Nurse Theme Party Ideas

Whether the guest of honor is a new nursing school graduate or a friend who is a veteran nurse, a nurse themed party may be just what is in order for a good time. Decorations, food and fun can all center around a nurse theme as a way to honor the hard work and dedication of a professional nurse.

Centerpieces for tables include glass apothecary jars in different sizes filled with M&M's or other candy to look like pills. Other centerpiece ideas include children's medical kits or floating eye-ball candles in large glass bowls. Nurse themed coffee mugs can be the basis of floral arrangements. Simply cut floral oasis foam to fit the bottom of the mug and fill with flowers. Use gauze or ace bandages as bunting or streamers. Large inflatable skeletons, hearts and brains can be purchased and hung around the room for more decoration.

Fill a tray with as many nursing items you can find, such as bandages, syringes and a thermometer. Give the guests two minutes to memorize the items and then cover the tray. Ask guests to recall as many items as they can. Another idea is to make a large drawing of a person in a hospital gown with their butt sticking out of the gown. Guests take paper syringes to play "Give the Shot in the Booty", a twist on the traditional pin the tail on the donkey party game. Divide into teams of three, with two nurses and one patient. Give the nurses ace bandages and two minutes to see who can most fully dress the patient in bandages.

Serve your guests finger sandwiches and lady-finger cookies or any anatomically inspired food. Serve the food in medical supply containers, such as clean, new bedpans and surgical trays. Use surgical tools as food utensils. Use plastic divided plates to serve the food similar to hospital cafeterias or hospital food trays. Brain Jello molds are available at costume stores and make a realistic table centerpiece.

The cake can be a nurse cap carved from layers of cake and covered in white fondant. A stethoscope can drape down the side of a tiered cake. A small rectangular cake can be made to look like a bed with a patient made from a twinkie snack cake and covered with a fondant blanket. Look in the craft section of the craft store to find miniatures of medical supplies and furniture to be used as cake toppers. You could also use a nurses Lamp of Learning, also known as the Florence Nightingale lamp, for a cake topper.

Nurse rubber duckies are a great idea to use as both a party decoration and a favor. Place them around the food table and then guests can take them home. Make your own delicious party favors by using candy melts, available at most craft stores and chocolate molds. Nurse themed molds come in a nurse's profile lollipop, nurses symbol mints and a nurse's kit with tools, a pill bottle and bandages. Simply melt the candy wafers, spoon into the mold, tap the air bubbles out and pop out of the mold when completely cool. Wrap in clear plastic with ribbon and you have a party favor your guests will love.