A Us Consumer Guide To Free Samples Trials And No-Cost Offers For Nurses Nurses Week 2025

Nurses across the United States are recognized during National Nurses Week, which runs each year from May 6 to May 12. In 2025, that window is May 6–12. A wide range of brands, restaurants, and organizations respond by issuing free items, no-cost trials, and promotional offers targeted at nurses. These offers span food and coffee, apparel and scrubs, membership programs, and professional resources. They are often conditioned on verification of nurse status via a hospital or nursing ID badge, or through third-party identity services such as ID.me or SheerID. Consumers should expect the specific availability, terms, and redemption steps to vary by location and may change at any time. As new deals are announced, some brands update their offers throughout Nurses Week, and some locations participate while others do not.

Food and beverage brands are among the most active during this period, typically offering no-cost items or discounts. McAlister’s Deli, for example, has announced that it will provide a free “Big Tea” (sweet or unsweet tea, or an Arnold Palmer) to nurses and teachers during the week. The promotion is valid May 5–12, 2025. The standard redemption method is to show a nurse badge or ID in-store and mention the Nurses Week promotion. The brand has indicated that no purchase is required. Sonny’s BBQ has also announced a 2025 program that offers a free “Pork Big Deal” combo meal (pulled or sliced pork sandwich with a side and a drink) to nurses on select days. Consumers must register online to receive a verification coupon by email, then present that coupon and a nurse ID in-restaurant to redeem. This program is valid May 5–7, 2025. While the precise day-by-day schedule can vary, the verification steps and eligibility requirements are consistent.

Buffalo Wild Wings has a long history of offering discounts to nurses during Nurses Week. In 2025, the company is expected to provide a 20% discount, typically on dining in or takeout orders, but the offer may not be available for delivery and participation can differ by location. The expected window is May 6–12, 2025. To redeem, nurses generally show a nurse ID at checkout. Consumers should check with their local restaurant to confirm the 2025 program and operational details. Applebee’s is not listed as offering a confirmed free item for 2025 in the source material, and prior year promotions (such as free appetizers for nurses) vary by location. For any 2025 Applebee’s program, consumers should verify availability with the local restaurant and be prepared to show a hospital or medical ID badge. These examples illustrate a broader pattern: small, no-cost items and moderate discounts from casual dining and fast-casual chains, typically accessed in-person with a valid nurse ID.

Not all food offers are limited to a single week. Thrive Market, an online grocery retailer, has indicated that nurses can receive a free annual membership after eligibility verification through ID.me. Once verified, members get access to Thrive’s online product catalog, and items can be delivered to the customer’s door. The process hinges on successful ID.me verification, and the offer is framed as a membership benefit for nurses rather than a one-time free sample. Beyond the week, several brands also run ongoing deals, such as Zaxby’s app-based BOGO (buy one, get one) promotions for nurses, though consumers should confirm whether a 2025 version is active and check the brand’s website or mobile app for terms. Catering brands may also be involved, with Moe’s Catering mentioned in some roundups as having offered a $50 gift card on orders over $300 in prior years. That program is location-specific and should be verified on the catering site for 2025.

Apparel and footwear promotions are another core area of interest. AllHeart has announced a Nurses Week discount in 2025, offering up to 40% off scrubs and scrub accessories. The brand has a broad catalog, including popular scrub brands such as Cherokee, MedCouture, Heartsoul, and others. While the offer is framed as a percentage discount rather than a no-cost item, it provides substantial savings and may be combined with other savings opportunities such as clearance and loyalty rewards. The verification steps and any geographic restrictions are not specified in the source material. In footwear, STAND+—a nursing shoe brand—has announced a free shoes giveaway via a survey drawing. Consumers can enter by completing the STAND+ Nurses Week survey (Google form) by May 12, 2025. The drawing is used to award free pairs of supportive nursing shoes, and the entry window is time-bound. This type of program is structured as a contest rather than a guaranteed free sample.

Health and membership programs also appear during Nurses Week. Care+Wear is listed among apparel and scrub-related offers in 2025 roundups, but specifics are not provided in the source material. In addition to retail programs, several professional organizations provide free or reduced-cost resources, including continuing education (CE) courses, clinical resources, and webinars. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) lists multiple benefits: group discount memberships (for groups of five or more new or renewing members), discounted certification exam fees (for groups of 10 or more candidates applying together), free access to CE activities and clinical resources, and access to nurse staffing resources. These are framed as professional development benefits, often with no-cost elements (such as free CE access) or discounted pricing available to nurses. The American Nurses Association (ANA) is highlighted as celebrating Nurses Month in May with online events and free CE courses. While these programs are not sample distributions in the traditional sense, they are no-cost resources that nurses can access to improve their practice and satisfy continuing education requirements.

Some programs aim to help nurses save money beyond Nurses Week. NurseDiscounts.org lists 200+ discounts for nurses, including travel benefits for members of Heroes Vacation Club (a parent company under “Badge Discounts”), auto and home insurance savings through Liberty Mutual for certain nursing association members, and Hertz Car Rental discounts available to National Nurses United (NNU), SEIU, AFL-CIO and other healthcare union members through Union Plus. These discounts are framed as year-round savings and may be accessed via online sign-up or by referencing a union-affiliated discount code or program ID. Financial institutions such as Wells Fargo (mortgage rates and reduced loan fees for nurses) and NIH Federal Credit Union (up to $50 in work-related reimbursements and special low-interest loans for healthcare professionals) are also mentioned as having ongoing promos aimed at nurses. While these services do not involve free samples, they provide financial benefits that complement the free items and discounts widely available during Nurses Week.

