Being in a situation that requires prolonged contact with doctors can be stressful and a bit scary. However, as noted in the Hippocratic Oath, doctors take on the duty to do no harm and to apply scientific advances as they continue in their practice. Doctors are a wealth of knowledge and can be a valuable ally to have when you are dealing with a prolonged or serious illness.
Overview: Our Top Picks
Useful or Work-related Gifts for Doctors
- 3M Littmann Classic III Monitoring Stethoscope ($96.11)
- De'Longhi EC155 Espresso Maker ($175)
- Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug ($37.05)
- Scanmarker Air Pen Scanner ($149)
Holiday Gifts for Your Doctor
- Adar Pro Breakthrough Plus Scrub Set ($57.49)
- Spa Gift Cards
- Cozynight Weighted Sleep Mask ($15.99)
- ACTINPUT Compression Socks ($17.98 - $25.99)
Ideas for Your Doctor Who’s Retiring
- Godiva Chocolatier Chocolate Biscuit Gift Box ($20)
- Medical Inspirational Gift Pen ($22.74)
- Beautlace DNA Double Helix Necklace ($12.99)
- J Devlin Personalized Jewelry Box ($42.95)
‘Thank You’ Gifts for Nurses, Assistants, and Office Staff
- Wine Country Gourmet Gift Basket ($121.74)
- ThunderFit Silicone Rings ($9.99 - $18.99)
- Skechers Work Cottonwood Goddard ($70.56)
- Nut and Dried Fruit Gift Basket ($29.49)
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Useful or Work-related Gifts for Doctors
- Holiday Gifts for Your Doctor
- Ideas for Your Doctor Who’s Retiring
- ‘Thank You’ Gifts for Nurses, Assistants, and Office Staff
At the end of a round of chemotherapy, or a lengthy stay in the hospital, you may want to thank them. After all, many doctors and staff spend long hours on their feet in a stressful job. Brainstorming the perfect gift to express your gratitude is hard, though. If you’ve found yourself stuck, we’ve got a few suggestions below for you to give thanks.
Share your final wishes, just in case.
Create a free Cake end-of-life planning profile and instantly share your health, legal, funeral, and legacy decisions with a loved one.
Useful or Work-related Gifts for Doctors
Many tools doctors use are high-tech and inaccessible to normal people. What else can you give them?
1. Personalized lab coat
In the medical profession, making a distinctive fashion statement is rare. Scrubs and lab coats are all made to keep doctors and patients contagion-free. Each clothing item has a place. Whether it keeps body fluids away from the skin or helps make long shifts on their feet more bearable, each doctor has a carefully tailored wardrobe.
Like with all uniforms however, each doctor can always use another lab coat to add to their rotation. Picking a high-quality one is a great start. Getting it personalized with their name, initials, or title is a thoughtful addition.
We like the TAILOR'S Customizable Embroidered Lab Coat from Amazon.
2. Stethoscope
Stethoscopes are expensive tools for doctors. They’re crucial to the job, but easy to misplace or lose. Investing in a high-quality stethoscope from some of the best medical providers is a great step. If you can’t afford that, though, there are other options.
You can buy a cheaper stethoscope, and opt for getting it personalized. This will be a major help if they ever misplace it.
We like the 3M Littmann Classic III Monitoring Stethoscope from Amazon.
3. Espresso machine
Caffeine can serve as the lifeblood of a doctor with a high-stress job that works odd hours. Coffee machines provided at work may be often disdained.
Whether it’s low-quality coffee, or they take forever to brew, no one wants to microwave a low-quality paper cup of joe. An espresso machine is the perfect solution for a bolstering shot of caffeine at any hour.
We like the De'Longhi EC155 Espresso Maker from Amazon.
4. Insulated thermoses
Once they get that great cup of espresso, how can they keep it warm? Whether they prefer cold brews or hot drinks, it’s easy for a doctor or any professional to leave a drink unattended. Hospitals and doctors’ offices can often be fast-paced places.
After you get a cup of coffee, you may not remember to return for another hour or two. The best vacuum flasks are insulated and keep coffee or other drinks warm or cold for hours on end. This is the perfect thoughtful gift for a doctor in your life.
We like the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug from Amazon.
5. Digital highlighters
Many jokes revolve around doctors having poor handwriting. Some prescriptions are impossible to read! Now, many doctors have switched over to digital note-taking approaches. Doctors still need writing implements, though.
Digital highlighters help reduce mess and underline important information for future reference.
We like the Scanmarker Air Pen Scanner from Amazon.
Holiday Gifts for Your Doctor
What better way to say ‘Happy Holidays’ than with a thank-you gift?
6. Medical scrubs
Clothing makes a great holiday gift. It’s practical and often stylish, something that’s useful throughout the entire year. Now, doctors have many personalized options available. If you know your doctor well, you can pick out the perfect color and style. Or consider giving them a holiday-themed set.
Either way, scrubs are useful gifts that will add to their professional wardrobe for years to come.
We like the Adar Pro Breakthrough Plus Scrub Set from Amazon.
7. Spa gift card
Many medical professionals work long, hard shifts. Sometimes, they’re on duty for ten to twelve hours. This is challenging in any role, but in a profession where lives are at stake, it becomes doubly stressful. What better time for them to relax than during the holidays? Sometimes, holidays can feel like another item on the to-do list for doctors. They’re trying to cram in their lives outside the hospital.
Extra housework, cooking, and more guests coming over can feel impossible. A treat to the local spa is a great way to relax and take some time for themselves. You can even find spa gift cards on Amazon.
