Any nurses out there?

[Zonny]

Here's my story. My mother has been in the hospital since breaking her hip in March. Since the surgery, she's very confused, and can't come home, we're waiting for a nursing home bed. She will be in the hospital for several more months.

While the hospital isn't the right place for her, she gets very good care and I want to do something for the nurses.

Would food be appropriate? If I brought in a yummy cake, is that OK? Should I bring paper plates and cutlery too?

[Lynn49]

When my Mom was in her nursing home, I showed my appreciation to the staff in several ways...muffins for one...no plates required and they loved them (rhubarb for example in the spring...carrot...all from scratch and they loved them)...I knitted REALLY easy fun-fur scarves for them one particular Christmas (she only really had one Christmas there)....so easy, and oh, they loved them! Hon, whatever you do will be sincerely appreciated by them all. Since they work shifts, something that's "grab and go" like muffins would be perfect....What a sweetie you are!!!

[MrsSunshine]

if you want to bring food in ask the nurses if its ok first, she may be on a restricted diet. if not go for it, bring her favorite foods in. as well bring in a little radio. its sad how little music you hear in a hospital. when your used to it and its no longer there you can miss it terribly. having something to listen to might cheer her up some. as well maybe her own housecoat. pj's., slippers. something from home to make her comfortable. you could bring in some pictures as well. to help her remember family. something else she might enjoy is a little pampering.. even having her hair brushed. or her nails clipped or manicured. its the little things in life we take for granted that those in hospitals that enjoy the most.
if i can help anymore let me know. after spending 3 months straight going from my hubby's Dad going from home, to hospital and then to a nursing home in 3 months we learned how to keep him comfortable in a very short time. hopefully her outcome is much brighter.

[gracesmommy]

my mom was a nurse at an old age home for many years. they'd often get fresh baked goods and whatnot from people visiting. i think it's a lovely gesture! nurses do so much for people. they probably have cutlery but for a couple bucks at the dollar store its nice added touch

[marstec]

if you want to bring food in ask the nurses if its ok first, she may be on a restricted diet. if not go for it, bring her favorite foods in. as well bring in a little radio. its sad how little music you hear in a hospital. when your used to it and its no longer there you can miss it terribly. having something to listen to might cheer her up some. as well maybe her own housecoat. pj's., slippers. something from home to make her comfortable. you could bring in some pictures as well. to help her remember family. something else she might enjoy is a little pampering.. even having her hair brushed. or her nails clipped or manicured. its the little things in life we take for granted that those in hospitals that enjoy the most.
if i can help anymore let me know. after spending 3 months straight going from my hubby's Dad going from home, to hospital and then to a nursing home in 3 months we learned how to keep him comfortable in a very short time. hopefully her outcome is much brighter.

I think Zonny wants to bring something for the nurses as a thank you for the care they gave her mom. I'm kind of on the fence about bringing home baked treats to the nurses. Some of them would welcome it for sure, but I think some people would be wary about eating anything that wasn't prewrapped.

[MrsSunshine]

WHY did I miss that part of her post. whoops. LOL. sorry. we never brought anything in for the nurses while he was in. however we made sure we told them every single day how VERY appreciative of their AWESOME care we were of. its not easy looking after so many patients all at once whether in a hospital or nursing home. sometimes they just like to be recognized for that. you could ask the nurses if they are allowed to accept baked goods. home made goodies are always welcome.

[Psychojo213]

I know fruit tray also go over well with nurses because they sometimes get sick of sweets or many watch what they eat.

[ninna]

Either way, whatever you decide to do, let me just say how thoughtful and touching a gesture it is that you are thinking of doing. Just taking the time like that to say "thanks" to the nurses. It truly is wonderful. I know the nurses get paid etc etc and it is their job technically to care for her; at the same time, nurses work so hard and care so much that what they give goes far above what they get back in terms of a paycheque.

So kudos to you!

That being said, baked goods are nice, but fresh fruit is nice too--especially for those of us who are watching our waistlines. (lol. I think I'm watching mine grow!). You could always do a fruit tray or if you are an artsy crafty sort, you could make your own edible arrangement. Like a bouquet of flowers...except the flowers are actually fruit on kabob sticks. I've seen those arrangements on occasion and they are pretty freakin' cool.

Again though--whatever you decide to do--just the simple gesture itself will be appreciated no matter what it is!

[melodyagwu]

ok being a nurse...fruit trays are sooo nice

[Zonny]

Thanks everyone! We're going on 12 weeks since she was admitted to the hospital, all the nurses know me by name now and I know most of them. To be honest, I'm pretty darned sick of the hospital!

[Patty Smyth]

Maybe a nice basket of different kinds of tea? Maybe you can purchase some cute mugs at Dollarama to go with it? Do they have an electric kettle(one that has automatic shut off since they are so busy) ? Maybe you could purchase one of those for them. You never know what they have acess to. They may not even have a kettle. Nurses are the most underated care givers, they derserve a little treat IMO.

[glowworm2k]

My grandfather spend about 6 or 7 years in hospital with ALS, mostly in intensive care and then a year in palliative care. We often brought a bouquet of fresh flowers for the nurses with a thank-you card. The nurses mentioned to Grandma how much they enjoyed having something to brighten up their workspace.

[Natalka]

That is so kind of you to think of doing something for them. Two of my sisters are nurses, and the one still practicing in ICU often talks to us about the kindness of family members who bring treats of ANY kind - they are appreciative of anything and absolutely love homemade goodies.

[kashkoush]

i agree with the healthy treats lol , like mentioned above a fruit tray or tea gift would be so nice, personally i really dislike baked goodies or anything that is not health wise, i get it often but i can't do nothing i just don't want it to end up in my big black hole lol (i mean my stomach lol)

[gracesmommy]

i worked in a vet clinic and we'd often get TONS of boxes of chocolates and baked goods, donughts etc as thankyous. And its true, when soemone would bring in fresh fruit trays or veggies/dip they'd be gobbled up in a heartbeat by our staff. a nice change of pace