Nurse Appreciation Gift: 5 Timeless Ideas for Retired Nurses

We’re blessed to have nurses in this world. They dedicate their lives to caring for us and ensuring we’re recuperating. Their dedication is selfless, relentless, and tireless. For the longest time, they have been the unsung heroes of our generation. 

But we can change that. 

If you know a nurse who has retired, is about to retire, or wishes they were retired, don’t wait until Nurses Week to show your appreciation. Do it now with our well-curated array of nurse appreciation gift ideas. 

See Also: 5 Nurses Week Gift Ideas to Show Your Appreciation

Retired nurses deserve our heartfelt gratitude because:

• They’ve committed their lives to improving the healthcare industry and paved the way for future nurses.
• They’ve worked long hours and put their patients’ well-being above their own. 
• They’ve provided patients with compassionate care, emotional support, and solace during tough times. 

Retired nurses are the elders around the fire, and the following are some tokens of appreciation from us to them. 

Call this, “Our Ode to Retired Nurses.” And pleasantly so. 

1 - Tee-rrific T-Shirts

“The doctors may be mapping out the war games, but it is the nurses who make the conflict bearable.”
- Jodi Picoult

Imagine this quote immortalized in a t-shirt—how unique would that be? Perhaps one of our best-sellers, like the “Nurses The Heart of Healing,” the “Nurses are Strong,” or the “Nurse” shirts is what you’ve been looking for. 

Our shirts use the softest tri-blend of polyester, cotton, and rayon to give you a comfortable and cozy feeling all day. Wearing any of our nurse shirts makes you feel empowered and proud to be in this dignified profession. 

“I reached out to a friend who is a nurse to ask about a good gift to give another friend who recently graduated nursing school … I was told this shirt is my friend’s favorite to wear, as it’s super soft and she feels empowered while wearing it …. ”
- Tarin L., USA

Picture these quirky sayings on a t-shirt:

• “What do you call a person who is happy on a Monday? Retired.” 
• “Some call it retirement. I call it bliss.” 
• “Superpower alert: I can’t be late for work.”
• “But we never stop, do we?”

Last year, we printed over 6,000 shirts for a local health system in NW Ohio for Nurses Week. Our commitment to supporting frontline workers is a testament to our work ethic. 

Learn more about our custom screen printing process. 

2 - Sweatshirt Blankets

Deadlines. The number one cause of stress and pressure in the workplace. Luckily, retired nurses don’t have to face this challenge anymore, and they can snuggle in with their warm, cozy blankets and watch a movie at any time of day. 

Sweatshirt blankets are practical and serve a dual purpose. They can be worn both indoors and outdoors, during warm or cold weather.

Gifting a retired nurse a sweatshirt blanket brings back nostalgia. They’ll remember the cold night shifts they had to trudge through, and how they’ve finally weathered this storm. Or how they’d tuck their patients to sleep—such a touching gesture of love. 

If you’ve been around your retiree friend long enough, you probably know what motivates them in life, their favorite musician, or their favorite show. Include that in your design idea, and let us transform it into the perfect farewell gift or keepsake. 

You can customize our sweatshirt blankets with screen printing or embroidery. Some fun phrases include:

• “Officially discharged”
• “Under new management: See grandkids”
• “This nurse is giving retirement a shot”
• “I should have won the Olympics”

Sweatshirt blankets have a larger surface area for printing than t-shirts do, so you’ll get longer phrases and sentences in, comparatively. 

Our You Will Do Better in Toledo Sweatshirt Blanket expresses our great love for Toledo. Get this for a friend with similar preferences.

3 - Personalized Drinkware

Drinkware is a gift that keeps on giving, quite literally. 

Sounds like the perfect gift idea? 

Well, at Jupmode, we have an impeccable selection of drinkware, ranging from:

• Pint and wine glasses
• Coffee and campfire mugs
• Koozies and water bottles

“Heavy-duty mug, high-quality, excellent speedy service.”
- Monica D., USA

Personalize drinkware with a unique message or photo that resonates with your friend’s likes—it’s a great idea to get them feeling appreciated. 

Dog lovers out there, assemble. We have the perfect ceramic mug for you. The best part? You can include personal anecdotes and phrases to any item. Shop our other dog products here.

4 - Euchre It Up!

During this transitional period, your retired nurse friend may be uncertain about what to do with so much free time on their hands. Hosting euchre card games might be their favorite pastime. 

Euchre is a game commonly played in the Midwestern United States, and involves a deck of 24 cards. It’s played among four players, divided into two pairs. The winning team has to score ten points first. 

Euchre keeps the mind active because it’s a challenging yet fun activity. It also provides people with the opportunity to socialize. 

Before hosting a game, your friend will need to brush up on the vocabulary of euchre, such as trump suits, trick points, and lead suits. 

Our wide range of euchre-themed clothing and gifts include:

“The Euchre Club Koozie and sweatshirt were the perfect gifts for my euchre-playing family gift exchange.”
- Anonymous, USA

5 - Delightful Scented Candles

Retired nurses need self-care and relaxation. Candles may just be the solution they need to deal with their professional burnout (pun intended). They create an ambiance of calm and serenity, perfect for individuals who have spent a lifetime on their toes caring for others. 

Soy wax is one of the cleanest-burning options in existence, together with coconut wax and beeswax. Our two candles, “Yule Do Better in Toledo Soy Candle” and “Cheers from the Midwest Soy Candle,” are both made from this eco-friendly material, and come in reusable rocks glasses. 

Candles are some of the most thoughtful presents for retired nurses for the following reasons:

• They’re inviting, warm, and relaxing for a cozy night in.
• They can be personalized in terms of scents. Our candles are infused with cedar, balsam, cinnamon, honey, orange peel, and sweet red fruit scents. 
• They’re versatile and can be used for various purposes, including romantic dinners, spa-like experiences, or decoration. 

You can add the retired nurse’s initials on the glass container, or include a heartfelt note thanking them for their years of service.

Another awesome idea is to write a special message of appreciation from a patient the retired nurse has helped in the past on a note and send it along with the candle. 

Gifting a candle also can also be symbolic. As it burns, it reveals the light and warmth a nurse brings to their profession. As Carrie Latet once said,

“A nurse will always give us hope, an angel with a stethoscope."

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

While a large percentage of retired nurses leave the profession completely, some remain as instructors to bestow the knowledge and experience they’ve accumulated over the years upon new nurses.

Others will prefer to become freelance writers or reviewers for Nursing Licensure Exams.

Regardless, being a nurse is an integral part of who they are, and any gift option you choose should reflect that. The adage, “Once a nurse, always a nurse” holds true. 

Retired nurses have dedicated their lives to making ours much more bearable.

They have borne the brunt of answering the unending questions we ask them when the doctor leaves, changing our clothes and bedding when we are too weak to do so, and ensuring we take our medication on time. Their service is invaluable. 

At Jupmode, we believe that nursing is a noble calling and are truly honored to be part of this phenomenal legacy. Contact us to get started on crafting heartwarming gifts for your loved ones.

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