I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want…
Let’s be real, so many years the holidays roll around and we get hung up on waiting to the very last minute for purchasing holiday gifts as we wait for inspiration to strike for the perfect combination of useful and unique to pop up. Then we wait too long and end up gifting or getting things that will end up being re-gifted or donated and promise ourselves we will do better next year…I know I’ve been guilty of this…
I wanted to share with you my holiday gift guide with 10 of my personal favorites of 2021 to help make shopping for the holidays so much easier as you gift sh*t people actually want (HEALTHCARE EDITION!)
Go ahead and spoil yourself while you win at holiday shopping this year. XO
10 HEALTHCARE HOLIDAY MUST HAVES
Don’t conform to boring…Rad Girl Creations makes the best medical pins and anatomy swag. We all have to wear the standard scrubs uniforms in healthcare, so why not let your dark humor side shine through with some personality on your badge. I love their specialty pin packs that are great, personalized gifts to celebrate the dedication of the healthcare worker / work wife in your life.
Shop Rad Girl Pins HERE!
UP AT DAWN SOCKS
Flip the narrative on boring socks as a staple gift. I love saving my feet while working long hours in my Up at Dawn Compression Socks. Up at Dawn socks are designed in Oahu and the tropical vibes are so on point. Supporting female-founded, nurse-owned businesses is something I am super passionate about.
An Emergency Room Nurse for over ten years, Tesla has crafted compression socks that she is proud to wear and now share. With the endless inspiration of the flora and fauna of the Hawaiian Islands, and more specifically, her home on the North Shore of Oahu in the quaint hills of Pupukea, Tesla envisioned dynamic compression socks that would extend their use beyond the laborious long hours spent at work. Her mission was to create a sock others would wantto also wear for both functionality and style; from hiking/biking/running/skating, to the expectant mother, to travelers, and even lounging.
Support your local Memer! For those who work in heavy settings and have “seen some sh*t” it’s important to have a coping mechanism. (Aka Dark Humor) Healthcare memes and medical humor will always be top on the list of getting through the crushing times in life! Code Blue Memes on Instagram is a daily favorite of mine when I am scrolling through IG and their merch designs are always funny and relatable. If you don’t know the exact size of the person you’re shopping for-hats are my go-to gift! I love the Seroquel hat in particular by Code Blue.
Looks like masks are here to stay for us in the healthcare setting! Save your ears with this amazing healthcare accessory. Support a nurse and woman-owned small business with your purchase of a headband + buttons for your mask! I have been wearing these headbands since the beginning of the pandemic and now this is a staple in my shift life. This genius headband style has made mask wearing for long hours during my shift comfortable and stylish. She has a variety of fun designs to choose from on her shop linked here.
Healthcare Headbands Here: simplytues.com
A STETHOSCOPE... OF COURSE!
The most popular stethoscope that I always feature on IG is on Amazon! In terms of stethoscopes I use daily, I have used Littmann & MDF stethoscopes at the bedside. Typically, stethoscopes are provided bedside in the NICU (for infection control). However, I own one of each (Littman & MDF) for floating purposes. NICU / Pediatric Littmann for floating to Postpartum & this MDF white & rose gold stethoscope to work (in case of floating to the Pediatric units). This highly-rated Classic Cardiology is phenomenal for detecting hard-to-hear heart sounds. Physicians, nurses, EMT, and vets alike love the heavy-duty chest piece with its super-sensitive diaphragm, extra-thick dual lumen tubing with total sound insulation, adjustable headset, and silicone ComfortSeal ear tips (with three sizes to ensure the perfect fit!)
No secret here. I have been a BARCO Uniforms girl since day #1. I am obsessed with the fit, tailoring, color palate, and chic vibes of the brand. Specifically, I have been a fan of the "Greys Anatomy Lines" for years with a price point that is affordable for everyone! I have been partnered with Barco since 2018, and continue to love this brand, their mission, and the true quality they bring to us in the healthcare field. I have compiled a few of my favorite sets for you on my amazon shop list! (I always recommend to size down. Ex: I wear a small or x-small in their tops (size 4-6). Bottoms small (size 4-6 regular) in joggers & x-tall in the boot cut style scrub bottoms.)
COCKTAIL THERAPY
Cocktail Therapy? Yes, please. We all deserve to celebrate an Alcoholiday. Spice up your holiday drinks with this boujee beverage set! This gift set box is so cute you can skip the wrapping and comes with everything you need for the perfect cocktail including 4 unique drink mixers with sprinkles, edible pearls & rose petal garnishes.- just add your favorite alcohol and enjoy!
RYAN PORTER SASSY CANDLES & ACCESSORIES
RyanPorter Creates Custom, Personalized Candles and Accessories for the sassy hot mess express divas we all are. Feed me cake and tell me I'm pretty! Girl, your holiday / birthday is gonna be so lit! These candles and accessories are such a fun addition to our home and the most perfect gift to give during the holiday season!
We need all the help we can get! What we do daily is stressful and can cause extra puffiness, face bloat, lymphatic build up. I have been a long-time SKINNY CONFIDENTIAL fan and could not recommend this HOT MESS TOOL more! A preventative skin tool that uses the power of cold therapy to contour, tighten and de-puff your skin. THE HOT MESS ICE ROLLER’S all-aluminum roller gets cold fast, and stays cold longer than most other ice rollers.
instantly reduce puffiness and redness (think how an ice-pack can reduce swelling and bruising!)
boosts circulation, bringing blood to the skin surface - restoring radiance and encouraging optimum cell function
helps shrink the size of pores, for smoother-looking skin
helps with lymphatic drainage through the combination of a facial massage and ice therapy
TRUST ME! YOUR FACE AND LYMPH WILL THANK YOU!
You can never go wrong with a timeless gift such as a piece of fine jewelry that will last through wear and tear, maintain their shine, and gives back to a meaningful cause. These 14k gold necklaces and earrings from Elliot Young can be paired together for a classic look or worn alone as a beautiful statement piece. What makes these pieces even more special is the fact that the charms represent balance, energy, and protection. All something us in healthcare could use a little more of in our lives!
Elliot Young is a women owned business that donates a percentage of profits from my collection with them to Brave Beginnings, an organization that supports NICU’s by providing essential equipment to hospitals in need.
Fine Jewelry Collection for A Cause:
NURSETORI25 for 25% off
Well there you have it. My favorite picks for the 2021 holiday season! I hope you find it helpful as you get a head start on holiday shopping.
Would love to know your favorite gifts for 2021 in the comments below!
Happy Holidays!
Tori Meskin BSN RNC-NIC. Nurse. Blogger. Podcaster. Tori has been a clinician since 2012, works in acute care/inpatient NICU & Pediatric settings in southern California. She is a blogger, podcaster, NICU & Pediatric Critical Care RN, Sponsored Capella University MSN student, a Barco Uniforms Ambassador & Brave beginnings Ambassador. She has obtained her National NICU Nurse Certification (RNC-NIC) & has previously worked as a travel nurse, pursuing bedside experiences in several NICU settings. Follow her as she shares her NICU journey married life & juggles work, school, content creation, & brings you top notch Tips & Tricks along the way. Find her at www.tipsfromtori.com or info@tipsfromtori.com