Nurses Week 2018 presented a wide array of appreciation offers designed to acknowledge the hard work of healthcare professionals. The promotion, which typically runs from May 6 through May 12, coincided with Teacher Appreciation Week in several instances, allowing for overlapping deals targeting both educators and medical staff. The available offers ranged from immediate food and beverage discounts to professional development resources and sweepstakes entries. Because many of these promotions were location-specific or required specific verification methods, such as wearing scrubs or presenting a medical ID badge, the scope of availability varied significantly.
The most prominent national chain participating in Nurses Week 2018 was Chipotle. According to the source data, Chipotle offered a buy-one-get-one deal specifically for nurses on June 5, 2018. Additionally, Chipotle launched a massive giveaway for both teachers and healthcare workers running through May 13, 2018. This promotion allowed eligible participants to sign up online for a chance to win one of 100,000 free burritos. Winners were selected randomly and required to verify their employment status through ID.me within 48 hours of notification to receive their free burrito e-card. Chipotle also utilized its Round-Up for Real Change feature during this period to support the Kids In Need Foundation and the American Nurses Foundation.
Food and Beverage Discounts
Coffee and breakfast items were a recurring theme during Nurses Week 2018. Pearland Coffee in Pearland, Texas, offered free coffee to teachers and nurses who presented a work badge or stethoscope. In Omaha, Nebraska, Kolache Factory, a business owned and operated by Registered Nurses, provided special offers, though specific details were not itemized in the source data. Rita’s Italian Ice in Warrington, Pennsylvania, offered nurses a free Italian Ice or Custard Cone/Cup on Friday of Nurses Week from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a valid ID. Smiley’s Ice Cream in Mount Crawford, Virginia, also offered a free scoop of ice cream on Friday.
Lunch and dinner options varied by location. Sugar Shack Donuts in the greater Richmond, Virginia, area provided a different freebie daily and offered 30% off the bill for nurses and teachers all week. Chick-fil-A locations in Jefferson City, Missouri, offered a free Chicken Sandwich with the purchase of a medium side item and drink on Thursday and Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with valid ID. In Evansville and Newburgh, Indiana, Zaxby’s offered 15% off everything with a valid nurse ID, though availability depended on the specific location.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop confirmed a promotion allowing nurses to receive a free fountain drink or cookie with the purchase of a sandwich or salad, redeemable by showing a medical ID or wearing scrubs. Jimboy’s Tacos in California and Reno, Nevada, offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal on Original Ground Beef Tacos for nurses with a valid employee ID until May 12. MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill & Pub in Bismarck, North Dakota, provided 50% off all appetizers. In Boston, Massachusetts, Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks extended its 50% employee food discount to nurses during breakfast hours (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.) through Saturday, May 12.
Dessert and evening dining options included The Melting Pot in Austin, Texas, which offered a discounted four-course menu for $29.95 for the whole table with one nurse or nursing student ID. In Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Murph’s Beef & Ale offered half-priced appetizers Tuesday through Friday with a nursing ID. The Cold Stone Creamery in Evanston, Illinois, provided 25% off orders presented at checkout from May 7-11. Catherine Rooney’s in Wilmington, Delaware, offered a 20% discount on regular menu items for nurses and nursing students. In Maine, the Lincolnville Lobster Pound offered 20% off checks on May 8-11. The Pizza Pie Cafe in Boise, Idaho, offered 15% off the buffet until May 12. Area 23, a craft brew pub in Concord, New Hampshire, offered 25% off food orders on May 10.
Professional and Lifestyle Offers
Beyond food, several businesses offered discounts on professional gear and lifestyle activities. Scrubs retailers were noted as a reliable source of special deals during Nurses Week, though specific brands and discount percentages were not detailed in the source data. Factotum Brewhouse in Denver, Colorado, offered a unique "second tap beer free" promotion for nursing professionals through May 11, requiring the presence of a badge and a friend.
Educational and Recognition Opportunities
For those interested in professional development, Capella University offered a scholarship program during Nurses Week. The promotion included two full-tuition scholarships for an RN-to-BSN and an MSN in the FlexPath format. Applicants who met eligibility requirements but did not win were eligible for a 50% session discount.
Several publications offered free access to content. American Nurse Today, the official journal of the American Nurses Association, offered a free 6-month digital subscription and a chance to win a $100 gift card. The American Journal of Nursing allowed readers to access their May issue online for free during the week.
BestNursingDegree.com hosted a "Nurse of the Year" Award, allowing nominations for innovative, influential, or inspiring nurses. Both the winning nurse and the nominator received a $50 gift card, with a deadline of May 11 at 5:00 p.m. PST.
Sweepstakes and Team Promotions
NurseRecruiter.com hosted a daily promotion during Nurses Week 2018, selecting two nursing teams daily to receive a free pizza lunch or dinner. To enter, participants were required to follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and respond to daily posts explaining why their team deserved the free pizza.
Cinnabon offered a reliable annual promotion for healthcare professionals, providing a free Cinnabon Classic Roll, MiniBon Roll, or four-count of BonBites with the presentation of a medical ID badge at any location.
Conclusion
The landscape of Nurses Week 2018 offers was diverse, covering immediate dining gratuities, long-term educational discounts, and sweepstakes opportunities. The most widely applicable offers included the Chipotle giveaway and the Cinnabon annual promotion, while the NurseRecruiter.com pizza giveaway provided a team-based reward. Many offers required specific verification methods, such as showing a badge or wearing scrubs, and several were restricted to specific geographic regions.