10 Medical School Graduation Gifts to Help Your Graduate Survive Residency

Medical school graduation gifts in 2010 should be practical in nature. Medical school graduates go on to become interns, traditionally the lowest paid and hardest worked bottom of the doctor totem pole. This means gifts should be geared towards helping your graduate survive the beginning of their residency - in mind, body, spirit and wallet.

Personalized On Call Bag

Medical school graduates will need an on-call bag to take necessities to the hospital. Make sure the bag is roomy enough for street clothes, shoes and personal products, but will also fit into a locker. Embroidering or stamping the bag with the graduate's initials will lend the gift a more personal touch. Choose a bag like Solutions' Logan Deluxe Duffle ($52). It is made of durable nylon, which will hold up to daily use, and has a separate shoe compartment. Solutions will personalize the bag at no charge.

Hire Your Graduate a Maid

Medical school graduates won't have much time for cleaning. Help them contain the chaos at home by gifting them a maid. Use a reliable maid service, such as Merry Maids, or ask friends for recommendations. Don't hire someone to enter your graduates home who's references you haven't checked or verified. Depending on your gifting budget, go for once a week cleanings or a gift certificate for as many cleanings as you can afford.

De-stressing Day Spa Gift

A day at the spa may seem like a splurge, but medical graduates going on to residencies will need their bodies rejuvenated. This gift will give your graduate something pleasant to look forward to after long working hours. It also serves a double purpose of reminding them to take the time to pamper themselves and relax, which will help graduates cope with the stress of their residencies. Try to give them a gift certificate to a day spa or masseuse close to where they will be living.

Proper Medical Shoes

Medical school graduates will spend exhaustive hours on their feet as interns. Properly supportive shoes will help keep their feet and back pain-free. If you don't normally purchase your graduate's footwear, a gift certificate would be the best option. Dansko clogs and Merrel Moc shoes are favored by medical personnel, although many also wear sneakers. If you do purchase the shoes for them, make sure they are easy to slip on/off, breathable and don't have holes big enough to pose a safety hazard. The material should also be easy to wipe liquids off of.

Loud Alarm Clock

Medical school graduates can use an alarm clock that will wake the dead - or worn out resident. If your graduate is already especially hard to rouse from sleep, gift them an alarm clock that also shakes the bed. The Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker ($32.21) has a battery backup capability, in case of power failure.

The Gift of Nutrition

A proper meal may be the last thing on your graduate's mind, which is exactly the reason this gift will come in handy. A gift certificate to the nearest health food store or supermarket could eliminate a couple night's worth of takeout from their diet. You could also buy them a few meals worth of restaurant takeout . Choose an eatery that has a healthy menu and delivers.

Medical Scrubs

If you know that your medical school graduate.will be needing a certain color or type of scrubs for their residency, purchase them a set or two. This gift can also be personalized, as most uniform supply outlets allow scrubs to be embroidered with initials, a name or a symbol. You could also offer to get scrubs tailored. Ill-fitting scrubs that have to constantly be adjusted could diminish their concentration or add to an already stressful experience.

Cell Phone Bill

It can be hard for a busy for medical school graduates to connect with loved ones, especially if they are doing their residency in a different state. Ensure you get at least one phone cal a month by offering to pay their cell phone bill. You can choose to gift them an unlimited texting plan, which will allow them to contact you in between patients.

Internet Access for Medical Research

Residents will need on-line access for medical research and to keep current in their field. If they already have a computer, offer to pay the wireless internet bill. A netbook would also make an excellent medical school graduation gift. Walmart carries netbooks under $300.

Medical School Graduates Need Money

Medical school graduates still have two to six years of low pay ahead of them, as residents. Since most graduates will be coming out of medical school with a massive amount of debt, money makes an excellent and much needed gift. Give whatever amount you feel comfortable with, as every little bit helps.

Sources:

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