Do you remember that nurse who brought you chocolate pudding to take your medication with every night? Or the nurse who read “Where the Wild Things Are?” to help your daughter fall asleep?
Are you unsure of how you could thank the nurse for their kind service and commitment?
Writing a thank you letter to a nurse conveys your care and appreciation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have worked diligently to provide services to patients. They deserve some recognition.
Below, we’ve outlined steps on how to write an encouraging thank you note for nurses.
[ More: How and when to celebrate National Nurses Week ]
Best Thank You Letter Steps
Handwrite the letter: Handwriting a note on a card shows time and care. Also, you can pick a fitting card to give the nurse. Say you shared an inside The Office joke and want to choose a card that honors that–get one! Additionally, you can design your card if you’re feeling artistic. It’s up to you!
After you write your letter, you can send it off to the hospital requesting they give it to the nurse.
Use a proper greeting: Begin the letter with “Dear” [their name] rather than “Hey” or “Hi” or even “Yo.” This formal greeting helps underscore your sincerity in writing the letter and begins it on a positive, proper note.
Re-introduce Yourself: This step depends on how long it’s been since you’ve seen the nurse and how frequently the nurse helped you out. A good rule of thumb is to play it safe and re-introduce yourself.
If the nurse did something in particular in your mind that stuck out to you, mention it. This, along with your name, will help the nurse remember even if you have a common one.
For example, you can remark about how they gave you Jell-O pudding every day for your medication, or you can bring up reading “Where the Wild Things Are.”
Articulate what you’re grateful for: For this part, it’s best to be specific when giving out praise. Though you undoubtedly appreciate their care, emphasize why and how their care impacted you. If you specifically enjoyed the nurse’s banter as it helped distract you from your pain, mention that.
If your nurse’s expertise on your condition gave you a sense of safety and assurance, then include that. You want to make sure that your note targets how they touched you, as it can help propel them to continue helping patients in similar ways. When you write a thank you note for nurses, you help not only the nurse but other patients going forward.
Example Thank You Notes for Nurses
Dear Alice,
Nobody likes to be in the ICU. Period. However, your humor brought me immense strength during my painful time. My name is Jill, and I was the patient you told reminded you of Pam from The Office and who you joked about my breakfast being prisoner’s food. I found it hilarious and fitting. Hopefully, I’m the only person you’ve told that to, or else this could be awkward. Just kidding!
I really enjoyed your care and attention. You went above and beyond to connect with me as a patient and listen to my concerns. Thank you so much for being such a caring, funny nurse.
Dear Christopher,
You may not remember me, but I remember you. My name is Robert, and I was the stubborn guy who didn’t want to take his medication. I couldn’t stand taking horse pills, but you worked with me. You decided to give me chocolate pudding to help me take the pills. I am grateful for that, and just so you know, I still do that to this day!
Thank you so much for your time and attention.
Dear Sally,
You are such a wonderful pediatric nurse. Our daughter, Desiree, had heart surgery, and you played a significant role in helping ease her fears about having the procedures. Before bed, you read her “Where the Wild Things Are” as a means of earning trust. I think you went above and beyond to make my daughter feel secure, and she appreciated it.
Thank you for you. I wish you well.
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