National Nurses Week 2021, observed from May 6 to May 12, saw a wide array of participating brands and organizations offering freebies, discounts, and special promotions to honor healthcare professionals. The available source material details specific offers across food and beverage, retail, and service categories, with eligibility typically requiring proof of professional status. This guide compiles the verified information regarding available deals, redemption methods, and eligibility requirements.
Food and Beverage Offers
Several national restaurant chains participated in National Nurses Week 2021 by offering complimentary food items and beverages to nurses and healthcare workers.
Chipotle Chipotle offered free entrees to healthcare workers during the celebration. To redeem this offer, eligible participants were required to register through a specific online portal to receive a promotional code. The redemption process involved visiting the Chipotle Giving website dedicated to healthcare heroes to secure the code necessary for the free entrée.
Dunkin' (Dunkin' Donuts) Dunkin' provided a free medium hot or iced coffee to nurses and healthcare workers. This offer was valid on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at participating locations. To receive the beverage, individuals were required to present a valid healthcare ID at the time of purchase.
Cinnabon Participating Cinnabon bakeries offered nurses a choice of free Cinnabon cinnamon rolls. This offer was contingent upon the nurse presenting proper identification at the point of sale.
Culver's Participating Culver's restaurants across the United States offered a discount rather than a free item. Nurses could receive 25% off their entire purchase during the week.
Tijuana Flats Tijuana Flats offered nurses a free entrée on a specific Friday during the week. To redeem, participants had to use the code TYVM2575 at checkout when placing an order. Upon arrival at the restaurant to pick up the order, valid identification had to be presented. The chain noted that the maximum value of the free item was $9.99 plus tax and warned that the online menu might be limited due to projected high order volume.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop Potbelly offered nurses one free cookie or fountain drink with the purchase of an entrée through May 12, 2021.
Zaxby's Zaxby's, with over 900 locations in 17 states, offered nurses with a valid ID a buy-one-get-one offer on the Big Zax Snak Meal. This offer was valid on Thursday, May 6, while supplies lasted.
Biggby Coffee Biggby offered a free 16 oz. beverage of choice to nurses who showed their ID cards on Thursday, May 6.
Mrs. Fields Cookies Mrs. Fields Cookies was listed as a participating brand offering freebies to nurses, though specific item details were not fully delineated in the source text.
Amazon (Gift Cards and Food) While Amazon is primarily an e-commerce platform, it was listed among food and beverage offers in the context of gift cards. Amazon offered the ability to print a free Amazon gift card at home, which could be used as a gift for a nurse. Additionally, Amazon offered free nursing books available on their website.
Retail and Service Discounts
Beyond food, several retailers and service providers offered significant discounts to healthcare professionals.
Crocs Crocs ran a major promotion during Nurses Week 2021, giving away 10,000 free pairs of shoes daily through May 14. The process involved visiting the Crocs website at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time each day to join a queue. Individuals in the healthcare field could request a free pair of shoes during this time.
The Parking Spot The Parking Spot, a near-airport parking company with 37 lots across 22 U.S. cities, offered a "Healthcare Heroes" discount. Nurses received 25% off airport parking from Thursday through May 12, and 10% off thereafter. Eligible individuals had to sign up for the discount at theparkingspot.com.
Tire Kingdom Tire Kingdom offered ongoing discounts for healthcare workers who showed their ID. These included a conventional oil change for $18.99, 10% off tires, and 20% off services.
BP and Amoco Stations Nurses and other hospital workers could get 15 cents off per gallon of fuel at BP and Amoco stations. To receive the discount, the individual had to verify their status online to receive a promo code, which was then entered at the pump.
Marriott Marriott offered discounted rates for nurses and medical staff. This offer was valid through June 30, 2021.
Costco For Costco members who were nurses, pharmacists, or hospital workers, the warehouse club allowed them to move to the front of any line to enter the warehouse. Additionally, healthcare workers and first responders could shop without membership every Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. local time (Hero Hours).
Grimaldi's Grimaldi's offered a 15% discount for both nurses and teachers. This offer was valid from May 3 to May 7, and a hospital ID was required.
General Eligibility and Verification
Across the various offers, a common requirement was the presentation of valid professional identification. Most offers were limited to "participating locations," implying that not all franchises or stores necessarily honored the promotions. Specific dates were attached to many offers, such as the May 6 date for Dunkin' and Biggby, while others spanned the entirety of National Nurses Week (May 6-12) or slightly longer.
Conclusion
National Nurses Week 2021 provided healthcare professionals with a diverse selection of freebies and discounts. The promotions ranged from daily free products, such as Crocs shoes and coffee, to percentage-based discounts on services like auto maintenance and travel. Redemption generally required verification of professional status through ID cards or online registration, and availability was often restricted to specific dates or participating locations.
Sources
- Nursing CE Central: Nurses Week 2022
- USA Today: Nurses Week 2021 Deals
- CBS News Detroit: 10 Freebies and Discounts for National Nurses Week 2021
- ABC15: Deals and Discounts for Teacher Appreciation Week and Nurses Week 2021
- Majestic Care: Nurses Week Discounts and Freebies
- Nursing CE Central: Emergency Nurses Week 2021