National Nurses Week 2025, observed from May 6 through May 12, serves as a dedicated period for businesses and organizations across the United States to extend special appreciation offers to nursing professionals. During this time, a variety of restaurant chains, retail brands, and service providers offer complimentary items, significant discounts, and promotional deals to acknowledge the contributions of nurses and other healthcare workers. These offers typically require proof of professional status, often through work identification badges or digital verification platforms such as ID.me. The following comprehensive guide details the specific freebies, discounts, and eligibility requirements available during the 2025 Nurses Week celebration, based on current promotional data.
Food and Beverage Offers
Many restaurant chains participate in Nurses Week by offering complimentary menu items or discounts. These offers generally require nurses to present a valid work ID at the point of sale, although some brands utilize digital verification for year-round benefits or specific sweepstakes.
Applebee’s
Applebee’s has a history of honoring nurses during Nurses Week. In 2025, the chain offered a free appetizer to nurses who presented a valid work badge. This offer was valid through May 10, 2025, at participating restaurants owned and operated by the Flynn Group. The free appetizer was available with the purchase of an adult entrée. The offer was restricted to dine-in service only and was valid for appetizers priced up to $12.
Buffalo Wild Wings
While specific 2025 details were not explicitly confirmed in all sources, Buffalo Wild Wings has offered nurses a 20% discount on their orders during Nurses Week in previous years. This offer required a valid ID. Consumers are advised to check the brand’s website or local participating locations for confirmation of 2025 specific deals.
Chipotle
Chipotle ran a significant promotion during Nurses Week 2025, offering a chance for healthcare professionals to win free food. The brand gave away 100,000 free burritos to healthcare heroes, including nurses. To participate, healthcare professionals had to enter their information for a chance to win a free Chipotle e-card with a promo code for an entrée. The entry period ended on May 12, 2025. At the end of the week, winners were selected at random and required to verify their healthcare status via ID.me within 48 hours of notification to receive the digital burrito card.
Cinnabon
Cinnabon typically offers a sweet treat to nurses during the appreciation week. In 2025, participating locations offered a free classic roll to nurses who presented a valid work ID. This offer served as a well-earned treat for nurses after long shifts.
Dunkin’
Dunkin’ provided a caffeine boost for nurses on National Nurses Day, which falls on May 6. Nurses could get a free medium coffee at participating locations. The offer included a choice of hot or iced coffee, with the option to customize the beverage with blueberry or vanilla flavoring.
Insomnia Cookies
Insomnia Cookies offered a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) free deal on classic cookies during Nurses Week 2025. This offer was valid through May 11, 2025. Nurses were required to show a valid work ID at the register to redeem the offer in-store.
Mod Pizza
Mod Pizza participated in the celebration with a BOGO offer. Between May 5 and May 8, 2025, nurses could show a valid work ID at local Mod Pizza locations to enjoy a buy-one-get-one free deal on MOD-size pizzas or salads.
Mountain Mike’s Pizza
Mountain Mike’s Pizza offered a discount code specifically for Nurses Week. From May 6 through May 9, 2025, nurses could receive 15% off all pizza by using the code “APPRECIATE25.”
Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse extended a 10% discount on the entire check to nurses with a valid medical ID during the 2025 appreciation period.
Sonny’s BBQ
Sonny’s BBQ has historically offered nurses free BBQ sandwiches during select days of Nurses Week. While specific 2025 details were not explicitly confirmed in the provided data, consumers were directed to check the Sonny’s website for current year freebies.
Zaxby’s
In previous years, Zaxby’s has offered BOGO deals for nurses through their mobile app during Nurses Week. Consumers were advised to check the Zaxby’s website and mobile app for details regarding 2025 freebies.
Coffee and Beverage Discounts
Several coffee and beverage companies offer discounts to nurses, often verified through the ID.me platform.
Awake Caffeinated Chocolate
Awake Caffeinated Chocolate offered nurses a 15% discount on their products. To access this offer, nurses were required to verify their status through ID.me.
Free Rein Coffee Company
Free Rein Coffee Company provided nurses with a 20% discount. This offer required verification through the ID.me platform.
