If you have a loved one in medical school, nursing, physical therapy, PA, dental–or other healthcare field, congratulations! I bet they’re caring, smart, & hard-working. As you well know, school can be tough mentally, emotionally, financially, and from a time perspective. Which makes Christmas & the holidays a perfect time to give a gift that will help bring some ease and a little joy! In the interest of length, I have two parts to this series:
- Part 1: With an emphasis on fun, general, useful, and affordable, these gifts that will delight students at any point in training.
- Part 2: This list is a bit more specific to your loved one’s future goals with a few higher dollar gifts and some ideas that would make a very big impact. Sign up here to make sure you don’t miss it!
A few of the links below contain affiliate or coupon codes. These never increase your pricing, and may offer discounts. Many of the products below are currently having Black Friday specials!
Number 1: Scrubs
Why? We wear them a LOT. It’s always nice to have a new pair, especially ones that are comfortable & attractive. There are many options out there, but I’ll point out 2 brands:
- Mandala: They’re water-resistant, comfy, and they’re very affordable. They come in many colors & a few styles, and this link will give you a $5 coupon. Regarding fit, they’re cut a little more generously in the hip & thigh and a little more narrow in the shoulder than our next company, FIGS.
- FIGS is the most-recognized name in the fashion scrubs game. They look good, they have a large variety of colors and styles, and they offer new styles seasonally. They tend to run a little smaller/more body conscious than other brands, so use the sizing guide, and if in doubt—you may want to size up. They do have sales periodically and are having a Black Friday special right now!
Number 2: Stethoscope
Your student may already have a stethoscope, but a high-quality or digital one is a valued luxury that really can help them in clinical situations, and pretty or personalized ones just make people happy. Titanium & stainless steel have better sound quality than aluminum, and titanium is the lightest weight.
- MDF offers a treasure trove of colors & personalization options. They also sell specialized attachments for pediatrics/neonates, otoscopes, reflex hammers, and sphygmomanometers. Get yourself one of those (it’s a blood pressure cuff 😁).
- And then, I’m personally really intrigued by the straight-to-the-earbuds Stemoscope, which may be especially helpfMDF makes personalized medical gifts simple! ul for people with hearing issues.
- Finally, I’m the proud owner of both a Littman classic and Eko digital stethoscopes and can recommend either.
Number 3: Anatomy flashcards
Anatomy is a little like learning a new language, and the level of detail that needs to be memorized is astounding. It doesn’t end with anatomy class either–you will get quizzed by residents and attendings throughout training, especially if you’re interested in a surgical specialty, and it’s an important facet to medical knowledge. I can’t speak highly enough about these flashcards–I would grab a few for the day to review or take them into the OR to glance at between cases.The format and content on each card is highly functional. Aesthetically, I also think this is a beautiful gift! BTW, I specifically recommend these Netter’s cards.
Number 4: Pharma flashcards
Similarly to #3, learning pharmaceuticals is a big burden during medical school: class of drugs, usage, mechanism of action, side effects, contraindications, etc. IT’S. SO. MUCH. to memorize. For me, the flashcards were a huge help. They’re manageable. They put a mental container around the knowledge that needs to be understoon, and yes–if you knew & understood everything on those cards (which I think would be reasonable), you would be in a really good position for any of your board exams. And like the anatomy cards, I specifically recommend THESE cards for learning drugs.
- Pharmaceutical Flashcards
- This handy little container fits the cards perfectly.
Number 5: Rounding Notebook
While this could be used in any kind of clinical setting, I think EVERY med student should have one at least before they start 3rd year. MS3 is the year med students typically transition to clinical learning, meaning they go to work every day instead of to class where their work role is to be a medical learner. As an MS3, you have your own patients to chart-check and round on first thing in the morning, present to the residents & attending, and formulate a plan of care. Organization of ideas is CLUTCH—I really struggled with it, and part of the problem was my notes, which were terrifying scribbly maps that did me no favors. My friend Dr. Nick, who is a few years into residency, gave me one of these notebooks & it is fantastic for organizing yourself as a clinical student & beyond.
Number 6: Sunrise Alarm Clock
Medicine is a field that often sees no sun–especially for those in surgical fields or during training years. I know everyone wakes up a little differently, but for me,the sunrise wake-up alarms are life-changing in the best way. Here’s what I can tell you:
- I’m a hard sleeper.
- I prefer not to wake up cranky—which is exactly what happens with the “errr, err, err” of an awful horrid alarm.
- I resent it when I don’t get to see the sun for long stretches, something that happens during the winter months & in some specialties. Hello Darkness, my old friend.
Sunrise alarms gradually increase the light so it feels like you’re waking up with the sun! Instead of being jarred awake with an obnoxious noise, I usually wake up even before my audio alarm (yes, I set several because: safety first.)
- This one is a really cool looking version that includes a phone charger.
- And this one is like mine, controlled by an app on my phone. Don’t forget to apply the coupon!
- Both are currently on sale.
Number 7: Portable Blender
Smoothies on-demand. Especially valued if your loved one is into fitness. This is an easy thing to “meal-prep” for on-the-go healthy meals. Today’s portable blenders are powerful & make quick work of frozen fruit & anything else you want to add to your nutritious meal!
- I have gifted & used the Blendjet.
- Ninja blenders are always good.
- If you have a Costco membership, check there for pricing & current sales!
Number 8: Lunch Bag
Everyone has to eat–and the cafeteria gets expensive & tiresome. Big fan of meal prep, so here are some lunch bag options:
- This cute lil thing is perfect for a snack. Sometimes I onlyneed to take something small and not feel like I’m carrying multiple pieces of luggage.
- But other times, I need to be able tofeed myself all day: breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks. In which case, I found this one extremely useful during med school &beyond.
- I will always advocate for fun ice packs.
Number 9: Suture Kit
Every med student learns how to suture at some point, and it’s never too early to learn! Being good at basic techniques is a great way to feel proud of yourself & maybe earn a “good job” from the resident/attending one day. This kit has everything your student will need, including instruments, a couple different kinds of suture, and a practice pad, all inside a carrying case that can easily get thrown into a backpack.
Number 10: Pretty Highlighters
Tell me you don’t want these too!?! Functionally, these are the best highlighters I’ve found. Bright, clear highlights without smearing the ink below. And the colors 😍.
- Set of 15: this is enough.
- Set of 23: this is more.
More gift ideas in Part 2!
I hope that this list gives you some practical ideas for gifts for your medical or healthcare-student loved-ones. Students: pass this along to your family members to help them out!
English