<p>^ That would be awesome! </p>
<p>I get a vicarious thrill when I have patients who weighed less than 2 pounds at birth, and are going to college, because that would have been a miracle when I covered the NICU in the mid 80’s. Likewise the kids born HIV positive back then.</p>
<p>Seattle is such a small town.
I was looking up to see how the UW schedules rotation, because it seemed that when D was born, the Drs had just started in the NICU, and I see that her Dr is now the director of science research and works closely with the father of one of Ds friends that she has known since grade school, who is the director of clinical research.
What s even more amazing is that some of the physicians who were supervising thirty years ago, are still teaching! :)</p>
<p>I have sent updates to docs who have treated me & my kids about how we’re doing and thanking them for their role in helping us be & remain as healthy and productive as possible. It is a win/win that way–makes us happy and I’m sure it makes them quite pleased that they’ve had a hand in helping us healthy enough to do all that we have. :)</p>
<p>When my dad was in the hospital I brought fruit and veggie platters to the nursing station. Then also brought candy (usually chocolate). Always a hit.</p>
<p>My RN sister agrees with pageagain (post #19) - inform the <em>bosses</em> of the attending staff of a “job well done”. The nurses need the positive feedback and couldn’t care less about food gifts.</p>
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<p>Nurses indeed value good feedback being passed on to administration. I disagree, however, that they “couldn’t care less about food gifts.” In my experience, nurses are always extremely grateful for food gifts, and rarely does that food sit in the break room untouched. In fact, the staff often stampedes over each other to get to it.</p>
<p>If it was an ongoing relationship, a hand written note for me was much more meaningful and personal than a food gift.</p>
<p>I had an older gentleman that I cared for at least 3 months,(post op open heart infection) his wife made a needlepoint picture that she gave to me with a hand written note attached to the back of the frame. I received that gift 23 years ago, it is hanging on my wall in my office, and to this day, EVERY time I look at it, I think of both of them. I remember seeing his obituary in the paper 7 years later, I went to his funeral. His family still remembered me and it made me glad I chose the profession I did.</p>
<p>^^^^If I had to choose one, I’d take a note, or even better, a note to administration. However, that does not mean that nurses don’t really appreciate ANY token of appreciation, food included.</p>
<p>I don’t think any well meaning grateful family can go WRONG by sending food to staff.</p>
<p>Another physician here. Do send the letter to the administration, mentioning specific teams et al- they will get complaint letters and the staff deserves having the bosses know they did well.</p>
<p>Ditto on the food.</p>
<p>Food is always a good idea. Of course, enough for all. Budget will determine your big/little food ideas. The unexpected treat helps make a day seem more special. Now is a good time of year- around Christmas many physicians would treat the floors we had a close relationship with. Dr X was know to give nuts, I baked banana bread… I remember being invited to share in some of the OR nursing staff pot luck lunches, the social gathering was nice and a change in routine. Of course OR, ER and ICU staffs tend to have days when there is no time for any planned lunch so something that can be eaten “on the fly”, nibbled, put aside for later, et al is nice.</p>
<p>Flowers can be nice but people may be too busy to pay much attention to them since they may need to be set aside away from work areas. You are always going to find someone is off or on vacation when you choose to send the gift. Don’t worry about it. Word will get to them when they return. They will hopefully get to share in the bounty of another person as well.</p>
<p>Thank you for your input and wonderful suggestions!</p>
<p>My neighbor worked for major candy company and ICU team pulled her husband through major complications after sudden heart attack. She brought them shopping bags of the company’s candy, which was appreciated, as they can’t have open platters of food in the ICU. It was greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Definitely a note to the hospital admin stating your appreciation to the specific people involved - that gives them job security and good feedback!! Hospital admin types DO respond to such notes, and often will broadcast to the department the kudos. Food is nice, but shortlived. Notes of thanks will go in a permanent file. The ED team is so seldom remembered - the ICU, birthing units, and floors get more food and flowers than the ED because the family spends more time with them. But the ED team are most often the ones that make the critical decisions that get the patient to the right care. Critically ill patients will often not even remember being in the ED, yet they are the ones who actually did the life-saving care!</p>
<p>Thanks for asking!</p>
<p>When I finished chemo I brought 2 huge veggie trays and mini muffins. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. And when I finished radiation 3 pounds of candy. Everything was sent with notes of appreciation.</p>
<p>We ended up writing notes and ordering a six month delivery of Harry and David’s fruit to the ER department. We sent it to the attention of the nurse manager who assured us that she would make sure that members of the team that helped would receive some. Thank you for all of your wonderful suggestions!</p>
<p>When I was getting a mammogram last month, I saw a woman, clearly a cancer patient, bringing a tray of veggies, fruit and sandwiches for the entire staff. It was obvious she’d done it before, and the feeling of gratitude and pleasure on both sides was palpable - and moving.</p>
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<p>Wow! How generous of you. While there may be some who couldn’t care less about food offerings, I’m betting that most of them will be very pleased and will feel happy that their efforts are appreciated by the patients and families they serve. Grab and go stuff is great for medical staff, and Harry and David has fantastic stuff.</p>