National Nurses Week is an annual observance celebrated from May 6 to May 12, concluding on Florence Nightingale's birthday. During this period, businesses across the United States, including specific locations in North Texas, offer various discounts, free items, and special promotions to honor the contributions of registered nurses and healthcare professionals. In 2018, the promotional landscape included a mix of national chains with location-specific policies and local establishments offering exclusive deals. While many offers required proof of employment, such as a valid medical ID badge or scrubs, the availability of these perks often varied by franchise and region.
Food and Beverage Deals
A significant portion of Nurses Week promotions focuses on food and beverages, providing nurses with opportunities for free meals, snacks, and drinks. In 2018, several major chains and local eateries participated in these initiatives, though terms often required verification of nursing status.
National Chains with Location-Specific Policies
Many national restaurant chains in 2018 did not mandate a unified nationwide promotion for Nurses Week, leaving individual franchise owners to decide whether to participate. Consequently, nurses in North Texas were encouraged to contact their local branches to confirm specific offers.
- Culver’s: In 2018, Culver’s did not have a nationwide promotion for Nurses Week. Individual locations were free to offer specials throughout the week for nurses with valid ID. Patients were advised to call their closest location or check the location's details page on the Culver's website to verify participation.
- Chick-fil-A: Similar to Culver's, Chick-fil-A's participation varied by location. Some individual franchises offered special Nurses Week deals. For example, a specific location in Jefferson City, MO, offered a free Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich with the purchase of a medium side item and drink, available from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with valid ID. This illustrates the localized nature of many 2018 promotions.
- PDQ: PDQ offered a 50% discount on the total check for teachers and nurses on May 8, 2018, valid with a proper ID.
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Through May 12, 2018, Potbelly offered a free fountain drink or cookie with the purchase of a sandwich or salad for nurses who showed their medical ID or wore scrubs. This offer was limited to one per customer.
- Applebee’s: Applebee's Nurse Week promotions in 2018 varied by location. The chain offered free appetizers to nurses who showed a valid work badge during the week. Nurses were encouraged to call their local establishment or a designated customer service number to verify the promotion at the nearest location.
- Buca di Beppo: Participating locations of Buca di Beppo in 2018 offered a complimentary meal to nurses who brought their nurse ID during Nurses Week.
- Dunkin’: On National Nurses Day, May 6, 2018, Dunkin’ offered nurses a free medium coffee at participating locations. Nurses could choose between hot or iced coffee and customize the beverage with flavorings.
- Cinnabon: Cinnabon has a long-standing partnership with the DAISY Foundation. In 2019, nurses received a MiniBon Roll or a 4-count package of BonBites with a healthcare ID badge. In 2018, Cinnabon offered a free Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll, MiniBon, or four-count BonBites to nurses showing their medical ID badge.
- Chipotle: Chipotle ran a sweepstakes in 2018 where they gave away 100,000 free burritos to healthcare heroes, including nurses. Winners were selected at random at the end of Nurses Week and had to verify their healthcare status to receive a digital burrito card.
- Outback Steakhouse: Outback Steakhouse offered a 10% off deal with a valid medical ID.
- Insomnia Cookies: Nurses could receive a free Classic cookie with valid ID all week.
- Texas Steakhouse & Saloon: Through May 12, 2018, nurses received $5 off a minimum purchase of $15 or more when they showed their badge.
- Scooter’s Coffee: On May 7, 2018, nurses received 50% off any drink when they showed their nurse ID, limited to one per customer.
North Texas and Local Establishments
In addition to national chains, specific local businesses in the North Texas area and surrounding suburbs offered targeted deals in 2018.
- Kazzan Ramen & Bar: Located in the North Texas region, Kazzan Ramen & Bar offered a 20% discount for all teachers and nurses on Nurse Appreciation Day, Tuesday, May 6, 2018. The offer required showing a work ID.
- Verde Garden: Also located in Houston, Verde Garden provided 10% off the entire tab for both nurses and teachers on Tuesday, May 6, 2018. This required presenting a work ID.
- Wooster’s Garden: Nurses could enjoy a 10% discount on their entire tab on Tuesday, May 6, 2018, by showing a work ID.
