Nurse Week Ideas: How to Celebrate Nurses

Where would we be without our nurses?

Their tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to our health and safety deserve not just recognition but also our heartfelt appreciation.

National Nurses Week is the perfect opportunity to give back, express our gratitude, and show just how much we value these essential caregivers.

Let’s explore some meaningful ways to celebrate Nurses Week and honor the incredible impact nurses make every single day.

When Is National Nurses Week 2025?

In 2025, we will celebrate National Nurses Week from Tuesday, May 6 to Monday, May 12.

National Nurses Day is always held on May 12 to honor Florence Nightingale's birthday, the pioneering "Lady with the Lamp" whose work revolutionized modern nursing.

What is the theme for Nurses Week 2025?

The American Organization for Nursing Leadership has announced the theme for Nurses Week 2025 as: Care, Lead, Inspire — Repeat.

This powerful theme celebrates the continuous cycle that defines the nursing profession, honoring nurses' remarkable ability to lead with compassion even in the most challenging situations.

Nurses have to be incredibly organized to manage the demands of their busy, high-stress roles

They often juggle shifting schedules, patient notes, charting, care plans, and more. Therefore, practical gifts like planners and notebooks will make organization a little easier and relieve the mental load.

1. Personalized planner

A planner is the ultimate Nurses' Week gift because it helps bring order to a chaotic week.

Give a daily or weekly planner that allows each day to be broken down by the hour. Include both lined and blank pages for versatile note-taking, and personalize the cover with their name for a thoughtful touch.

Select a compact, durable design that can easily transport for on- the -go routines. For an extra meaningful gesture, tuck a heartfelt thank-you note between the pages.

2. Shift scheduler

Nursing shifts can be irregular and a pain to keep on top of.

Monthly planners with ample writing space allow nurses to visually map their complex work schedules alongside personal commitments. You can include customized add-ons for special dates and holidays so nurses can understand how much downtime they have.

We recommend including dedicated self-care pages, too, to encourage your nurse to prioritize their well-being amidst demanding shift patterns.

3. Pocket-sized notebook

It's no secret that nurses have to write a ton of notes throughout the day. The problem with generic notepads is that they can be easily lost or mixed up in busy healthcare environments.

A customized notebook solves this problem. Choose one with a distinctive cover design and add the nurse's name prominently on the front to prevent mix-ups.

You can also include a set of ergonomic pens. Don't forget to add a pen loop so they can be easily attached to the notebook.

4. Meal, health, and financial planner

Because nurses work such demanding schedules, their wellness routines can get pushed to the back burner. A home life planner helps nurses feel more in control of their time, energy, and goals.

Choose planner inserts that help keep on top of:

• Financial planning and budgeting
• Meal planning and shopping lists
• Fitness and wellness tracking
• Home organization, maintenance, and cleaning

Tip: For the ultimate Nurses' Week gift, why not bundle a work planner, a personal planner, and a customized notebook into one goodie bag?

5. Goal-setting journal

Nursing is such a demanding career that always puts others first. With so much going on in their career, it can be difficult to make time for personal goals. A thoughtfully designed goal-setting journal encourages nurses to articulate and pursue their aspirations, whether advancing their clinical specialization, working toward leadership opportunities, or pursuing something outside of healthcare.

This gift acknowledges that while nurses excel at caring for others, their own dreams and ambitions matter profoundly.

6. Stationery gift basket

If you want to thank an entire nursing team, gifting each one individually may not suit your budget.

A well-curated stationery basket serves as an excellent shared gift that benefits the entire unit. You can include notepads, sticky notes, pens, pencils, clips, and pen holders.

For a fun touch, add in a nurse-themed sticker pack and even a decorative washi tape. After all, who doesn't love stickers?

Finish off the gift basket with a potted plant and a box of chocolates for everyone to share.

Nursing staff spend so much time caring for their patients that it often leaves limited time to practice self-care. That's why Nurses Week is the perfect moment to encourage rest, emotional recharging, and a dash of indulgence.

1. Bullet wellness journal & meditation app

A personalized bullet journal isn't just for planning and organization. It can also be used for reflection and wellness improvement.

For instance, you can include motivational stickers, habit and mood trackers, and pages for daily journaling. The great thing about bullet journaling is that it's quick, so it's an ideal gift for busy nursing staff who want to build an effective self-care routine.

You can complement this gift with a subscription to a premium meditation app like Calm, providing moments of tranquility during breaks or after challenging shifts.

