National Nurses Week 2019 Promotional Offers and Freebies Guide

National Nurses Week in 2019 ran from May 6 through May 12, concluding on the birthday of Florence Nightingale. During this period, various businesses and retailers offered promotional deals, discounts, and free items to registered nurses and healthcare professionals who presented valid identification. The offers spanned multiple categories, including food and beverage, retail merchandise, and digital content. Access to these benefits typically required proof of employment, such as a healthcare ID badge or a valid nursing license, and many promotions were limited to specific dates or participating locations.

Food and Beverage Promotions

A significant number of food service establishments participated in National Nurses Week 2019 by offering complimentary items or discounted rates. These offers were generally valid for in-store orders upon presentation of a valid healthcare ID badge.

Cinnabon Cinnabon partnered with the DAISY Foundation to provide a guaranteed freebie for nurses throughout the week. From May 6 through May 11, participating Cinnabon bakeries offered nurses a choice between a complimentary MiniBon® Roll or a 4-count order of BonBites™. This offer was valid at participating U.S. locations upon presentation of a healthcare ID badge. Some sources noted that the offer extended through May 12, though the specific end date varied slightly across reports.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop Potbelly offered a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) free deal on sandwiches, salads, or "Pick-Your-Pair" items from May 6 through May 12. To redeem this offer, nurses were required to show their medical ID. One specific report noted that nurses could receive a free fountain drink or cookie simply by wearing scrubs, without needing to present an ID.

MOD Pizza On Sunday, May 12, MOD Pizza offered a buy-one-get-one free deal on MOD-size pizzas or salads. This offer was valid for in-store orders only and required the purchase of an item of equal or greater value. Nurses were required to show a valid nurse ID to redeem the offer. Some sources specified that the offer was valid on a single MOD-size pizza or salad only and excluded Mega Dough options, with a $2 upcharge for alternative crust options.

Dunkin’ Donuts Participating Dunkin’ Donuts locations offered a free 16-ounce Dunkin’ Dark Roast iced coffee to nurses. This promotion was valid daily from May 6 through May 12 between 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM. A valid healthcare ID was required to redeem the offer.

Sonny’s BBQ On Monday, May 6, Sonny’s BBQ offered nurses a free "Pork Big Deal" upon presentation of a valid photo ID.

Applebee’s Applebee’s participated in Nurse Week 2019, though the specific promotions varied by location. Nurses were advised to contact their local establishment or call a specific verification number to confirm the details of the offer at their nearest location.

Buca di Beppo Buca di Beppo offered a complimentary meal to nurses with ID at participating locations. This offer was valid during Nurse Week.

PDQ PDQ Chicken offered 50% off orders to nurses who showed a work ID at any location.

Cotton Patch Cafe Cotton Patch Cafe offered nurses 20% off their orders when they showed their nurse ID from May 6 through May 10.

Culver’s Individual Culver’s locations offered specials throughout the week (May 6–12) for nurses with a valid ID.

Dairy Queen Dairy Queen offered $2 off online orders of $10 or more through the end of Nurses Week.

Einstein Bro’s Bagels On the Friday of Nurses Week, Einstein Bro’s Bagels offered a free Espresso Buzz Bagel and Schmear to nurses.

Retail and Merchandise Discounts

Several retailers offered discounts on merchandise specifically for nurses during the 2019 National Nurses Week.

Uniform Advantage Uniform Advantage offered 50% off scrubs and uniforms throughout the week. This discount was available on their website and required proof of nursing status.

Crocs Crocs offered discounts to nurses, though specific details regarding the percentage off or participating items were not fully detailed in the source material.

Nature's Gift Nature's Gift offered nurses 10% off their purchases when they provided a copy of a valid nursing license.

Cheryl's Cheryl's offered 15% off an order of flower-shaped cookies using the promo code "TAKE15." While this specific code had a validity period extending through December 31, it was listed among Nurses Week offers.

Digital Content and Travel Offers

Amazon Amazon offered a selection of free Kindle nursing books to download during National Nurses Week. These books were available at no cost to users with an Amazon account.

Sleep Number Sleep Number offered discounts to licensed medical professionals, including nurses, to ensure they received adequate rest.

Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resort Nurses looking for a getaway could receive discounted rates at Disney's Swan and Dolphin resort. To redeem this discount, nurses were required to call 800-227-1500, mention the code "DREAMS," and state that they are nurses.

General Eligibility and Redemption Rules

To access the majority of these offers, nurses needed to present a valid form of identification. The most commonly cited requirement was a valid healthcare ID badge or a work photo ID. Some retailers accepted a valid nursing license as proof of eligibility.

Most food offers were valid for in-store orders only and were strictly limited to the individual nurse (limit one per customer). Offers were generally not valid in conjunction with other promotions or discounts, and exclusions often applied to specific menu items, such as specialty crusts or large-format items. While many offers were valid throughout the week (May 6–12), specific deals, such as the MOD Pizza BOGO, were restricted to a single day (May 12).

Conclusion

National Nurses Week 2019 provided a wide array of opportunities for healthcare professionals to receive free food, discounted merchandise, and complimentary digital content. The promotions were largely standardized around the requirement of a valid healthcare ID and were offered by major national brands across the food, retail, and travel sectors. While the specific dates and terms varied by vendor, the overarching theme of the week was to provide tangible tokens of appreciation to nurses for their service.