The holidays are a busy time of the year, especially for nurses. The winter is a common time for people to get sick, so offices and hospitals are teeming with patients. And with so many people on vacation around the holidays, offices are packed with appointments! Nurses and employees in the healthcare industry are often required to work during the holidays to help meet patient demand. Even though your staff has to work, you can make their holidays bright with a few gifts and gestures of appreciation.

Stock the break room with festive food and snacks. You could host a staff potluck that is available throughout the shift, so employees can grab a bite when they are on break. Or make a batch of bite sized candies and cookies and package them in clear bags. Present to your staff at the end of a busy day during the holiday season to thank them for their dedication.

Remember, it’s the little things that count. Even if you can’t afford to do a lot, a small gesture can mean a lot to your staff. Give all the nurses on your team a new Nurses Rock badge reel to use at work. Present the badge reel with a personal holiday greeting card, and your team will feel a little extra boost of appreciation.

Decorate your workspace to get in the spirit. Put up a few decorations in your area to make the workplace a little warmer and friendlier during the holidays. Wrap bulletin boards in wrapping paper and decorate windows with gel clings.

Give gifts that are practical for their job. After talking with two of my friends who are hospital nurses, I’ve learned a lot about their different schedule sand responsibilities. They appreciate gifts that fit into their hectic work lives and can be used to make life a little easier. Tote bags, travel mugs, and water bottles are used by nurses on a daily basis, so they make excellent holiday gifts. Add a personal note or sweet treat (I hear chocolate is always a big hit) to make the gift truly special.

What are your favorite gifts to give to nurses or receive? Let us know here!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

May is an important time of year to recognize healthcare staff. National Nurses Week is May 6-12 and National Hospital Week is May 8-12. How will you recognize your healthcare staff?

Celebrating National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are five free and low cost ways to express your appreciation during these recognition weeks.

1. Casual Day. Let employees throughout the company come to work casual and in their corporate gear: t-shirts, polos, and hats. Employees love being able to wear jeans to work, and it doesn’t cost you anything!

2. Send an ePraise. Send a personal note during National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week expressing your appreciation for the individual’s contribution to the team. A personal note is a sincere and meaningful way to express appreciation, and you can send one for free via email with ePraise.

3. Hand Out Snack Packs. It doesn’t take much to put together individual snack bags for the nurses on your staff. Compile snack size bags of crackers, fruit snacks, and nuts in a gift bag. Attach a gift tag and present to everyone on your team! The snacks will be appreciated throughout the day and give everyone a boost of energy.

4. Play a Game. You can easily coordinate a game for the cafeteria to take place during breaks. Set up a bean bag toss or Minute to Win It game. Have a tablet of paper nearby so staff and record their score and track the performance of their peers. Or print out a puzzle staff can complete during their lunch. Enter all correct puzzles in a drawing for a prize.

5. Make them Smile with Print and Posts. Download our free National Nurses Week Print and Posts to make your entire staff smile! Simply download and print out the PDF. Then cut out the individual sentiments, and tape them throughout the building where nurses will see them. You can put them on lockers, doors, the microwave, and refrigerator. The fun sayings are guaranteed to make them smile!

For more National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week appreciation ideas, visit these articles in our Recognition Resource Center:

 The Best National Nurses Week Celebration
 Hospital Implements Employee Appreciation Ideas for Successful Week-Long Celebration
 Big Staff Recognition, Little Cost for One Pediatric Hospital
 Five Ways to Appreciate Teachers and Nurses

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.