May 12th is International Nurses Day. For many hospitals, nursing homes and care institutions it is a fixed moment to give nurses and care staff something extra. But what do you give to people working in a profession where appreciation often comes in the form of coffee and chocolate? In this article we lay out what works, what does not, and how to plan it properly.
We are MOYU. We supply personalized notebooks to hospitals and healthcare organizations, including for International Nurses Day. We have seen first-hand what nursing staff think of such gifts and which pitfalls to avoid.
May 12th was chosen because it is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing. The World Health Organization and the International Council of Nurses have used this day since 1974 to recognize the contribution of nurses worldwide.
Note that nursing as a profession is sometimes lumped together with "healthcare" more broadly. Internationally it is officially Nurses Day, recognizing nursing as a profession in its own right. If your hospital also has caregivers, doctors and support staff, think carefully about who you are thanking and how you frame it.
We have heard back over the years what does and does not land. A few recurring themes:
A handwritten card from the department manager or director that specifically names what their contribution means often does more than a more expensive gift without context. The thank-you is not for "healthcare" in general, but for that specific department.
Many nurses work with their hands full. A handy gift that fits in a uniform pocket, or fits next to their lunch box, gets used a lot. Something large or fragile works less well in this work environment.
A bouquet of flowers delivered at home, a voucher, a lunch on the department during the day itself, or an early shift on a quiet day. The gesture sometimes weighs heavier than the gift itself.
Something specific to healthcare we often hear: nurses write many notes during their shift (rounds, observations, ad-hoc things). Because much of that information is patient-related, those notes have to be destroyed at the end of the shift. The result: a lot of shredded paper and increasingly full bins of shredder output.
A reusable notebook does not fully solve this, but partly. Notes that are no longer needed can be erased with a damp cloth, without the shredding step. What needs to go digital can be done with a scanning app. And the material lasts for years, instead of weekly new paper purchases.
Especially for International Nurses Day we have a pocket-format notepad (A6, wire-o bound) that fits in a uniform pocket:
More details, design templates and ordering at moyu-notebooks.com/gifts/international-nurses-day.
What we see at hospitals, mental health institutions and nursing homes:
Something to consider for larger organizations: 500 nurses, 80 caregivers, 60 doctors, 40 OR staff, 90 administration. Do you give everyone the same thing, or do you differentiate? Differentiating often works better in terms of personal recognition, but is logistically more complex. A good rule of thumb is to give everyone something, even if the level differs.
Same pitfall as with other seasonal gifts. A week before May 12th you cannot order 200 personalized notebooks anymore, you will run into production and delivery constraints.
Realistic schedule for May 12th:
Not everyone works on May 12th. A few things to think about:
Many hospitals and care institutions are working on their own sustainability goals. In the Netherlands the Green Deal Duurzame Zorg 3.0 asks for concrete CO2 reduction from healthcare organizations.
For an ESG report or internal sustainability statement you can create an impact certificate per order at moyu-notebooks.com/nl/zakelijk/impact-certificate with the exact figures (CO2, water, trees saved) based on the independent ISO 14040/14044 LCA. Useful for the annual report or Green Deal reporting.
International Nurses Day is a good moment to thank healthcare staff, provided you take it seriously. The people who receive it can often tell whether it is a thoughtful token or a checked-off action item. Something personal, something practical, something that fits what they do every day, that is what stays.
For healthcare organizations that want to work with MOYU on a gift for May 12th: more information at moyu-notebooks.com/gifts/international-nurses-day. For broader business inquiries: moyu-notebooks.com/nl/zakelijk.
