Graduating from nursing school is a significant accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated. For many nursing students, the road to graduation has been long and challenging—but the hard work will soon pay off, and it’s time to commemorate this important milestone. It’s a time to honor the sacrifices that were made and the support that was given along the way, so what better way to do this than to celebrate with a party and gifts?
In this blog post, we’ll explore some ideas for celebrating a nursing graduation, from our best party tips for nurse graduation parties to gifts you can give a nursing graduate regardless of your budget.
Graduation Gifts for Nurses
No matter your budget, we’ve compiled some of the best nursing graduation gifts to gift the special nursing grad in your life.
Under $10
- Custom Stethoscope ID tag - This handcrafted aluminum ring attaches to a stethoscope as a fun accessory.
- Stethoscope Case - This case has a durable shell with two compartments to store a stethoscope and other accessories to keep them separate from other items in a nurse’s tote bag.
- Nurse coloring book - How about an adult coloring book with humorous quotes and designs for nurses, making for a fun stress reliever?
- Nurse bath bomb - Every nurse would enjoy these chill pill lavender bath bombs.
- Stethoscope pin - Nurses can use this hard enamel pin to adorn their scrubs.
$10 - $50
- Nursing reference card bundle - This bundle includes medical abbreviations and nursing basics.
- Nursing clipboard - This can be used for patient documents, medicine lists, and shift notes.
- Becoming Nursey by Katie Kleber, MSN RN CCRN-K - This highly rated book covers a range of topics as the subtitle suggests: “From Code Blues to Code Browns, How to Care for Your Patients and Yourself.”
- Healthcare affirmation cards - These cards provide a mindfulness tool curated for healthcare professionals.
- Coffee mug and wine glass set - This fun gift set facilitates coffee for ‘before patients’ and wine to ‘wind down.’
- Crockpot electric lunch box - This set will give your favorite nurse something to look forward to in the middle of their shift.
$50 - $100
- Littman Stethoscope - This stethoscope is highly-rated and a nursing must-have.
- Custom Stethoscope necklace - This dainty nurse necklace symbolizes a nursing grad’s entry into nursing.
- Insulated Tumbler - This perfect-for-a-nurse tumbler holds forty ounces of liquid and has a nine-hour temperature control capacity.
- Jogger-style scrub pants - These joggers provide extra comfort for those long shifts.
- Neck and back massager - This can be a game-changer in helping alleviate muscle soreness and ease neck stiffness for the long shifts ahead.
$100+
- Single-serve coffee maker - This coffee maker will be a hit for nurses who need fresh coffee on the go.
- Smart Watch - This watch helps track time, heart rate, exercise, sleep, and more.
- Clove Sneakers - These sneakers are designed specifically for healthcare professionals.
- 3-month healthy snack subscription - This subscription will give your nursing grad some treats to keep their energy high throughout their long workday.
For more ideas on nurse graduation gifts, from nurse socks to tumblers for nurses, Nursa has several gift guides for the nurse in your life. We also have themed gift guides, including Christmas gifts for nurses, Valentine’s Day gifts for nurses, and Easter gift ideas for nurses.
Celebration Ideas for a Nurse’s Graduation
If you’re looking for unique ways to celebrate a nursing graduation, look no further. We’ve compiled some exceptional suggestions below to help you mark this celebration.
- Take a trip: You can take a well-deserved vacation to celebrate your achievement. Whether it’s a short weekend getaway or a more extended trip to somewhere you’ve always wanted to go (perhaps with fellow nursing graduates), this will be a memory you’ll cherish before starting your professional career.
- Treat yourself: Indulge in a bit of self-care and pampering. Book a spa day, get a massage, or do whatever makes you feel like you’re treating yourself, whether its spending time with people you rarely see or making reservations at your favorite restaurant.
- Have a photoshoot: Hire a professional photographer or ask a friend to photograph you. Some photoshoot ideas include holding your diploma, taking photos in your scrubs, and using nursing props like a stethoscope or pill boxes in your shoot.
- Create a memory book: You can create a memory book with pictures, stories, and messages from friends and family to commemorate this particular time in your life. This keepsake will be a joy to look at years in the future and mentally teleport you back to this particular time.
Party Ideas for Nursing Graduation
Completing nursing school takes hard work and dedication, and graduating is a major accomplishment to celebrate. If you’re throwing a nursing graduation party, here are some decor, food, and activity ideas to help make your party a hit.
Nursing Graduation Decor
- DIY nursing centerpiece
- Nurse/scrub-themed invites and medical scrub envelopes
- Nursing graduation banner, balloon set, and scrub balloons
- Pill bottle string lights
- Nursing party supplies and dinnerware set
- Nursing centerpiece sticks
- Pretend prescription pad to be used as a guest book
Nursing Graduation Food
- Nurse theme cake
- Flu (Jello-O) shots
- Blood transfusion punch
- Numbing Station bar
- Bandaged toes, legs, and other fun medical objects, like marshmallow cotton balls and strawberry waffle tongue depressors
Nursing Graduation Activities
- Signed scrubs and bandages with congratulatory messages
- Medical survey quiz game
- Nurse-themed photobooth
- Medical bingo
Final Thoughts | How to Celebrate a Nursing Graduation
Nursing grads have a lot on their minds, from how to land a job as a new nursing grad to how to begin their nursing career before graduation, among other frequently asked questions by nursing grads.
During this time, it’s also important to celebrate the hard work and dedication that has brought nursing students to this graduation milestone. Whether you purchase them a gift, throw them a party, or write a congratulatory card, nursing graduates are absolutely worth celebrating.