2. Gratitude journal

Nurses' Week is all about showing gratitude for the work they do, so another idea we recommend is creating a gratitude journal filled with thank-you notes from patients or staff. Try to make the notes as creative as possible using colored cards, stickers, and other embellishments.

Not only that, but you could also include daily gratitude pages with gentle prompts, encouraging nurses to continue the practice of recognizing daily blessings.

3. Stress-relief goodie bag

Goodie bags make excellent Nurses' Week gifts because you can personalize them for each member of the nursing team.

Curate individual goodie bags containing a compact planner with handwritten stress-management techniques, adult coloring books with premium colored pencils, herbal tea sachets, a therapeutic hand massager, and a quality stress ball.

These thoughtfully assembled collections demonstrate genuine concern for nurses' well-being while providing immediate relief during challenging moments.

4. Sleep soundly kit

This is a perfect option for night shift nurses. To acknowledge the unique sacrifices night nurses make, pack goodies such as a sleep mask, a pair of cozy socks, a soft blanket, and some earplugs into a new overnight bag.

Add in a personalized notepad with suggested bedtime reading lists or a sleep-inducing playlist.

5. Aromatherapy wellness kit

Transform the nursing experience with the therapeutic benefits of carefully selected essential oils and aromatherapy tools.

Create a personalized collection featuring stress-reducing lavender, energizing citrus, and focus-enhancing peppermint oils in portable rollerball applicators that fit easily in scrub pockets. You can also include a compact, USB-powered diffuser suitable for car or home use, aromatherapy shower steamers, or scented warming pads for neck and shoulder tension.

Add an informative guide explaining specific applications for different emotional and physical states commonly experienced during nursing shifts. This thoughtful gift supports nurses' well-being throughout the workday and beyond.

Nurses play an essential role in our healthcare system, offering compassion, expertise, and tireless dedication every single day. National Nurses Week is a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on their incredible contributions and show just how much they’re valued. Meaningful gifts are a wonderful way to express gratitude for the care and commitment nurses bring to their work.

Here are some quick ideas that can be easily incorporated with some of the suggestions above:

1. Uplifting quotes: Pair a notepad with uplifting quotes written by nurses.
2. Appreciation messages: Decorate a planner cover with appreciation messages from the team.
3. Handwritten affirmations: Bundle a desk pad with handwritten affirmations and motivational quotes.
4. Memory journal: Start a memory journal with shared stories from patients and peers. Include plenty of blank pages to add new memories over time.
5. Team photo: Decorate a planner cover with a team photo and wrap it as a keepsake.
6. Coupon book: Purchase redeemable coupons for thoughtful gestures like coffee delivery, prepared meals, or post-shift treats.

Another great idea to make the Nurses' Week celebrations stand out is to decorate a wall or the bulletin board in the staff area.

Make copies of all the handwritten elements and blow them up to a larger size. You can add extra elements like balloons, team photographs, and patient artwork. Invite children from pediatric units or staff families to contribute colorful artwork, adding joyful perspectives to the display.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do nurses really want for Nurses' Week?

During Nurses Week, nursing staff really appreciate thoughtful and practical gifts that show genuine gratitude, like self-care items, functional tools like planners, and heartfelt gestures like handwritten cards.

Expensive gifts are not expected. What matters most is demonstrating that the hard work of nurses is recognized and valued.

How to make Nurses' Week special?

National Nurses Week can be made special by personalizing the event and incorporating thoughtful acts of kindness. A customized gift and a handwritten message can go a long way.

You could also organize a celebratory lunch, offer flexible scheduling if possible, or create a gratitude wall where patients and coworkers can leave messages.

How do we celebrate Nurses' Week?

There are plenty of ways to celebrate the nurses in your life! Celebrate Nurses Week by organizing a team lunch or spa trip to give nursing staff a much-needed break. Other options include setting up an on-site breakfast and coffee bar and decorating the nursing station.

When in doubt, personalized notes of gratitude will surely make nurses feel appreciated.

How can small hospitals or clinics celebrate Nurses Week on a limited budget?

Focus on meaningful recognition rather than expensive gifts. Create personalized thank-you cards, organize potluck appreciation meals, develop a "recognition wall" with patient testimonials, offer schedule flexibility when possible, and arrange community partnerships for donated services or discounts. Genuine appreciation expressed sincerely matters more than monetary value.

Final Thoughts

With these thoughtful Nurses Week ideas, you're well-prepared to honor nursing professionals with heartfelt gratitude that truly resonates.

Every gesture communicates essential appreciation for these healthcare heroes, no matter how big or small.

Not sure where to begin? Browse our bestsellers for inspiration that will make this Nurses Week truly memorable.