I just went on my hospital tour this weekend, and saw the pictures on the wall of all of the amazing labor and delivery nurses in the maternity wing. If it works out logistically, I definitely would love to bring something to show our appreciation. I've heard and fully believe that nurses do SO much of the work during a patient's labor that I want to thank them! However, I want to bring something they'd really appreciate. Would baked goods be well-received, or annoying since a lot of that stuff tends to float around offices? Chocolates? Something I'm not thinking of? Those that have done this before and/or any amazing nurses out there, I'd love to hear your perspective!
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I don't work in L&D, but I'm an ICU nurse and we're always very grateful for any token of appreciation! Things like bagels and cream cheese, a box of coffee or some cookies or brownies are nice. The arrangements of cut fruit are tasty, but sometimes it's hard to find enough fridge space for something like that and I hate to watch it go bad. Mainly I'm sure they will love that you are being thoughtful and appreciative of all that they do! My L&D nurses were amazing
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I just thought of another gift that was nice. A family brought in a box with things like individual packs of microwaveable popcorn, little individual peanut butter containers with packs of crackers, hot chocolate packs or something like that. Nice to have something to munch on during a long shift and easy to prepare ahead of time because I'm sure you're not going to be baking cookies as you're going into labor
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I'm not a nurse but I do work the L&D unit on occasion (social worker). We reallyreallyreally like coffee in there
The usual coffee for hospital staff is purchased in a big box at Staples. Good coffee (like one of the jugs from Dunkin Donuts) is SUCH a luxury.
But really the best thing you can do, in my experience, is jot down the names of any nurses who stood out to you, and mention their work by name to a supervisor, on a survey, etc. It really means so much to them. It can be afterward, since right away you'll be a little busy
I just saved my best nurses' names in my phone to tell their supe later.
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I didn't do this (had thought about it but ended up getting checked in unexpectedly from a routine visit!) but I have to say that looking back, or if I was to do it again-- I would either do L&D AND postpartum nurses or just postpartum. I might be slightly swayed because I disliked one of my 2 L&D nurses, but regardless I was only in L&D for 18 hrs. I spent the next 3.5 days in postpartum and I LOVED most of those nurses. They were so helpful and supportive and looking back I sort of wish I would've done more to thank them. (although I did tell my fav nurse she was my very fav and I loved her and I told her supervisor how amazing she was!)
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I brought cookies and chocolates and they loved them.
I really loved my nurse the 2nd time so I went back and gave her a gift card, too.
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@Mae: I agree...I remember nothing about my L&D nurses other than that they got me ice chips! But my postpartum nurses were awesome and taught me everything I needed to know about my baby. How to feed, soothe, what the cries meant, diapering, etc. Even though I'd taken the class it was totally different in real life! And the second night when reality hit they stepped in and took over. I wish I had something for them too!
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@MrsF: Thank you *so* much for your input-I was hoping to hear from a nurse! Thank you also for the work that you do-I cannot imagine how tolling your job can be. I will definitely bring coffee (that's SO easy to buy in advance and have sitting with my pre-packed hospital bag!), and if time permits, cookies/banana bread, etc. Also the idea of popcorn packs or handy snacks is great, too! Thanks again!
@Boheme: YOUR job is incredibly important, too...especially in L&D. My best friend's mom growing up (my "second mom," really) was a hospital social worker and I so respect what you do! I definitely would love for people like you to have snacks, too! Seems like good coffee is an easy pick-we'll do it! I am definitely planning on writing notes after the fact. I'm a teacher, and the best "appreciation" I get is in the form of thank-yous from parents, or an email to my boss on my behalf from a happy parent. I definitely want to do the same for rockstar hospital employees.
@Mae: Thank you so much for pointing out postpartum nurses. You're so right, they definitely are with you for the long haul afterwords so I want to include them! I'll ask my OB if they all operate out of the same station or not. If not, I'll make sure to bring double.
@Andrea: Another awesome point-you can't go wrong with a gift card! I'd do the same thing for exceptional care. Nurses are overworked and underpaid-I'm sure she was so grateful for your gift card.
@Spaniellove: I will DEFINITELY need PP nurses to help when I'm losing it in the middle of the night with a newborn
. They should definitely be thanked profusely!
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You might want to think about distribution. We took in about 4 dozen home-made cookies. I went in for an induction at 7pm. By morning when I mentioned it to my nurse, there weren't even crumbs left. I left them at the desk and they disappeared. I'm sure the staff appreciated it, but I'm also sure they weren't staff that were working with me.