- Smoothie King: Smoothie King offered an exclusive promo starting on May 6, 2018. Nurses could show a valid working ID in-store to receive 20% off their order.
- Original ChopShop: Nurses received 10% off dine-in and to-go orders from May 5–9, 2018, at any of the 27 Original ChopShop locations. A valid badge or ID was required.
- Pearland Coffee: Located in Pearland, TX (a Houston suburb), Pearland Coffee offered a free coffee to all teachers and nurses in 2018. The offer required bringing in a work badge or stethoscope.
- Kolache Factory: In Omaha, NE, but owned by a husband and wife who are both Registered Nurses, Kolache Factory offered free coffee.
- Sugar Shack Donuts: Located in the greater Richmond, VA area, Sugar Shack Donuts provided different freebie actions for nurses and teachers every day of the week in 2018, along with a 30% discount all week.
Retail and Service Discounts
Beyond food and beverage, Nurses Week 2018 included various retail and service discounts designed to help nurses save on clothing, travel, and other personal needs.
Apparel and Uniforms
- Lydia's Uniforms: Lydia's Uniforms offered numerous sales during Nurses Week 2018. Additionally, they provided $5 off for customers who signed up for their mailing list.
- New York & Company: Nurses who showed their ID at checkout received 15% off all year long in 2018.
- Calvin Klein: Calvin Klein offered "great looks" as part of Nurses Week retail deals, though specific discount percentages were not detailed in the source data.
Home and Lifestyle
- Sleep Number: Nurses could take 25% off their purchases with license verification in 2018.
- The Parking Spot: The Parking Spot, an airport parking provider, offered a special 25% discount for nurses on reservations made in May 2018 for travel through the end of 2015. (Note: The source text mentions travel through the end of 2015, which predates the 2018 date of the article, suggesting a potential typo in the source data regarding the travel window).
Travel
- Walt Disney World Hotels: The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort offered special room rates to nurses with valid IDs in 2018. Nurses could call a specific number to learn about the "Nurse rate," with rooms potentially as low as $139 per night depending on availability. This deal was available year-round.
Digital and Sweepstakes Offers
Some Nurses Week 2018 offers were digital or based on sweepstakes entries rather than immediate in-store redemption.
- Amazon: Amazon offered free Kindle nursing books in honor of Nurse Week 2018. Nurses could download available books from the platform.
- Chipotle Sweepstakes: As mentioned previously, Chipotle's 2018 promotion involved entering to win one of 100,000 free burrito e-cards. This required verification of healthcare status if selected as a winner.
Important Considerations for Nurses
When seeking to utilize Nurses Week offers, there are several logistical and eligibility factors to keep in mind based on the 2018 promotional landscape:
- Verification Requirements: The vast majority of offers required proof of nursing status. Acceptable forms of identification typically included a valid medical ID badge, a nursing license, or wearing scrubs. Some locations might also accept a stethoscope as auxiliary proof.
- Location-Specific Variations: As evidenced by chains like Culver's, Chick-fil-A, and Applebee's, offers were often at the discretion of the franchise owner. It is highly recommended to call ahead or check the specific location's social media channels or website to confirm participation and specific terms (e.g., time limits, purchase requirements).
- Expiration Dates: Most Nurses Week offers are strictly time-bound, typically running from May 6 to May 12. Any offers found outside this window should be verified for the current year's validity.
- Participation Limits: Many offers, such as the free cookie at Potbelly or the drink at Scooter's Coffee, were limited to one per customer.
- Local Search: The source material suggests that performing a local search on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter is an effective strategy for finding unlisted deals from small, locally-owned businesses.
Conclusion
National Nurses Week 2018 provided a diverse array of opportunities for nurses in North Texas and across the country to receive discounts and freebies. The offerings ranged from complimentary food items at major chains like Cinnabon and Dunkin' to significant retail discounts at stores like Sleep Number and Lydia's Uniforms. However, the decentralized nature of many of these promotions—particularly those from large franchise chains—meant that availability was not uniform. Nurses were best served by verifying offers directly with local establishments and ensuring they had the necessary identification to claim their well-deserved perks.