Rcn Membership Benefits Discounts Freebies And Exclusive Offers For Healthcare Professionals

Nov. 4, 2025, 8:02 a.m.

Tags: ncl

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) stands as a not-for-profit organization and the world's largest nursing union and professional body, supporting over 500,000 nurses, nursing students, midwives, and nursing support workers. Beyond its advocacy and representation work, RCN membership offers a comprehensive package of benefits designed to support healthcare professionals both personally and professionally. This article explores the various RCN member benefits available, focusing on discounts, freebies, and exclusive offers that can provide substantial value to nursing professionals in their daily lives.

Understanding RCN Membership

The RCN serves a dual role as both a professional body and a trade union for nursing professionals across the United Kingdom and internationally. Membership provides essential workplace protections and advocacy, but also includes a diverse range of financial benefits, discounts, and special offers. The organization operates on a not-for-profit basis, with proceeds from member benefit programs, including the RCN shop, supporting the organization's campaigning and lobbying efforts on behalf of nursing professionals.

RCN membership is accessible to various healthcare professionals including registered nurses, nursing students, midwives, and nursing support workers. The organization emphasizes that its membership benefits extend beyond workplace protections to include substantial financial advantages that can help members save money on everyday purchases and specialized services. By leveraging partnerships with numerous brands and service providers, the RCN creates a value proposition that complements its primary role as a professional representative and advocate.

RCN Shop Discounts and Merchandise

The RCN operates an online shop featuring merchandise branded with nursing-related designs and the RCN crest. Members receive a 15% discount on all purchases from this shop, with the discount code accessible through the RCN Xtra account under the Exclusives tab. This discount cannot be applied to RCN Library services, sale items, or used in conjunction with other offers.

The shop offers various products including: - "I Love Nursing" pull reels - Nursing-themed scrunchies - Double-walled drinks bottles - Charms for Crocs-style shoes - Nursing badges - Tote bags with nursing designs - Magnets with nursing themes - RCN crest badges

All proceeds from the shop go toward supporting RCN members and the organization's vital campaigning work. However, as of the available information, many items in the shop appear to be out of stock, which may limit the availability of certain merchandise for members. The shop represents one of the more tangible benefits of membership, allowing nurses to display their professional pride while supporting the organization's work through their purchases.

Insurance and Financial Benefits

RCN membership includes access to specialized insurance and financial services through partnerships with established providers. Members can benefit from exclusive offers on a wide range of financial, insurance, and legal services, including a dedicated will writing service.

One significant partnership is with LV= (Liverpool Victoria) Insurance, where RCN members can access discounts on various insurance products including: - Home insurance - Car insurance - Multi-cover insurance - Travel insurance - Landlord insurance

The RCN acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative to the Liverpool Victoria group of companies for General Insurance. This arrangement allows members to potentially save on essential insurance coverage while supporting the RCN's work through a percentage of sales from these products. The insurance benefits represent a substantial value proposition for healthcare professionals who may be seeking reliable coverage at preferential rates.

Partner Brand Discounts

RCN membership provides access to discounts with over 3,000 brands across multiple categories. These discounts span health and wellbeing products, travel opportunities, days out, and various consumer goods and services. The organization emphasizes that by using these partner services, members contribute to the RCN's funding, as a percentage of sales from every product sold goes back to support members and the organization's campaigning efforts.

The specific brands and discount offerings may vary over time, and members are encouraged to regularly check the RCN website for updated lists of participating companies and current offers. The discount program complements other membership benefits by providing substantial savings on everyday purchases and specialized services that healthcare professionals may utilize.

Some of the partner brands and services available through RCN membership include: - Financial services through Lighthouse Financial Advice - Legal services through Stephensons Solicitors - Technology products and services from Samsung and Microsoft - Retail discounts from major supermarkets like ASDA and Tesco - Telecommunications services from EE - Transportation benefits from Virgin Trains

These partnerships demonstrate the RCN's commitment to providing comprehensive benefits that address various aspects of members' personal and professional lives.

Freebies and Special Offers

While RCN membership primarily focuses on discounts rather than free product samples, members can access various complimentary benefits and special offers. These include:

Digital Services: Some partners offer complimentary digital services or subscriptions as part of membership benefits.
Event Access: RCN members may receive complimentary or discounted access to certain events, conferences, and educational opportunities.
Professional Development Resources: The organization provides various resources and materials at no additional cost to members, including professional development tools and practice guidance.
Nurses' Day Celebrations: The RCN provides resources and graphics for celebrating Nurses' Day, which may include special promotions or recognition events.

It's worth noting that while specific free product samples are not prominently featured in the RCN membership benefits, other nursing organizations like the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) do offer various freebies and promotional offers to healthcare professionals, including complimentary food and drink items, product samples, and trial services.

For example, AACN offers several promotional opportunities during National Nurses Week: - Applebee's: Free appetizer with purchase of entrée - Awake Caffeinated Chocolate: 15% off after verification - Chipotle: Chance to win free e-card - Factor Meals: 55% off first box with free shipping - Free Rein Coffee Company: 20% off - Home Chef: 50% off first box and 10% off ongoing boxes - Insomnia Cookies: BOGO free classic cookies - Mod Pizza: Buy one get one free pizza or salad - Mountain Mike's Pizza: 15% off all pizza - Outback Steakhouse: 10% off entire check - Purity Coffee: 30% off

These offers, while not directly from RCN, demonstrate the broader landscape of freebies and discounts available to healthcare professionals.

How to Access RCN Benefits

RCN members can access their benefits through several channels:

RCN Xtra Account: Members must create and maintain an RCN Xtra account to access exclusive discounts, including the 15% discount code for the RCN shop. The account also provides access to other member resources and benefits.
Member Portal: The RCN website offers a dedicated member portal where members can find information about available discounts, benefits, and partner offers.
Direct Partnerships: Some benefits, like insurance discounts, may require direct contact with partner companies while identifying RCN membership status.
In-Person Verification: Certain discounts, like those at restaurants or retailers, may require showing a valid nursing ID or using an NHS email address for verification.

To maximize the value of RCN membership, healthcare professionals should regularly check the member portal and communications for updated benefit offerings and new partner discounts. The organization recommends using an updated browser like Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome for optimal access to online resources.

Conclusion

RCN membership provides healthcare professionals with more than just workplace representation and advocacy. The organization offers a comprehensive package of benefits including merchandise discounts, insurance and financial services, access to thousands of brand discounts, and various special offers. While free product samples are not a primary focus of the RCN membership benefits, the substantial discounts and complimentary services can provide significant value to nursing professionals.

Members can access their benefits through the RCN Xtra account and member portal, with some offers requiring direct verification with partner companies. The organization operates on a not-for-profit basis, with proceeds from member benefits supporting its campaigning and lobbying work on behalf of nursing professionals.

For healthcare professionals looking to maximize their membership benefits, regular engagement with the RCN website and staying informed about new partner offerings and promotions is recommended. While the RCN primarily emphasizes discounts over free samples, the comprehensive nature of the benefits package provides substantial value to members across various aspects of their personal and professional lives.