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@MamaG: thanks for bringing up this great point. I know where the nurses' station is for L&D, but definitely want to make sure it all ends up in the right hands. Sorry yours didn't make it to your delivery team
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I'm a doctor, not a nurse, but I see what people bring in.
(and usually the nurses share!) Food always goes over well, esp as many skip lunch/breaks when their patients need them.
Popcorn sounds nice, but at least in our hospital, Microwave popcorn is not allowed (fires, odor sensitivity). In terms if coffee, our break room has a K cup machine and so coffee for that is always nice! -
I am an NICU nurse, and we always appreciate "grab and go" snacks, or sone thing you can eat with one band while you chart with the other
stuff like snack mixes, bits n bites, chocolate covered almonds etc are always well received and quickly eaten! Also, hot chocolate/tea/coffee is always appreciated. I think something all nurses have in common is that we end up busy, coming in unexpectedly, or working extra after shifts, so we end up scrounging for food/snacks/drinks often!
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We brought our PP nurses a giant assorted cookie tray from a local bakery. They loved it!
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I was just looking at that naturebox subscription thing --- 'healthy' and more unusual snacks. maybe if you got an assortment of that kind of stuff from places like trader joes or something that would be fun to give out, too!
so thoughtful!
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I brought in a cookie tray for the L&D department and the nicu nurses that took care of E. It was hit and miss if I would catch them, since they work 12 hour shifts, though. I had one amazing about nurse in particular and I can still, only remember her first name and last initial.
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Another nurse here, though I'm not in L&D. We love food as others have mentioned and things that are quick are the best. Coffee is always appreciated. I would just recommend nothing home baked because some nurses are very wary of that, so bagels and cream cheese or cookies from somewhere like Panera are awesome. I plan on sending my husband out to Panera for my PP nurses and maybe a little something smaller for the delivery nurses. In my hospital they are the same, just change position daily.
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We brought in cakettes (like cake pops, but no stick) from our favorite bakery. We didn't give them until the day we left.
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@sapphire: Thank you so much-of course this is for the hard working doctors, too! I just know it's easier to directly thank my doctor(s), whereas all the behind-the-scenes people might be harder for us to show our appreciation. Thanks for the note about popcorn. I should probably just ask my OB what's been done and appreciated, and what kind of coffee set-up (K cups, ground, etc.) will be quick and easy at my particular hospital!
@MsMini: Thank you for what you do-what a hard job! I am thinking if I buy snack mix in bulk from Costco and put it in individual bags with cute ribbon that's something someone can shove in his or her pocket for an easy snack on the go? I'll also be sure to include ingredients for allergy purposes.
@Mrs. Jump Rope: Glad to hear it went over well, and that doing this will actually be appreciated! Congrats on your new addition-hope recovery is going okay!
@tysonja: YES, Trader Joes. You're so right. Thanks for the awesome idea!
@blackbird: Thanks for sharing-and yes, if there is a nurse that really sticks out as awesome, I plan on writing a note to him or her, as well as the supervisor on that nurse's behalf. What would we do without the hospital staff?!
@Mrs.Panda: Invaluable information that nurses do both L&D and PP so hopefully there will be crossover for the awesome ones:-). Thank you for the work that you do! I always believe that teachers and nurses have a lot in common.....overworked, underpaid, lots of 'behind the scenes' stuff that doesn't get recognized, etc. That's why I care so much about showing my appreciation! Also thinking of you since you're due right before me
@Mrsjets: Those sound really delicious! I might be sending my husband or mom out to do this depending on how the labor process goes, so having a local bakery on hand to take care of this might be the best option. -
If you are thinking about food, be sure to see if your hospital allows it. Mine (big, regional teaching hospital) bans all food gifts during flu season, which is basically all the time here.
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I sent a few dozen Tiff's Treats to both the L&D ladies and the NICU where DS spent all his time. I absolutely loved my nurse that cared for me while in labor and the NICU nurse that worked the afternoon shift. She was such a blessing to us!!
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@Mrs. Detour: That's a great point. They specifically mentioned in the hospital tour that we could order food from wherever we wanted and have it delivered (although the encouraged us to keep "smell free" foods away to be nice!), so I'm hopeful that means there aren't restrictions? I will make sure to check, though.
@Alivoo01: This is exactly why I'm thinking ahead about this. If we have NICU time, those nurses will be invaluable to us. I bet they looooved the Tiff's Treats! -
Nurse here! Anything edible is a big hit. pizza, donuts, cookies. Can't really go wrong. just don't forget about night shift
I just saved my best nurses' names in my phone to tell their supe later.
. They should definitely be thanked profusely!
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