TMS Healthcare Gift Guide

Welcome to the TMS healthcare gift guide. Whether it’s a doctor, nurse, PA, or student, we’ve got you covered on all the bases! It’s 2022, and your loved one already has a stethoscope and a sweater with EKG tracings. What’s something else you can get them that they will use and love?

Well, this year, if you want to get them something that’s thoughtful, creative, and useful, here’s the TMS inside scoop. 

<$50

Pens: 

Price range: $5+

You never know when you’ll need a pen when running around the hospital. A nice pen can totally change your experience when doing a mundane task such as writing down lab values or taking notes during handoff, but it can also be useful to have a refill of pens you know you’ll either lose or end up giving away. 

A fine tip pen can help you fit all your to dos in the margins of your rounding list while a set of different colored gel pens can help you add a pop of contrast when taking notes. 

Caution: healthcare workers can be very peculiar about the types of pens they like most.

Anatomy coloring book 

Price range: $9-27

Every busy student needs to do something to unwind, but what if you could unwind while studying anatomy and practicing your fine motor skills? While you’re at it, you should probably also get them some colored pencils though…

Compression socks

Price Range: $10-36

Whether you’re a busy nurse, a med student, or a surgeon, standing around all day is no joke. A good pair of compression socks will help improve blood flow (so you don’t faint) and make standing on your feet all day more bearable! It can also help you prevent those varicosities!

Protein / nutrition bars:

Price range: $16-40

Some healthcare workers swear by breakfast, others are never up with enough time to make it. A pack of nutrition bars (or any portable, easily stored food) is perfect for anyone who might find themselves hungry, but short on time. 

A reliable, large screw top thermal water bottle:

Price range: $15-50

It is so easy to forget to drink water while working in the hospital. It is nice to keep a large bottle nearby to constantly remind you to drink more water! It’s a bonus that it keeps the water nice and cold. 

Surgical caps:

Price range: $9-35

If your loved one is in the field of surgery, there’s nothing better than a custom surgical cap to help them display their personality while saving the environment in the OR! (Or to hide a balding head) You can even get them custom made with designs of your choice!

Weighted sleep mask:

Price range: $9-40

Every second of sleep counts, especially when you’re not getting much of it. A weighted sleep mask can dramatically improve sleep hygiene.

Phone case with battery:

Price range: $22+

There is no worse feeling than knowing that you need to make 5 phone calls and staff 3 consults but your battery is at 3% and there is no convenient charging cable in sight. 

A battery-powered phone case can give it just a little extra juice so you don’t have to charge it on a wall and put your life on hold.

Mini Duffel Bag:

Price range: $14+

A mini duffel bag is perfect for carrying the essentials to a long shift at the hospital. Where else are they gonna fit that giant waterbottle you’re getting them?

Massage gift certificate:

Price range: $25+

This one doesn’t need much of a description, does it.

A Suturing Practice Setup:

Price range: $15-45

It doesn’t take much to start learning how to start suturing! The most expensive part is getting your hands on a set of quality instruments! A 6-7 inch Mayo Hegar needle driver, a 6-8 inch pair of Debakey forceps, and a set of assorted suture on amazon’s all you need to get started. Then, just put some nails into a wooden board and attach them to cloth hair ties and you’re ready to get started!

>$50

If you’re looking at this category, this person must be really special. 

Scrubs:

Price range: $50-100

If you’ve ever seen a pair of hospital scrubs, you’ll know they only come in 1 flavor: XXL, pocketless, and stiff. A good pair of flexible, breathable scrubs with pockets is almost a no brainer. Some go to brands include Figs, Jaanu, Mediclo, or Medelita. If you’re still looking for quality on a slightly tighter budget, CodeNxt or Mandala scrubs are perfect.

Fitness tracking device:

Price range: $57-400

Ever heard about the med student to runner pipeline? There’s something about being in the hospital all day that just makes people want to run! That being said, even if your loved one doesn’t run, a fitness tracker is a great way to track not only daily activity, but also sleep habits! They come in a wide range of price points with varying capabilities. From a Fitbit, to a Garmin or Whoop, or even an Apple watch, there’s a variety of fitness trackers for any range of needs, some with features limited to tracking steps and sleep, others that log workouts and take calls and texts.

Shoes:

Price range: $50-200

No one said working in the hospital was a clean job. Or a painless one… A good pair of WASHABLE shoes, or shoes with excellent support are a godsend for any healthcare worker. From Cloves to Clogs, Hokas to Danskos, there’s a variety of shoes made for easy cleaning, support, and comfort.

Noise Canceling headphones:

Price range: $200-550

There is no faster way to win over a student than a pair of noise-canceling headphones. These are a godsend and allow a student to study in any environment. They may be pricey, but a good pair can last you all the way to the end of training.

Fog resistant safety goggles:

Price range: $40-100

Fog resistant safety goggles are essential for healthcare workers, especially in cases where they’re sterile and can’t touch their goggles to defog. 

Fine alcohol:

Price range: Variable

From med student to surgeon, nobody doesn’t like a good fine wine in moderation :) But know your audience and be responsible!

Portable Ultrasound:

Price range: $2500+

This is a really expensive present, but for the right person, the perfect present. Many specialties, such as emergency medicine, utilize Point Of Care Ultrasound technology on a day to day basis! Certain portable ultrasound devices nowadays can even connect to your smartphone and dramatically simplify the workflow. While pricey, the right person might find it to be a better gift than expensive jewelry or luxury items!

Happy holidays from the TMS team to you. We know your loved ones will enjoy these gifts!