The Ultimate CNA Week Guide
How To Celebrate Your Nursing Assistants
Nursing assistants are dedicated healthcare professionals that backbone of patient care. I was one when I was in nursing school and I can personally attest to how hard these healthcare workers work. I created this blog post to share ideas that CNAs will actually enjoy and that can work with even the tightest budgets. Let’s show them the gratitude they deserve for their dedication and compassion!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link. This will be at no extra cost to you. View the disclaimer for more information.
Budget-Friendly Gifts
One hospital I worked at, that did a phenomenal job at making the staff feel appreciated, gave us a gift during CNA week. This gift was never expensive, but it was picked out by management and it was something we could actually use. We would get the gift and a short hand-written note from management on why we mattered. This small act made us feel like our hard work was noticed by management. Below are small gifts that are sure to be liked by your staff, while staying with in your budget.
1.) Self Care Kits
These kits come with all of the essentials to relax after a long shift and come in an aesthetic package. This is also a good gift to give out if you have a spa themed day.
photo credit: amazon.com
2.) Candles
Post shift aroma therapy is the best way to relax after a long shift. These candles can be purchased in bulk and are sure to be a favorite with your staff.
photo credit: etsy.com
photo credit: etsy.com
3.) Tumblers
Everyone will use these tumblers and they will help your staff stay hydrated throughout the day! The personalization will make your staff feel like management does notice them.
photo credit: etsy.com
photo credit: etsy.com
4.) Custom Badge Reels
These budget-friendly badge reels are so cute and the customization makes this gift personable. These are sure to be a unit favorite.
photo credit: etsy.com
5.) Cosmetic Bags (Pencil Holders)
These bags can be ordered in bulk and are very budget-friendly. They can also be stuffed with other goodies to make them an extra special gift. Nurses on my unit used these bags to hold their pencils, erasers, penlights, and other tools needed for their shift.
photo credit: amazon.com
6.) Bento Box
These bento boxes were a hit during one of our CNA weeks. Although this isn’t a nursing-related gift, all of the staff used these boxes to pack their lunches for work. It was an inexpensive, but useful gift.
photo credit: amazon.com
7.) Gift Cards
Gift cards are a great and easy gift option. Make the delivery of this gift extra special with these cute gift card holders.
photo credit: etsy.com
8.) Jewelry Dish
These personalized dishes are sure to be a unit favorite. This dishes can be customized with their name to make this gift extra special.
photo credit: etsy.com
9.) Compression Socks
These compression socks are a CNA essential. These socks can be ordered in bulk and come in so many different designs. Your CNAs can pick out their favorites.
photo credit: amazon.com
10.) Headbands
Since COVID these headbands have become a CNA essential. These fun and budget-friendly headbands can be given out by themselves or as a part of a gift bag.
photo credit: amazon.com
Gift Tags
These printable gift tags add an extra flare to your gifts. Most of these gift tags are editable, so you can add your hospital name to them. The digital downloads can also be reused year after year.
Custom Thank You Tags
Candy & Treat Tag Bundle
Thank You Tag
Appreciation Tag
Cookie Tag
Activity Ideas
Coming up with an activity for each day of CNA week can be exhausting. I complied a list of activities below that are budget-friendly and not cheesy (No 80’s party here).
1.) Shout Out The CNAs
Decorate the bulletin board with the CNA’s pictures. Next to their picture put a quote from a staff member or a patient about how great they are or an example of a time where they went above and beyond. Keep the board up all week (or longer).
2.) Relaxation Room
We had this at a hospital I worked at. One of the rooms in the hospital would be converted to a “CNA Spa”. The lights were dimmed, an aroma therapy diffuser was going, and staff from the massage therapy department gave 15 minute (free) chair massages. It was really nice and the staff loved it.
3.) Catered Lunch or Breakfast
I would try to avoid pizza and especially avoid the cafeteria food. There are many restaurants including chains and local spots that have very reasonable catering prices per person and deliver. They may offer discounts for healthcare workers as well.
4.) Bring Therapy Animals to the Unit
No one can resist a an adorable dog on even the craziest of units. Relaxing with these pups is sure to be an unforgettable treat.
5.) Pot-luck
Does your budget not allow any catered food? No problem, arrange a potluck. Have management, nurses, and other staff bring in a dish or utensil. When I worked in Miami we had potlucks for lots of events and those nurses made some cuban food that put most restaurants to shame.
6.) Coffee Bar
Coffee bars are inexpensive and very much appreciated. It doesn’t take much to make one great just get a few options of creamers and tea. Most local coffee shops sell large boxes of coffee and deliver to the hospital.
7.) Hand-Written Thank You Notes
Hand-written notes go so much further than a generic printed thank you. I still have the thank you note that my manager wrote me. It wasn’t long, but it was very thoughtful and written just for me. You can pair the note with a bouquet of flowers to make it extra special. Most grocery stores sell very beautiful, budget-friendly bouquets.
CNA Banners
Having a banner on the unit or at the entrance of the hospital lets staff and patients know what special event they are celebrating. The banner sets the mood for the week and lets the CNAs know that the hospital/facility appreciates them. These banners can be used year after year.
We Love Our CNAs Custom Banner
A Big Thank You Banner
National Nursing Assistant Week
We Love Our CNAs
Ideas That May Fall Flat
Listed below are ideas that may come off as low effort or make the staff feel as though they are not appreciated. I would try to avoid these as much as possible.
1.) Food From The Cafeteria
In my experience, the cafeteria food isn’t always the best and most staff already get it whenever they work. I would throw a potluck instead.
2.) Painted Rocks
I’ve seen different variations of this. Staff paint their own rocks or management writes “nurses rock” on a rock. Both ideas will most likely fall flat. You can’t really do anything with the rock and it will just end up being clutter in someone’s house or trash. The better alternative is to write a handwritten note.
3.) Coloring Pages
Most CNAs won’t have time to color coloring pages anyways. If your budget does not allow a different activity go with the handwritten note or the “Shout Out A CNA” bulletin board.
4.) To Many Sweets
Junk food is cheap and easy to store, but most people are trying to avoid it. Its okay to give out 1 or 2 sweet things, but most staff would rather avoid daily treats.
5.) Donation/Volunteering
Don’t get me wrong these are great events. However, organizing them during an appreciation weeks may fall a little flat. Asking staff to donate money, time, or items during a week dedicated to appreciate them may send the wrong message. No one wants to volunteer to pick up trash on a day dedicated to appreciate their hard work (yes a hospital did do this).
I hope this post gave you inspiration to plan a great CNA week. For more gift guides and party planning ideas check out my other posts or subscribe to the blog.
TAGGED:
Party Planning