Getting the Right Nurses Week Gifts: Tips and Examples for 2026
National Nurses Week celebrates nursing professionals at all levels, appreciating their many contributions to the healthcare community, typically with appreciative and unique nurses week gifts. It runs annually in May to coincide with Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
If you’re a facility leader who wants to prepare meaningful gifts for your nursing staff, you might be struggling to find the right ones, especially in a professional setting. To help you figure out the best way to show appreciation without compromising the culture at your facility, we’ll provide helpful tips and ideas for nursing week gifts that will leave a lasting impact on your staff.
What Are the Dates for Nurses Week in 2026?
Nurses Week is celebrated annually, always from May 6 through May 12, so that the final celebration day falls on Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The dates for this week of special recognition were made permanent by the American Nurses Association in 1993, within what is also National Nurses’ Month.
What Types of Nurses Week Gifts Should You Avoid?
It has become a widespread custom to celebrate nurses week within the workplace. From the leadership level, gift giving can be a great way to show appreciation during this time — but it should also come from a sincere place.
To help you strike the right balance between showing appreciation and being appropriate, let’s first discuss what to avoid as you consider different nurses week gift ideas for staff:
- Raffle-based gifts: Raffle drawings should be avoided during a week that’s supposed to celebrate the nursing community at large. This will leave only a handful of staff with gifts, while all the other nursing professionals at your facility will be left feeling overlooked.
- Break room meals and snacks: While putting a pizza or cake out in the break room can be a nice gesture on a normal work day, they’re not the most thoughtful gift ideas for national nurses days. This may come across as low-effort, and risks leaving your evening and night shift nurses with stale leftovers, undermining the original intentions.
- Company-branded/promotional gifts: Remember that nurses week is about your staff, not your facility. Avoid company-branded trinkets or activities that come across as promotional. A celebratory photo booth may seem like a fun way to showcase your facility’s culture on social media, but it may not be as meaningful to your team during nurse’s week.
- Generic thank you emails/posters: You should also avoid sending out a generic thank you email to your entire listserv or handing out poorly worded posters championing nurses as “heroes” or “angels.” This can actually decrease morale and leave your nurses feeling misunderstood by leadership.
5 Tips for Getting Good Nurses Week Gifts
Now that we’ve gone over what to avoid, you’re probably wondering, What is a good gift for nurses week? We understand that every facility has different budgeting considerations. But if your intentions are in the right place, your staff will take notice and appreciate your efforts — and you shouldn’t feel pressured to give luxury gifts for nurses during this special week. Here are some gift ideas for National Nurses Week in 2026 to help you make your celebrations memorable.
1. Focus on Mental Health and Well-Being
Nursing is a very emotionally and physically taxing profession, often leading to high rates of burnout and fatigue. Many nurses simply desire more resources to tend to their mental health, and nurses week ideas that promote self-care can be a great way to recognize your staff and show them how much you value their hard work.
Examples:
- A spa kit with face masks or other items that promote relaxation, such as the Self Care Spa Gift Set (Etsy) or Lovery Honey and Almond Body Care 8-Piece Gift Set (Macy’s)
- Massage gift cards or in-house massage therapist available throughout the week
Lovery Honey and Almond Body Care Gift Set (Macy’s)
2. Offer Benefits That Extend Beyond the Week
Giving your nurses a raise or providing other financial benefits will always be appreciated. Not only is this a practical and highly desired gift among nurses, but it’s also something that will be impactful beyond a week-long celebration.
Examples:
- Staff-wide bonuses or raises
- Extra days of paid time off that can be used throughout the year
3. Consider Practical, Durable, and Useful Gifts for Nurses Week
If you want to give physical gifts, avoid defaulting to dollar-store trinkets that will likely sit in a closet after the week is over. Instead, invest in items that your staff can make use of. Practicality can look different depending on the type of unit a nurse is working in, but you should consider what items your staff use on a daily basis and can enhance their comfort at work.
Examples:
- Durable nursing scrubs or shoes, such as Figs or Brooks
- High quality stethoscope, such as the Littmann Cardiology
4. Make the Work Week Easier
Leaving a cold pizza out in the break room is a no-go, but there are other substantive ways to cover meals and make the week more enjoyable for your nurses. Try to personalize the gift by letting your nurses order their preferred dish and make sure that any food-based nursing week gift ideas are also considerate of your evening and night shift staff.
Examples:
- Free food trucks available throughout the week, during all shifts
- Vouchers or restaurant gift cards that will cover lunches/dinners for the week
5. Don’t Be Extravagant, Just Be Thoughtful
Remember that you don’t have to break the bank to honor your nursing staff. You can explore inexpensive ideas for nurses week gifts that are still meaningful to your staff. Even gifts for nurses under $10 can go a long way. For instance, a sincere and heartfelt thank you card (personalized to each staff member) along with a gift card can be enough to express how much you value your staff’s hard work.
Examples:
- Personalized thank you letters that highlight each staff’s career journey and contributions
- Cash or gift cards that give staff the flexibility to buy what they need
Want More Ideas for Supporting Your Staff After Nurses Week?
Beyond giving meaningful and useful national nurses week gifts, sustaining a healthy work culture is key to a satisfied staff and high-quality care. Seeking more practical ideas to support your work culture? Don’t miss out on our latest expert-written insights on healthcare management and retention.