry is a penlight. During duty, penlights check and evaluate a patient’s pupils, mouth, and throat. These also come in handy in the dark since they can double as flashlights.

Clipboard

Jotting down notes is one of the crucial tasks that nurses and nursing students alike have to do in their line of work. Having a study clipboard on hand can be very advantageous since it provides support when writing.

Clipboards come in different colors, sizes, and styles; you can give one as a holiday present to a nursing student. Multi-functional clipboards also double as a folder with pockets to store important papers and documents in.

Smart watch

Though it can be pretty pricey, a smartwatch makes it to our list of practical gift ideas for nursing students. Not only will they be able to keep track of the time crucial in the nursing profession, but they will also have access to the other features that come with their smartwatch.

Start with basic smartwatches that count the steps taken, or if your budget permits, go with more advanced smart watches that monitor sleep, heart rate, and other details. Some can even be synced to the owner’s mobile phone.

Insulated tumbler

One thing that is always present in a nursing student’s bag or desk is a tumbler. It stores water for hydration or coffee for pulling off all-nighters. A quality tumbler handling hot and cold drinks is a practical and valuable gift for nursing students.

Many brands in the market offer vacuum-insulated tumblers that can keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours. There are also many designs, such as bottles, mugs, and flasks. 

Accessory gift ideas for nursing students

Allow nursing students to freely express themselves and their personalities even when in university or healthcare facilities by giving accessories this holiday. 

Here is what we have for accessory gift ideas for nursing students:

ID or badge holder

Universities often require their students to wear their IDs on school premises or in the hospitals where they have their duty. While many universities have lanyards and slings, some allow clip-on badge holders.

If your nursing student friend happens to be in a place that uses badge holders, you may give them a fun and personalized clip-on. You may choose from inspirational, quirky, and colorful designs that are readily available online or in-store.

Stethoscope tag

Stethoscopes are pretty expensive, so it would be painful to lose one. Nursing students can get busy, so it’s not impossible to misplace or lose a stethoscope between tasks. A stethoscope tag can help prevent this.

Stethoscope tags can either be leather, acrylic, or any other material. You can buy stethoscope tags with cute designs, or you may opt to have one personalized with the recipient's name or the stethoscope owner. This is a cute and thoughtful gift idea for nursing students.

Self-care gift ideas for nursing students

With all the hustle and bustle of nursing student life, squeezing in a few minutes of self-care wouldn't hurt. Remind your nursing student friends to take care of themselves by giving personal care presents.

Check out these self-care gift ideas for nursing students for their me-time:

Blackout curtains

Some nursing students spend their nights studying and sleeping during daytime or after their exams. Light tends to seep in, and it can get uncomfortable, especially for those who prefer to sleep in complete darkness.

Some curtains are not thick enough to keep the light out. Blackout curtains exist to address this problem. This type of curtain is thick enough to prevent light from entering the room and keep the area dark for a good and restful sleep.

Eye mask

If blackout curtains are not an option, then an eye mask is an alternative to peaceful sleep during the day. It may be small, but it is a valuable gift for nursing students who need enough rest and sleep to power through.

Silk, cotton, and wool are used to make eye masks. Choose one which you feel the recipient will feel comfortable wearing. 

Skincare

Skincare is life. Stress brought about by studies, and exams can take a toll on one’s skin and lead to breakouts. Skincare products make thoughtful gift ideas for nursing students.

With your present, your nursing student friend will still look good even when subjected to so much pressure. Choose products that help with pimples, eyebags, and blotches on the skin as these are common among students.

Scented candles

Aromatherapy can help when you want to set the mood to serene and calm. This much-needed time for relaxation is essential for nursing students to stay sane after spending hours studying, reviewing, and even going on duty as student nurses.

When you want to give a self-care present but have no gift ideas for nursing students, go to your nearest home goods or specialty store and get a pack of scented candles. Trust us when we say this makes a good present for nursing students — or anyone, for that matter!

Spa and massage gift vouchers

Nursing students deserve pampering, too, so give them the gift of pampering time through spa and massage gift vouchers. Many spa and massage centers offer gift vouchers that the recipient can claim in their free time.

Spa and massage vouchers will remind your nursing student friends that they also deserve to receive the same quality of care that they give their patients. 

Electronic massager

Have a relatively big budget for holiday presents? Give a massager as a present to your nursing student buddies. Long hours of sitting, studying, and standing during the shift can cause back, neck, and foot pain. 

A back, foot, or neck massager is one lovely and practical gift to eliminate these post-study and post-shift body aches and pains. The good thing about these massagers is they can be used anytime, anywhere, and even in the convenience of one’s home.

Adult coloring books

Coloring books are quite therapeutic, so it’s no wonder why adults turn to coloring books for their quiet time. Adult coloring books are great for relaxing while improving one’s motor skills. 

These coloring books have become popular recently. You can find many designs and themes, such as flowers, shapes, mandalas, and even themes dedicated to nursing.

Self-help and inspirational books

Motivational and inspirational books are good to read during downtime. These will inspire aspiring nurses to keep moving forward but reading these will also help them destress and relax.

Give self-help and inspirational books such as Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul or Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Nurses. You may also give books of poems and short stories to keep them entertained and inspired.

Streaming app subscriptions

Entertainment is one way to let go and feel relaxed after a stressful day of studying and reviews. 

Give nursing students subscriptions to apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, and the like so they can have a marathon during their breaks or free time. These streaming services have a wide range of movies and series in different genres.

Food and beverage gift cards

Nothing quite like enjoying good food or a cup of good coffee to start or end your day. Gift cards from popular food chains and coffee shops are great gift ideas for nursing students. Go to your favorite restaurants and cafes and ask if they offer gift cards, which they most likely do.

Watch your nursing student friend squeal in joy and excitement when they see you giving her free food and drinks from her favorite restaurant.

The best holiday gift ideas for nursing students

There are countless holiday gift ideas for nursing students, from books to practical things such as stethoscopes and nursing bags. Nursing students will truly appreciate all these items when they receive them. Pick a gift that you feel is the most practical, useful, and needed by your nursing student recipient.