Verification is a central part of redemption. In retail and apparel, verification is often done in-store with a nurse ID badge. In online contexts, such as Thrive Market’s free membership for nurses, verification typically requires using a third-party service like ID.me. The service is designed to confirm eligibility (such as employment in healthcare) and must be completed prior to claim. In a few cases, like STAND+’s survey giveaway, eligibility is demonstrated simply by completing the survey within the stated timeframe. Catering and franchise businesses can differ by location, and even within a single brand, local managers may exercise discretion about whether to honor promotions. Consumers should prepare by setting up or updating their ID.me profile in advance, bringing their ID badge to in-person locations, and checking official pages or apps for up-to-date terms. Many brands also adjust their programs week to week, which means consumers who monitor offers during May 6–12 may find fresh deals posted mid-week.

When navigating the wide range of offers, it is helpful to distinguish between no-cost items, percentage discounts, memberships, and free trials. No-cost items include food giveaways like McAlister’s free “Big Tea” and Sonny’s free combo meal; these typically require presentation of an ID and, in some cases, a verification coupon. Percentage discounts, such as AllHeart’s up to 40% off scrubs, reduce the price of desired items rather than providing a free sample; they are often stackable with other savings mechanisms but must be checked at checkout. Membership programs, like Thrive Market’s free annual membership for nurses after ID.me verification, provide ongoing value in exchange for a one-time free benefit. Free trials and giveaways, such as STAND+’s shoes drawing, rely on time-limited entries and outcome-based selection. In professional resources, AACN’s free CE activities, clinical resources, and online content fit a different category: no-cost learning tools rather than product samples. Consumers should manage expectations accordingly: a free membership is not equivalent to a free item, and a survey giveaway is not guaranteed to result in a prize.

Availability and eligibility often hinge on location. Restaurants that participate in a program may only do so in certain markets, and franchise locations can vary in their adherence to national promotions. Food chains that historically run discounts, such as Buffalo Wild Wings, may limit redemption to dine-in or takeout, and some offers may be explicitly excluded from delivery. In 2025, Applebee’s is noted as having unconfirmed participation and consumers should not assume a free appetizer is available in all locations. In apparel, AllHeart’s deal appears in brand roundups, but the exact verification process for nurses and any geographic restrictions are not detailed; consumers should verify the conditions directly with the brand. The variability underscores the importance of local verification, especially for in-person offers. Consumers who travel or work between multiple facilities should also be aware that a local restaurant’s policy is what ultimately governs redemption.

Year-round deals supplement the one-week wave of promotions. App-based deals at Zaxby’s are mentioned in multiple roundups and often present themselves as BOGO offers for nurses; while they are not guaranteed to be active during Nurses Week 2025, they represent a second avenue for savings that does not depend on the May 6–12 window. NurseDiscounts.org’s year-round catalog is another resource; while it does not provide free samples, it aggregates discounts and benefits that nurses can use across a range of categories, from travel to insurance to car rentals. The professional benefits offered by AACN and ANA provide ongoing free access to learning resources, which can be considered “no-cost professional tools” even if they are not consumable samples. For consumers who prefer to plan ahead, these long-term offers can complement the short-term freebies and discounts seen during Nurses Week.

Two practical guidance points can help maximize savings. First, verify identity in advance. Whether using ID.me to unlock a free membership at Thrive Market or preparing to show a nurse badge in a restaurant, early preparation ensures smoother redemption. Second, check whether stacking is possible. Many stores allow discounts from clearance sections and loyalty rewards to be combined with a Nurses Week percentage-off code. This can be particularly meaningful for apparel offers like AllHeart’s, where the effective price reduction can exceed the headline percentage if multiple savings are applied. Consumers should be attentive at checkout to confirm which discounts apply, as stacking policies can differ by store and by product category.

In summary, the 2025 Nurses Week freebie landscape includes food giveaways, percentage discounts, membership programs, survey-based giveaways, and professional resources. McAlister’s Deli’s free “Big Tea” (May 5–12), Sonny’s BBQ’s free combo meal (May 5–7 with a verification coupon), and the expected Buffalo Wild Wings 20% discount (May 6–12) are the most concrete free and discount items in food and beverage. Thrive Market’s free membership for nurses after ID.me verification is a membership-based no-cost benefit, while AllHeart’s up to 40% off scrubs provides substantial savings on apparel. STAND+’s free shoes giveaway requires entering a survey by May 12. AACN’s free CE activities, clinical resources, and webinar access support professional development. NurseDiscounts.org aggregates year-round offers, and some brands and organizations run ongoing benefits that complement the week’s promotions. Because terms, availability, and participation differ by location and brand, consumers should verify details on official sites and in-store, use the appropriate verification methods, and watch for updates throughout the week. This approach ensures a practical, stress-free experience when claiming no-cost items and offers designed to honor nurses’ contributions during National Nurses Week.

Sources

1. The Ultimate Nurses Week 2025 Freebie Guide. https://tshc.com/about/blogs/the-ultimate-nurses-week-2025-freebie-guide/
2. 40+ Nurses Week 2025 Freebies, Discounts, and Deals. https://www.intelycare.com/career-advice/40-nurses-week-freebies-discounts-and-deals/
3. Nurses Week 2025. https://www.voyagesolutions.com/blog/nurses-week-2025/
4. 200+ Discounts for Nurses. https://www.nursediscounts.org/
5. 2025 National Nurses Week Freebies and Discounts. https://www.aacn.org/blog/2025-national-nurses-week-freebies-and-discounts/