Freebies and Discounts for Nurses During COVID-19 and Nurses Week

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent Nurses Week celebrations, numerous companies and organizations extended offers to healthcare professionals. These initiatives aimed to acknowledge the critical role and increased stress faced by nurses and other frontline workers. Offers ranged from essential goods, such as personal protective equipment, to lifestyle products, food, and professional development resources. Many of these deals were time-sensitive, and availability often required verification of healthcare status or was limited by supply.

Apparel and Footwear

Several apparel and footwear brands offered free products or significant discounts to healthcare workers. These offers were often designed to provide comfort and practical support during long shifts.

Crocs: Crocs provided free shoes to health care workers. This offer was available Monday through Friday at noon on the Crocs website. Due to high demand, the number of free pairs was limited each day. To participate, healthcare workers were required to complete a sign-up form requesting their work email, state, facility name, shoe preferences, and shipping information.
Kizik Shoes: Kizik Shoes donated 1,000 free pairs of hands-free shoes to nurses and doctors fighting COVID-19. Interested individuals could request a free pair by filling out a form on the company's webpage. The form closed on April 24 at 11:59 PM Mountain Time, and selected recipients were scheduled to be contacted by May 1. This deal was noted as ended.
Nike: Nike offered a 20% discount to eligible medical professionals and first responders. Details regarding eligibility and redemption were available on the Nike website.
The North Face: The North Face extended a 50% discount to health care workers, valid until December 31 of the relevant year.
Dungarees: This retailer offered free shipping on orders over $55. The offer was valid for the contiguous United States only and required no coupon code.
Scrub Shopper: Scrub Shopper provided free shipping on orders over $100, with no coupon code necessary.
Shoes.com: A 25% discount on sitewide purchases was available using the code SPRING25 at checkout. This code expired on May 1, 2020.
Silvert’s: Silvert’s offered $10 off a purchase of $50 or more through its referral program.

Food and Beverage Offers

Restaurants and beverage companies showed appreciation through free meals, appetizers, and discounts.

Applebee’s: In previous years, Applebee’s offered free appetizers to nurses who presented a valid work badge during Nurses Week. While not confirmed for 2025 at the time of reporting, this was a recurring promotion.
Buffalo Wild Wings: In past years, Buffalo Wild Wings provided nurses with a 20% discount on their order during Nurses Week with a valid ID. Confirmation for Nurses Week 2025 was pending.
Chipotle: Chipotle ran a promotion giving away 100,000 free burritos to healthcare heroes, including nurses. Winners were selected at random at the end of Nurses Week and were required to verify their healthcare status to receive a digital burrito card.
Cinnabon: Cinnabon typically offered a free classic roll to nurses showing a valid ID at participating locations during Nurses Week.
Dunkin’: On National Nurses Day (May 6), Dunkin’ offered a free medium hot or iced coffee to nurses at participating locations. Customizations such as blueberry or vanilla flavoring were included.
Insomnia Cookies: Insomnia Cookies provided a free classic cookie to nurses.
Waterloo Sparkling Water: Waterloo planned to give away 500 free 8-pack or 12-pack case coupons to nurses and health care workers for Nurses Week.

Health, Wellness, and Self-Care

Several companies focused on wellness and self-care, offering products and services to support nurses' physical and mental health.

JINS Eyewear: JINS offered healthcare workers a chance to receive a free pair of glasses by entering their details on a provided link. Due to an overwhelming response, the offer was adjusted to select five people per day. The offer was valid while supplies lasted.
Samsung: During National Nurses Month in May 2021, Samsung offered exclusive discounts of up to 30% on smartphones, tablets, and other devices to nurses and supporting first responders. Access required signing up for Samsung’s First Responder Discount Program and verifying identity at checkout.
Gloves Traval: A 15% discount on entire orders was available using the code GLOVESTRAV15.
Masks by Decor8 Interiors: Decor8 Interiors Management offered free masks to the healthcare industry. Due to high demand, the shipping date for free masks was approximately nine weeks out from the date of the request.

Professional Development and Miscellaneous Offers

Support also extended to professional resources and miscellaneous items.

Intelycare: Intelycare offered a 100% free COVID-19 Nurse Training Certification for nursing professionals. Upon completion, participants also received one free contact hour.
Nursing CE Central: This organization offered three free nursing continuing education courses. The courses offered were Free Alzheimer’s Nursing Care CEU, Free Coronavirus Nursing CEU, and Free Pain and Symptom Management Nursing CEU.
Knack: Knack ran a promotion to nominate a favorite nurse to win a Knack Pack in honor of Nurses Week. One winner was chosen per day. This deal was noted as ended.
Hertz Cars: Hertz offered a free rental car for an entire month to nurses working in New York City. Interested individuals were directed to the Hertz website to apply. This deal was noted as having reached its limit.
Medisave: Medisave offered Harmony nursing shoes for $39.99 and free shipping on orders over $49.
PinMart: PinMart offered tiered discounts: $5 off orders of $49 or more (code PINMART5), $10 off orders of $99 or more (code PINMART10), and $20 off orders of $199 or more (code PINMART20).
Redding Medical: Nursing kits were available starting at $37.50, with no coupon required.

Eligibility and Verification

Most offers were specifically targeted at nurses and other healthcare professionals. Verification of status was a common requirement. This typically involved presenting a valid work badge at physical locations or verifying professional identity through online forms or third-party verification services such as ID.me. Some offers were limited to specific geographic regions, such as the contiguous United States, or specific locations like New York City for the Hertz rental car offer.

Conclusion

The provided sources detail a variety of freebies and discounts offered to nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and Nurses Week. These offers spanned multiple categories, including apparel, food, wellness, and professional development. Availability was often limited, required verification of healthcare status, and was subject to specific terms and expiration dates. Consumers were advised to check directly with the providers for current offer status and specific redemption instructions.