Purity Coffee
Purity Coffee offered a 30% discount on their coffee products to nurses during the 2025 appreciation period.
Meal Kit and Grocery Services
Meal kit delivery services and online grocery platforms also participate in Nurses Week offers, often providing substantial discounts on initial orders and ongoing memberships.
Factor Meals
Factor Meals offered a significant discount for new customers during Nurses Week 2025. Nurses could receive 55% off their first box and free shipping. Additionally, subscribers would receive a 15% discount on boxes for the next year. Verification of professional status via ID.me was required to access this offer.
Home Chef
Home Chef provided a 50% discount on the first box and a 10% discount on ongoing boxes for nurses. Eligibility required signing up and verifying status through ID.me.
Thrive Market
Thrive Market offered nurses a free annual membership to their online grocery store. Nurses could verify their eligibility through ID.me to gain access to Thrive’s online catalog of products for delivery.
Retail and Apparel Discounts
Various retail brands, particularly those specializing in workwear and footwear, offered exclusive discounts to nurses during Nurses Week 2025.
AllHeart
AllHeart offered nurses up to 40% off select scrubs, accessories, medical devices, and gifts during their 2025 Nurses’ Week sale. The discount applied to well-loved brands including Cherokee, MedCouture, and Heartsoul.
Care+Wear
Care+Wear ran exclusive discounts for healthcare workers during Nurses Week 2025. The brand offered deals on scrubs and other work uniforms.
Crocs
Crocs boosted its standard discount for healthcare workers during Nurse Appreciation Week 2025. Nurses received 25% off regular price styles, an increase from the usual 15% discount. This offer required verification of status through ID.me, and some exclusions applied.
Dickies
Dickies has a history of offering discounts on durable scrubs during Nurses Week. In previous years, the brand offered a 20% discount. Consumers were directed to the Dickies website to confirm specific nursing week deals for 2025.
Verification Processes and Year-Round Benefits
Many brands utilize the ID.me verification platform to confirm professional status for nurses and healthcare workers. This digital verification allows brands to extend offers beyond the specific dates of Nurses Week.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A encourages nurses to download their mobile app and verify their status as a community hero with ID.me. Doing so provides access to special offers throughout the year, not just during Nurses Week. The verification process is typically found within the app settings under ‘Profile & Preferences.’
ID.me Integration
The ID.me platform is a recurring requirement for accessing discounts from various brands, including Crocs, Awake Caffeinated Chocolate, Free Rein Coffee Company, Factor Meals, Home Chef, and Thrive Market. This centralized verification system allows brands to securely confirm eligibility and extend benefits to verified healthcare professionals.
Eligibility and Redemption Rules
To successfully redeem these offers, nurses must generally adhere to specific eligibility and redemption rules.
- Proof of Employment: Most in-store restaurant offers require a valid work badge or medical ID. Digital offers often require verification through ID.me.
- Participating Locations: Many restaurant offers are valid only at participating locations. For example, Applebee’s offer was valid at restaurants owned and operated by the Flynn Group. Chick-fil-A offers may vary by restaurant location.
- Purchase Requirements: Some offers, such as the Applebee’s free appetizer, required the purchase of an adult entrée.
- Expiration Dates: Offers are time-sensitive. For example, the Insomnia Cookies BOGO deal ended on May 11, 2025, and the Chipotle sweepstakes entry ended on May 12, 2025.
- Digital Verification: For sweepstakes like Chipotle’s, winners were required to verify their employment status via ID.me within 48 hours of notification to receive the prize.
Conclusion
National Nurses Week 2025 provided a wide array of freebies and discounts for nursing professionals across the United States. From complimentary appetizers at major restaurant chains like Applebee’s and Outback Steakhouse to significant discounts on scrubs from AllHeart and Crocs, the week served as a comprehensive appreciation event. Digital verification platforms, specifically ID.me, played a central role in facilitating both week-specific offers and year-round benefits for healthcare workers. While many offers were confirmed for 2025, consumers were advised to check specific brand websites and local participating locations for the most current details and redemption instructions.