50 Best Unique Gift Ideas for Nursing School Graduates (2024)

Graduating from a nursing program is a huge deal. These 2024 nursing school grads have gone through countless hours of training and testing, and they deserve to be celebrated before they head into the medical profession full-time. But what do you give a nurse for graduation? (Spoiler: They need pens!) We asked recent nursing school grads what they wished they had received from friends and family, searched popular Reddit threads, and looked at top-selling gift ideas on Amazon to present to you the best nurse graduation gifts money can buy.

All in all, this list includes appropriate nurse grad gift ideas for every budget and every need. Some options are more oriented toward helping ease them into the job, like compression socks to help with circulation, a coffee machine that will energize them for the day ahead, or the best sneakers and clogs for nurses on their feet for hours at a time. Others fall into the "fun professional flair" category: personalized tumblers, funny sticky notes, and a unique custom stethoscope name tag. And because no one needs quality downtime as much as a nurse does, we tossed in some valuable self-care items like candles, inspirational jewelry, and skincare products designed for quick use.

We'd be shocked if you can't find the newly crowned male nurse, female nurse, or vet nurse in your life a perfect present from the picks below, but if you're still looking, we have plenty of other gift ideas for your 2024 grad:

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You want to know what nurses really want? More energy. Enter the OG of single-cup coffee makers, Keurig. This mint number is cute, but it also comes in basic black.

When we asked nurses what they actually want, the most surprising answer was pens. Yes, really! The PILOT G2 pens are a favorite among the nursing group on Reddit, though they also cite the Zebra G-402 and the Sharpie S-Gel.

This personalized tumbler will keep their drinks hot or cold for hours. "I gave this gift to my daughter who is a nurse [and] her exact words were, 'Mommy, I love my cup,'" wrote one Amazon reviewer. "One of the best gifts as she starts her new job."

Add a personal touch to their stethoscope with a tiny name tag. You can choose from seven different personalized designs, all of which are less than $15.

Looking for something sentimental but not too saccharine? Minted has a cool option to customize a portrait of the graduate's college campus. It'll serve as a quaint reminder of all the time they spent in that library.

This gift box comes packed with goodies for your favorite nursing graduate, including a small pouch, a drink tumbler, funny socks, and more.

Nurses are on the go constantly, and whether they're trying to fit in a workout or a quick conversation with mom, these bluetooth earbuds will be a life-saver. They're waterproof, boast up to 32 hours of use before they need a charge, and come in five trendy colors.

Make the end of their day a little easier with these face towels that will banish all remaining blush and mascara. There are six in this set; three "sun" towels for the morning and three "moon" towels for the evening. (Though nurses have crazy schedules, so they can use them whenever they please.)

These slip-resistant clogs are a favorite among nurses for their cushioned footbeds and easy-to-clean material. If the nurse you're gifting for works in a unit where they'll be exposed to copious fluids, clogs are a great option.

For extra-long shifts, give them extra-strong cold brew. This concentrate from Explorer features more caffeine than your average cold brew for an added boost. The 32-oz bottle (pictured) will supply 20 cups, though nurses may appreciate the brand's travel-size bottles — perfect for a congrats basket!

This bestselling travel mug doubles as a kettle. Perfect for tea and instant coffee, the stainless steel container will boil water in minutes and features four temperature settings.

This design from Minted artist Ekko Studio is a great way to commemorate time spent with colleagues and friends during the grueling school years. Better together, but never far apart.

Depending on their speciality, nurses may or may not be able to wear nail polish. If they are allowed to sport some clear polish, this four-piece cuticle-care set from Deborah Lippmann will strengthen their nails and nurture the surrounding skin while they work.

This 12-oz insulated coffee mug will keep their brew warm for hours, all while reminding them what a rockstar they truly are.

This rollerball eye cream would be the ideal addition to a wellness or skincare gift basket. It's compact, fragrance-free, safe for sensitive skin, and has great reviews on Amazon.

Little Words Project has a variety of bestselling bracelets to motivate them. "You Got This" seems like a spot-on inspirational message for nurses, but the brand also has bracelets emblazoned with "Badass" and "Faith." (You could get all three because nurses contain multitudes.)