7 Ideas for Healthcare Staff Appreciation Gifts

Working in the healthcare industry can be taxing. From nurses to medical assistants, staff are pouring so much intensive effort into each day to ensure the needs of every patient are met. If you’re a facility leader, giving out staff appreciation gifts can be a great way to ensure that these efforts are being recognized and valued.

But what, exactly, are good gifts for hospital staff? While everyone has different tastes, being intentional about your gift selection can go a long way. We’ll share a range of gift ideas to help you select ones that are best suited for your staff.

7 Appreciation Gifts for Staff at Your Facility

Staff appreciation gifts can be practical, personal, or even funny and clever. There’s simply no one-size-fits all approach to gift giving. But as a leader who cares about your staff, you likely want to show genuine appreciation without overstepping the culture at your facility.

To provide you with some options, here are seven staff appreciation gift ideas that are great for all types of healthcare workers. You can either give out these items individually or mix and match them to create a more diverse gift package.

1. Coffee, tea, or snacks
2. Personalized tumbler
3. Fun desk trinkets
4. Lighthearted superlative awards
5. Personalized pens
6. Self-care or spa kit
7. Heartfelt thank you card

1. Coffee, Tea, or Snacks

Healthcare workers often work very early or odd hours, so they’re always looking for an extra kick of energy. If you’re seeking practical gifts for staff appreciation, giving out a nice set of coffee pods, tea bags, or snacks (for those who don’t drink caffeine) can be a simple yet thoughtful gesture.

Popular Picks:

• Starbucks ground coffee variety pack
• Tazo tea bags sampler assortment variety pack
• Cravebox healthy care package

For an Added Touch:

• Survey staff about food allergies and preferences for coffee vs. tea.
• Select high-energy snacks that will help keep your staff sustained.

2. Personalized Tumbler

If you’re looking for more personalized employee appreciation gifts that are still practical, tumblers are a great option. Help your staff stay hydrated or caffeinated with a tumbler that also makes them smile. You can find tumblers with funny or motivational quotes, or add personal monograms.

Popular Picks:

• Customizable Yeti tumbler
• Chaos coordinator tumbler

For an Added Touch:

• Fill tumblers with individually wrapped candies or chocolates.

3. Fun Desk Trinkets

Finding more ways to add joy to the physical workspace is an often overlooked way to uplift the spirits of healthcare workers. Gift little trinkets and decorations that can spruce up workstations as a fun way to show appreciation for your staff.

Popular Picks:

• Customizable succulents
• Personalized name plates

4. Lighthearted Superlative Awards

If you’re looking for more unique gifts for employees, consider creating custom badges or trophies embroidered with lighthearted superlatives for each of your staff. Maybe there’s a nurse on the floor who’s most likely to start an IV for others, or a medical biller who drinks the most coffee each day. This is a fun way to be creative, get some laughs, and show personalized appreciation.

Popular Picks:

• Design-your-own enamel pin
• Custom photo-holder trophy

5. Personalized Pens

Healthcare workers always have pens in their pockets or at their workstations to jot down important notes throughout their shifts. Consider gifting pens that are high quality and practical and/or funny and customized. You can use your best judgment and select different pens for staff based on their personalities.

Popular Picks:

• Personalized ball-point pens
• The Happy Pill pen set
• 4-color clinical lab reference pens

6. Self-Care or Spa Kit

A kit with relaxation items like face masks, candles, or spa supplies can also be a thoughtful gift for hospital staff. Thank you gifts like these also promote self-care, which is important in an industry that can be very demanding.

Popular Picks:

• Mental health self-care package
• Hemlock Park Artisanal Spa Collection

For an Added Touch:

• Mix and match candles, face masks, and other spa items to customize your own kits.

7. Heartfelt Thank You Card

Staff appreciation gifts don’t have to be extravagant. In fact, sincere praise is one of the most valuable ways to show appreciation. Healthcare workers who receive personalized compliments from their supervisors report feeling just as (or even more) motivated than they do from receiving generic cash-based gifts. You can express your gratitude for each of your employees with a well-written and thoughtful thank you card.

Popular Picks:

• Medical-themed appreciation cards
• Scrub set thank you cards

For an Added Touch:

• Include a gift card to your staff’s favorite coffee shop or lunch spot.

Find More Ways to Recognize and Support Your Staff

Supporting and investing in your staff is important for promoting a positive work culture and increasing retention. In addition to giving staff appreciation gifts, discover more strategies to build a stronger workforce through IntelyCare’s free newsletter.