Nurses Week Flowers & Gifts

Nurses Week gifts thank the nurses who cared for your family or the unit you lead during the week of May 6 to May 12. Send bright thank-you bouquets, sunny mixed flowers or an orchid plant, each one arranged by hand by a florist near the hospital, clinic or school.

Flowers for nurses work best when they fit the workplace. The guide below covers gifts for a whole unit, thanking one nurse and what to check before you order.

Choosing Nurses Week flowers and gifts

One arrangement for the whole unit

Shifts rotate, so a shared arrangement at the nurses' station or in the break room reaches people on days, nights and weekends. Pick a larger size of something cheerful: Best Day Bouquet mixes roses, sunflowers and lilies, and Spring Regal Wrap bundles roses, sunflowers, alstroemeria, chrysanthemums, larkspur and delphinium in kraft paper, with the same six flowers in every size. In early May, Vibrant Tulip Charm with 25 Holland tulips also fills a counter. If you manage the unit, our employee appreciation gifts help you thank staff in other departments too.

Nurse appreciation gifts for one person

For a nurse who cared for someone you love, a smaller piece with a clear message works well. Floral Embrace Thank You and Fields of Europe Celebration Thank You both arrive with a balloon, and the Fields of Europe balloon is printed with Thank You. Dorothy's Dress keeps yellow roses, hydrangea and dusty miller in a compact six-inch bubble bowl that suits a crowded counter. In your card, name what the nurse did, like the night they stayed late or the way they explained everything, and sign your full name. Our thank you flowers include more ways to say it.

Before you send flowers for nurses to a hospital

Hospitals set their own rules, and some keep fresh flowers or balloons out of certain units, so call the unit first and ask how staff gifts are received and whose name to use. Strong scents can be hard to work around in patient areas, so lightly scented roses are safer than lilies there, and some units do not allow potted plants. Away from patients, the Purple Phalaenopsis Orchid and Double White Orchid Plant last for weeks with little care. For nurses at a clinic, school or doctor's office, deliveries go to the front desk or reception during business hours.

Nurses Week questions

When is Nurses Week?

National Nurses Week runs from May 6, National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. The dates stay the same every year, so you can order ahead and pick the day that matches the shift you want to reach.

What is a good gift for nurses during Nurses Week?

Something the whole team can share, paired with sincere words. A large bouquet for the break room, a potted orchid if the unit allows plants or food for a long shift are all welcome. Notes from patients and families often mean the most. See our orchids.

Is there a flower that represents nurses?

There isn't an official one. Many people choose by meaning instead: sunflowers for warmth and admiration, yellow roses for friendship and thanks, and orchids for strength. Bright, cheerful colors tend to suit a busy unit better than dramatic red, and a mixed bouquet covers every taste on the team.

Can I send nurse appreciation gifts to a hospital?

In most cases, but check with the unit before ordering. Put the nurse's full name and the unit or department on the order so the gift doesn't get mistaken for a patient delivery, and pick a weekday when the person you're thanking is likely on shift.

What should I write on a card for a nurse?

Be specific and short: "Thank you for the calm voice and the warm blankets during Dad's surgery. You made a scary week easier." For a whole unit, "To the 4 West nurses, with thanks for every night shift" works well. Sign with your full name.