Holiday gifts for Onc

I was wondering what to do as well. I know I'm giving Visa gift cards to my two oncology nurses because they treat me so well. Don't know what to do for my doctor. Last year I sent an Edible Arrangement for all of them.

I usually buy Christmas specialties like Lebkuchen, Marzipan and other fine backed goods from a German deli. Since I'm originally from Germany it makes sense to me, and my onc and his staff seem to like it very much.
I see other patients bring Godiva or Edible Arrangements. It seems to always be something the whole staff is sharing. BTW, my onc is Jewish too.

Hugs,
Helmie

Wine! Both my oncologist and nurse enjoy it, and probably need it as much as I do! Cheers!

I work in health care, and like most health care organizations we are prohibited from accepting individual gifts. So, the idea of food is always good since it can be shared!

They get a lot, and they do like it.

I did my first year. Now? I dunno.

That was Frappier who suggested the basket. I think she went to the Body Shop or one of the many knock-offs. It made her so happy to arrive with that basket.

*susan*

Many good ideas! Thank you. I will definitely go with something here. I like the soaps idea. I love them too. But you can't go wrong with edible stuff either. For years, my onbeen alone on his practice. just this month he merged in with a larger practice, with four oncologists. So I don't even know for sure how many people work there. I got my last Halaven treatment there, last week, but with people coming and going it was really hard to tell. I also wonder if I should do a gift for all of them? I hardly even know the majority of them. only two people from my onc's last offc went to this new place, my onc and one nurse. The offc manager and the receptionist chose not to go. Usually O sent them an Edible Arrangementss bouquet. but now, as I saidq! I don't even know how many people there are. Does a home have any advice for me?

I have quilled a bunch of paper snowflakes for my onc, ARNP, nurse, research nurse, and a lovely volunteer that checks ppl in and always remembers my name. Quilling (rolling and cutting long pieces of paper) is a fun activity for me and it keeps my mind off my pain as well!

I think it's a personal decision--it's not expected but I know at my cancer center it is appreciated. You can take some cues from the location of the center. In my case, the cancer center is on a busy highway next to another medical center. I doubt employees can leave the building for lunch--they either have to pack a lunch or eat at the not very good cafeteria which is in an adjoining building.

The ladies in the blood draw room are nice (but I am guessing no one brings them anything). So for them and the oncologists front desk staff I got a selection of things from T Joes: some holiday kettle corn, chocolate covered pretzels and some candy. I also got a couple of nice apples, as I sure not everyone would want sweets. If I lived near a good bagel place, I would get some bagels and spreads instead but there isn't a nearby place.

One thing I noticed...one year my appointment was right before Christmas--like Dec 22 or so. I noticed many people brought in candy etc. so the following year, also right before Christmas, I brought a nice fruit plate for some variety. When my apointment was early in December, I brought in some brownies.

I got my oncologist some Jiffy Pop, a DVD of the Yule log (with two hours of Christmas music) and some Hershey kisses. My nurse took a vacation in Napa so I got her some wine from a Midwestern vineyard--nothing fancy, it was $15. Neither of them expect this, but I like them and I like to do it and am fortunate that I can.

I think the best gift any patient can give is a note thanking their nurse or doctor or other hospital people--not everyone is fortunate to have medical staff that go above and beyond. If you feel that yours do, let them know.

My snowman cookies were a big hit! I gave them to the receptionist when I checked in with instructions that they were for staff, and to make sure the people in the billing office got them as well as the medical folks. My onc's office is so small that word went out immediately. By the time I left, all but two of the cookies had vanished from the plate.

Side story: the practice has a part-time oncologist, a woman, whom I've never, ever seen smile. She is 40-something, blonde and projects a very chilly air. When I gave the cookies to the receptionist, she handed one to her fellow receptionist and then turned to this doctor, who was at the interior counter checking a record, and handed her one. The doctor looked at the cookie and smiled, then smiled at me. A slight, sort of watery smile to be sure, but a smile.

Frosty trumps the Ice Queen!

Tina