Best Gift Ideas for Doctors, Nurses and Healthcare Workers

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore’s frontline workers have been hard at work fighting the good fight on all fronts. There’s no better time for us to show our appreciation for our healthcare workers than now. Find out what are some of the best gifts you can get for doctors, nurses and healthcare workers below.

Burnout among Singapore’s healthcare workers should come as no surprise to anyone given the extensive increase in workload that the onset of the covid-19  pandemic has wrought. Despite this, our healthcare workers have remained valiant and steadfast in their service to our nation, refusing to abandon their posts.  Feeling appreciated at work can, however, help mitigate the burnout faced by our frontline healthcare workers in the fight against the pandemic.

Now is precisely the time for you to show your appreciation and gratitude to our healthcare workers, especially if you have a friend or loved one holding down the fort on the frontlines of Singapore’s fight against COVID-19.

Find out what are some of the best gifts you can get for doctors, nurses and healthcare workers below!

Top gifts for female healthcare workers

The long hours and sometimes sporadic nature of healthcare work can sometimes mean that female healthcare workers often face time constraints on their self-care needs. They may therefore greatly appreciate gifts that are tailored for rest, relaxation and daily enjoyment.

Here are some top gift ideas for female healthcare workers to get you started:

• Skincare products

Source: Handmade Heroes

The high stress work environment of healthcare settings can not only take a mental toll but it can also translate to negative physical side effects. When healthcare workers are pressed for time, self-care may not be on the top of their priority list, leading them to neglect personal grooming and other self-care practices. Getting appropriate skincare products for our doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers can serve as a thoughtful and gentle reminder for them to practise self-care and also alleviate the mental load of thinking about skincare that they would otherwise have added onto their plate. Products like face masks, toners, and moisturisers from popular brands like Innisfree, The Ordinary, and Kiehls can go a long way in making one feel pampered and cared for.

For something more unique, check out local brand Handmade Heroes‘ range of beauty items, including lip kits and balms as well as face masks.

• Self-care items  

Source: Unsplash

Self-care items like bath products can go a long way in helping healthcare workers unwind after a long day or simply provide an easy indulgence on their off days. Consider gifting healthcare workers bath bombs, epsom salts or even a loofah for their enjoyment. Choose from popular brands like Bath and Body Works or Sephora which are the holy grails when it comes to such items.

Looking to support a local business while you’re gifting your loved ones? Check out Lynk Artisan‘s shower steamers in relaxing scents like Lavender, Mandarin and Garden Mint, or Rose and Ylang Ylang for someone who leans towards florals.

• Hand serum

Source: Unsplash

Healthy and supple skin can’t always be at the top of your priorities if you’re busy taking care of patients and handling hospital caseloads. Yet a healthcare worker’s hands are indispensable to their work caring for others. A hand serum may be just the thing to help them prevent their hands from drying out, especially in air-conditioned environments common in healthcare settings. 

•  Quilt, bed sheets, and pillow cases

Source: Sunday Bedding

A healthcare worker’s busy schedule can sometimes mean late nights and irregular hours for days on end. To ensure they get a well-deserved rest and make their sleep more comfortable, you can consider gifting them comfortable quilts, bed sheets and pillow cases. Be sure to choose products with a high-thread count for the best feel and touch!

Check out Sunday Bedding and Bedtribe for quality bedding and sheets.

Top gifts for male healthcare workers

Working as a healthcare worker in Singapore can be extremely stressful. Finding leisure in activities after work can therefore be a major source of comfort for male healthcare workers. Here are some gift ideas you can consider!

• Gaming consoles / PC games

Source: Unsplash

Sometimes there’s nothing quite as stress-relieving like a good ol’ RPG or classic FPS game. Consider getting them gaming consoles like a Nintendo Switch or PC games on gaming platforms like Steam and Epic Games. A good gaming session after a long day’s work can quickly take the mind off the day’s stressful events. Gaming can also provide much-needed relaxation during off days as well! Be sure to check what genre of games is suitable for the person you are buying the game before surprising them!

• Gym membership

Source: Unsplash

Unfortunately, working in healthcare doesn’t always allow one to pay the fullest attention to one’s own health. A gym membership subscription may be a wonderful gift for healthcare workers to keep themselves healthy and destress at the same time. Remember to choose gyms which have flexible or extensive opening hours to accommodate healthcare workers’ sometimes erratic work schedules. Why not check out some of these gyms and fitness studios that are located close to hospitals? 

• Craft beers from a local brewery

Source: Unsplash

While alcohol isn’t the solution to everything, it can certainly make for a refreshing beverage after a long day of work. Craft beer may be an especially good idea for male healthcare workers who need a little pick me up every now and then. Try buying them a case of their favourite beer or surprise them with something new that they have not tried before!

Want to support a local brewery? Check out the selection by RedDot Brewhouse and Brewerkz‘s range of beers, which includes NewBrew, a beer made from NEWater! For friends who don’t enjoy alcohol, the selection of zero-alcohol beer from WiseCrack Drinks might just do the trick.

Unisex gift ideas

While we’ve suggested gift ideas for male and female healthcare workers, your gift choices should still ultimately take into consideration personal preferences and individual personalities. Sometimes checking in with them subtly before deciding on a gift is a good idea in itself. In that spirit, if you’re really unsure, here are further gift ideas that all healthcare workers can certainly appreciate!

• A box of tea

With long hours and late-night shifts, being a healthcare worker can be stressful. If you have a loved one who has been missing out on their rest, a box of flavoured tea might help to soothe their nerves. Check out Apoteacary‘s caffeine-free Rest Blend, which contains Lemon Balm, Moringa, and a range of Asian spices and herbs.

• A lunch box and reusable food wraps

Source: Your Sustainable Store

Eating out can be expensive or sometimes when things are busy, it can be hard to find time to head down to the canteen. A lunch box will come in handy for healthcare workers who prefer to pack their own lunch to work or for those who prefer to takeaway their lunches to eat at their desks. This will be especially convenient for healthcare workers during peak periods of work. It would be ideal to get a stainless steel, vacuum-insulated lunch box so the food can still be kept fresh throughout the day.

Another option is beeswax wraps, which can be used to wrap buns and sandwiches. They come in a variety of sizes and prints and can be purchased at Your Sustainable Store.

• Coffee beans and pour-over equipment
  

Source: Perk Coffee | Facebook

For a healthcare worker, a good cup of coffee can perk them up and get them ready to face the day ahead. If your gift recipient is a coffee drinker, they will certainly appreciate a bag of fragrant coffee beans or a pour-over set to get them started for their long days. Consider getting one portable enough to set up in their kitchen to keep things light and convenient.

Check out local coffee shops, like Perk Coffee and Percolate, for a wide range of quality beans and coffee-making equipment.

• Thermos flask 

Source: Unsplash

The long hours of duty for healthcare workers can sometimes mean that breaks are fraught and hard to come by. A thermos flask is a great gift for a healthcare worker as they’ll be able to have their hot/cold beverage on hand throughout the day, making it convenient for them to still enjoy their beverages without worrying about leaving their posts. 

• Comfortable shoes

Source: Unsplash

Healthcare workers often spend long hours on their feet when doing shift work or having to monitor patients and wards in hospitals. A comfortable pair of shoes can certainly help alleviate the stress that’s otherwise inflicted on their feet, which may cause them foot problems in the long run. 

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