8. Weighted eye pillows
Catnaps are often the lifeblood of a doctor. With late nights and early mornings, especially if they’re on-call, getting the recommended eight hours of sleep may seem particularly elusive.
To stay alert and focused, they sometimes need to take quick naps during the day. In this case, stealing ideas from longtime airline travelers is a great idea. Weighted pillows can feel quite restful on the eyes, and also provide automatic darkness. The combination can make sure your doctor can snag a few bursts of sleep whenever they can.
We like the Cozynight Weighted Sleep Mask from Amazon.
9. Meditation gift card
All doctors know the medical dangers of stress, but they are also conscious of the unique stressors that can impede their ability to work. Managing stress levels is a crucial challenge in today’s world.
Taking the time to consciously rewire your reactions is so rewarding, but can also be hard to start. There are many popular tutorials and classes online. By purchasing a gift card, they can plunge right on without worrying about the costs.
10. Compression socks
This might be one of the most practical gifts you’ll buy this year. Compression socks are a dream gift for someone who spends the better part of each day on their feet. They can prevent swelling, discomfort, and sore feet.
We like the ACTINPUT Compression Socks from Amazon.
Ideas for Your Doctor Who’s Retiring
If you’ve been a longtime patient of your primary doctor, it may be sad to see them retire. But retiring can be hard for them as well, even if they have devoted their lives to a profession such as medicine. In this sense, giving a valuable retirement gift can mean the world for someone who is embarking on a new stage in their life.
11. Themed chocolates
Chocolates are a great gift for anyone. Whether you love plain chocolates or decadent ones, hardly anyone would turn down a great box of chocolates. What if you want to take your retirement gift up another level?
Look for themed chocolates! Some companies offer doctor-themed boxes. From chocolates shaped like stethoscopes to scalpels, this is a touching gift that pays homage to their years of service.
We like the Godiva Chocolatier Chocolate Biscuit Gift Box from Amazon.
12. Rod of Asclepius pen
Medical professionals do a lot of writing. From prescriptions to quick note-taking, it’s important that they have high-quality writing instruments. This isn’t a habit they’re likely to lose in retirement.
These pens take a symbol that’s always associated with the medical profession. Many luxurious designs make this a sentimental gift option that’s also practical.
We like the Medical Inspirational Gift Pen from Amazon.
13. Hemoglobin necklace
Necklaces are a great jewelry option. With fewer restrictions regarding apparel, this might be the time to add some fun jewelry to their look. Many companies offer necklaces in different varieties.
Hemoglobin, as a primary protein in the blood, can make this a truly unique gift. These are often available at a variety of price points, depending on the metal and jewels used.
14. DNA necklace
Depending on the type of doctor they were, a hemoglobin necklace may not be relevant. All doctors have had biology classes and relied on their knowledge of DNA to understand how the human body truly works.
Paying homage to one of the most important molecules of all time is a great way to acknowledge how hard they worked.
We like the Beautlace DNA Double Helix Necklace from Amazon.
15. Engraved gift box
Engraved items are tried and true options. You can include their years of employment at a particular medical facility, their title, well wishes, or anything else that you fancy. This gift box can be used to store their stethoscopes, other mementos, or simply utilized for decoration.
We like the J Devlin Personalized Jewelry Box from Amazon.
‘Thank You’ Gifts for Nurses, Assistants, and Office Staff
If you spent a lot of time in a medical facility, you may know the staff well. This is a great chance to thank them!
16. Food baskets
Office staffs are often pretty large. It can be difficult to find a gift that would be good for everyone. You want enough for everyone to benefit, but don’t want to break the bank either. Food baskets are often a great idea.
You can put together a diverse array of food and beverages that the whole office can enjoy. Some ideas are chocolates, fruit, ground coffee blends, or anything else. If you love experimenting in the kitchen, try making some casseroles. These can be warmed up easily and served in the break room.
We like the Wine Country Gourmet Gift Basket from Amazon.
17. Silicone wedding ring
This is a gift best saved for a nurse that has worked with you for long hours or for a tough diagnosis. But a silicone wedding ring is a practical nod to one of the realities of the profession.
Traditional rings often can’t be worn with medical gloves, as these rings can have sharp edges and will easily cut through latex gloves.
We like the ThunderFit Silicone Rings from Amazon.
18. Shoes
Many of the gifts on this list are quite utilitarian. Many nurses spend long days on their feet, and giving them a pair of comfortable and long-lasting shoes may show a definite kindness to those who run from room to room to check on your vitals.
This can make long shifts much more bearable. Finding their shoe size and brands they love is a great idea. This will allow you to find a present that’s perfect for them.
We like the Skechers Work Cottonwood Goddard from Amazon.
19. Edible arrangements
If you can’t deliver your gifts in person, the following two options are tried and true delivery versions of a gift. Edible arrangements can be passed around the entire office, or throughout the whole nursing staff. They also provide a gorgeous addition to the break room, or a lunch table, before everyone dives in to enjoy!
We like the Nut and Dried Fruit Gift Basket from Amazon.
20. Flowers
Flowers are equally associated with tragic and happy occasions. From funeral flowers to get-well bouquets, flowers come with emotional occasions. They’re also a great way to express your thanks with a beautiful option to brighten up the hospital while they last.
We like the Benchmark Bouquets Assorted Asiatic Lilies from Amazon.
Bundling Gifts to Say 'Thanks'
If you, or a loved one, have spent a lot of time in the hospital, you might know quite a few staffers. If that’s the case, try bundling your gifts together. You might not be able to get a pair of shoes for the entire nursing staff that helped your dad through chemotherapy. Sending flowers or some snacks might be a great option.
No matter what you choose, taking the opportunity to express gratitude is something you shouldn’t miss.