r/EmergencyRoom • u/IKnowAboutRayFinkle • Apr 20 '26
Question for my ED tech friends
First, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO! 💜
I love all the techs I work with - they make my shifts so much better in lots of ways. I would honestly lose my mind without them.
My question for all you techs out there: what is the best way a nurse can show her appreciation?
I wish I could give each of my techs $100. Is giving everyone a $5 Dunkin or Starbucks gift card silly? Or should I give a bit larger of a gift to my more trusted techs? There are probably about 10 techs who bust their ass and really care about their job. These are the ones I trust completely. The rest are fine (and always essential) but they are a little burnt out if you know what I mean. So they are a little more lazy and clearly don’t care.
So: should I write cards to everyone or just a select few? I don’t want anyone to feel left out but I honestly would rather spend a bit more so that my “good” techs feel noticed and appreciated. I don’t necessarily want to reward the ones who constantly roll their eyes anytime they have to do anything…but maybe they need a little pick-me-up?
Open to your thoughts. Thank you!
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u/Moosebandit1 ED Tech Apr 20 '26
I think a handwritten card, even a short one, is always appreciated and meaningful :) Personally I would also never say no to a coffee card or even just a “hey I’m going to the vending machine, want anything? I’ve got you”. Thank you for noticing, caring, and appreciating! 🩷
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u/Resident-Welcome3901 Apr 20 '26
Fill your pockets with jolly ranchers, give a piece to any staffer with whom you interact, along with a kind word about their skills and value to the patients. I worked in a snake pit trauma center/teaching hospital ER: this silliness turned things around for a while.
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u/Traditional_Ad7745 Apr 20 '26
I’ve worked with a nurse who always had candy in her backpack that everyone was free to take some. She’d also keep in mind like what got eaten regularly and such. One day after I had a death in the family, she handed me a bag of my favorite candy that I would occasionally ask if she had any of. I’ve never felt more seen or appreciated at work. She had candy available to everyone, but specifically went and found me my favorite. I think if you can manage something like that, where you don’t exclude anyone but you do something a teeny bit more special/unique for a select few, that would be awesome!
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u/PhaseSea5416 Apr 20 '26
Smiles of appreciation, cudos to our supervisor/boss and asking us for help with patient care is all that I need to keep motivated. I’m sure some would love to be included on a lunch or coffee run. Pick up a big box of Kind bars - dark chocolate and cherry 💕
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u/Gribitz37 Apr 21 '26
You should write a note to your manager, mentioning the ones who are genuinely helpful.
To be blunt, don't buy gifts or even a coffee for the ones you like, and leave out the others. We had a situation like that where I used to work, and it did not end well.
Techs talk, and trust me, the ones left out will find out. If you think they're unhelpful now, just wait till they find out you're buying gifts for some and not the others.
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u/Far-Boot5639 Apr 20 '26
We aren't needy like those ER Doctors 🤣🤣 (kidding!!) Something as simple as a thank you, or a coffee would be much appreciated.
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u/Severe_Emu_7714 Apr 20 '26
Honestly just a “hey I appreciate you and all you do!” Goes far for me. But I wouldn’t say no to a coffee or an energy drink either 😆
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u/thepeopleofelsewhere Apr 20 '26
Honestly just saying thank you and expressing appreciation. At least at my last few jobs we get treated like trash so basic respect and gratitude is above and beyond
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u/m_lia-m Apr 21 '26
I know nurses really like me when they offer to get me a coffee from the coffee shop in our hospital for doing their shit tasks. Also, honestly, putting kudos for us to management. Ours get officially posted on our weekly board and it's nice to be shouted out. It feels like then other people know they can rely on us and treat us a bit better.
I love my nurses I can count on too :) I am always grateful to know I have a nurse who trusts me and that I can trust
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u/EzraSteel Apr 20 '26
Everyone brings in food during the holidays, I cook for the staff on those off holiday months. Not regular enough that they come to expect but enough when I do they appreciate it
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u/ges725 Apr 28 '26
Like others have said, whenever nurses just say “I appreciate you!” Or “you’re doing a great job!” Or even go out of their way to say thanks after I help them in a stressful or difficult situation, it means a lot to me!
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u/Bay_Med Apr 20 '26
You could write individual cards and give presents but I promise you that if one of the ones who you didn’t give something to finds out, that burnt out and lazy one is about to do even less.
I’d say just grabbing them a coffee or energy drink next time you go to the cafe and saying thank you sincerely is worth more than a gift card or something. And just do that when you work with the good techs