National Nurses Week, observed annually from May 6 to May 12, serves as a designated period for various brands and organizations to acknowledge the contributions of healthcare professionals. During this time, a variety of freebies, discounts, and promotional offers become available to nurses. While many of these initiatives are centered in the United States, several brands extend their participation to Canada, offering specific benefits to Canadian nurses. This guide outlines the verified freebies and discounts available to nurses in Canada, drawing from recent promotional data.
Food and Beverage Offers
Several food and beverage brands have historically participated in Nurses Week by offering complimentary meals and snacks to healthcare workers.
DoorDash has engaged in partnerships with hospitals in both the U.S. and Canada to provide access to 60 days of free Corporate DashPass for nurses, doctors, and hospital employees. This program includes $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees from participating restaurants. Interested participants are required to sign up using a work email address, after which a representative will follow up.
Tim Hortons has offered promotions specifically for Canadian nurses. During previous Nurses Week celebrations, participating locations provided nurses with a Buy One Doughnut Get One Free offer, or a Buy 12 Doughnuts, Get 6 Free deal. These offers typically run from May 6 through May 12.
TGI Fridays has extended offers to nurses, including a free cheeseburger and fries, crispy chicken fingers with fries and coleslaw, Caesar salad with grilled chicken, half rack of ribs with a choice of side, or half portion Cajun chicken and shrimp pasta. This offer is generally valid on May 6th from 11 AM to 8 PM for dine-in orders, requiring the presentation of an employee badge or ID.
The Greene Turtle has also participated in Nurses Week by offering a free meal valued at up to $15 when dining in on May 6th.
Tim Hortons and TGI Fridays are noted for their participation in Canada. The source data indicates that TGI Fridays offers are valid in both the U.S. and Canada for dine-in or To Go orders through May 17, requiring the presentation of an employee badge or ID.
Other brands that have offered free items during this period include Dunkin’ Donuts (free medium hot or iced coffee and a donut on May 6), Jamba (free smoothie via nomination), and El Pollo Loco (limited edition e-gift cards). However, the data indicates that these specific offers have ended or are not confirmed for the current year.
Retail and Lifestyle Discounts
Beyond food, various retailers offer discounts on products ranging from outdoor gear to apparel and home goods.
Huffy Bikes offers a 25% discount on bike purchases for nurses.
Beyond Yoga provides a 20% discount for U.S. and Canadian nurses.
Arctic Zone offers up to 15% off high-performance coolers, backpacks, and other gear.
YETI offers up to 20% off coolers, drinkware, and outdoor items.
Puffy Mattress offers up to $1,425 off any Puffy mattress, plus a free $600 Luxury Sleep Bundle.
AllHeart and All Seasons Uniforms are specifically mentioned for their discounts on scrubs and medical apparel. AllHeart offers up to 20% off scrub pants, tops, sets, jackets, and lab coats, and up to 40% off prints during their Nurses Week Sale. All Seasons Uniforms provides a 20% discount on all medical scrubs and lab coat lines throughout Nurses Week.
Wellness and Mental Health Resources
Recognizing the demanding nature of the profession, several organizations provide resources focused on mental health and physical well-being.
Down Dog previously offered its suite of apps—including Down Dog, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout—completely free to nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals through July 1. This offer required filling out a form on their website.
Francie Perkins Coaching offers a free 30-minute life coaching session to frontline nurses, radiology techs, and respiratory therapists. Interested individuals can email with a photo of their medical badge or ID.
Coaches4Good provides free 30-minute professional life coaching sessions to healthcare, small business, education, and nonprofit leaders and workers.
Headspace is noted as having offered deals, though specific details were not provided in the source data.
Professional Development and Support
For nurses seeking career advancement or support, several resources are available.
CheapNursingCEUs offers access to affordable nursing continuing education courses, allowing nurses to obtain necessary credits at a fraction of the cost of traditional in-person courses.
Nurse.org maintains partnerships with the MLB, NBA, and NHL, offering exclusive deals for nurses.
Vivian Health has partnered with ResortPass to offer nurses a chance to win daycation credits. One winner receives $500 in credits, and two additional winners receive $250 in credits. The first 100 entrants receive 10% off their first ResortPass booking.
Verification and Reliability of Offers
It is important to note that the availability of these offers can vary by location and year. For example, regarding Starbucks, social media posts indicate that some nurses received free coffee at local locations, but many reported that their local franchises did not participate. Corporate confirmation for Starbucks participation in Nurses Week 2025 was not found on their official site or social media.
Jamba and Dunkin’ Donuts are listed as "DEAL ENDED" in the source data, indicating that these specific promotions are no longer active. Similarly, El Pollo Loco's offer of free e-gift cards was tied to a specific Instagram campaign that has likely concluded.
Fitcrunch Care Package and Furbo Dog Camera are listed as having offered care packages and cameras, respectively, but these offers are also marked as ended or are part of past initiatives.
Thistle offered 10% off deliveries to healthcare workers for 8 weeks using a specific code, but this deal has ended.
Jillian Michaels – The Fitness App offered a discount of up to 40% off, but details on current availability are not specified in the source data.
Conclusion
During Nurses Week, Canadian nurses have access to a variety of freebies and discounts, particularly from food and beverage chains like Tim Hortons and TGI Fridays, and retail brands such as Beyond Yoga and YETI. While many offers are seasonal and tied specifically to the week of May 6-12, others, such as professional development resources and mental health support, are available year-round. Nurses interested in these offers should verify current availability directly with the brands, as promotional details and participation can change annually.