Covid-19 Support And Free Resources For Nurses Essential Benefits During The Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented demands on healthcare workers, particularly nurses who have been on the frontlines providing essential care. In response, numerous companies, organizations, and platforms have stepped forward to offer free resources, training materials, personal protective equipment (PPE), wellness support, and other benefits to recognize and support nurses during this challenging time. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the available COVID-19 freebies and support resources specifically designed for nursing professionals.

Free Training and Professional Development

Several organizations have made specialized COVID-19 training courses available at no cost to nurses, helping them stay updated with the latest information and protocols for managing the pandemic.

IntelyCare, a workforce management solution for post-acute facilities, launched a 100% free COVID-19 training certification program for nursing professionals. Upon completion of this training, participants receive one free contact hour, contributing to their continuing education requirements.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) offers a free COVID-19 training titled "Be Confident Protecting Yourself and Providing the Best Care to Your Patients during this COVID-19 Pandemic." This resource is available as a 68-minute webinar specifically designed for registered nurses. Additionally, the ANA provides a free 2 CME credit COVID-19 course for health professionals through Osmosis, which also offers free clinical skill videos on related topics such as imaging features and body temperature assessment.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has made available a free online course called "Pulmonary, ARDS, and Ventilator Resources" 24/7. This course features the latest information nurses need to provide care for patients with COVID-19, focusing on respiratory complications.

HealthStream has made its Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support course free for all nurses for 90 days. This course bundle includes compliance, safety, clinical education, and coding courses designed to address the unique training needs healthcare professionals face during the pandemic. Healthcare professionals can self-enroll in these courses via HealthStream to quickly fulfill their training requirements and return to providing hands-on patient care.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Support

Access to adequate personal protective equipment has been a critical concern throughout the pandemic. Several organizations have stepped up to provide free PPE to healthcare workers in need.

DHAVNI offers free masks to healthcare workers, though specific eligibility requirements and availability details are not specified in the source material. Preppi has been donating N95 masks to healthcare workers in need, addressing the urgent need for respiratory protection.

Masks by Decor8 Interiors has also been providing masks to healthcare workers. However, due to overwhelming demand, their current shipping date for freebie masks is approximately nine weeks from the date of request. Despite this delay, they continue to support the healthcare industry during this time of need.

Print For the Cure is providing face shields, mask straps, and door openers to help enhance protection and reduce touchpoints for healthcare workers.

Clothing and Footwear Freebies

Several companies have offered free or discounted clothing and footwear to nurses working during the COVID-19 crisis.

Nursemates provides healthcare workers with 15% off purchases including masks, helping nurses stay protected while managing expenses.

FJOLK offers a free pair of shoes to healthcare workers. To request a pair, nurses can email [email protected]. This offer recognizes the physical demands of nursing work, which often involves long hours on one's feet.

Kizik Shoes had previously donated 1,000 free pairs of hands-free shoes to nurses and doctors fighting COVID-19. The offer was available through a form on their website, which closed on April 24 at 11:59pm MT. Selected recipients were contacted by May 1.

Wellness and Mental Health Support

The psychological toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers has been significant. Several platforms have offered free mental health and wellness resources specifically for nurses.

Ten Percent Happier, a meditation app, provides free access to healthcare workers, including nurses, grocery store employees, and food delivery personnel. To access this offer, healthcare workers need to fill out the appropriate form on the Ten Percent Happier website.

Speeko offers free access to its app through 2020 for nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. The app focuses on coaching people on effective communication skills. Additionally, Speeko maintains a free list of COVID-19 communication resources on their website.

TB12, Tom Brady's fitness brand, offers a free Virtual Performance and Recovery Coaching Session with a TB12 Body Coach to any healthcare member currently working to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Interested healthcare workers can follow the instructions on the TB12 website to book their complimentary virtual session.

Supporti, an accountability partner app, offers healthcare workers a free one-month subscription. Users can contact Supporti at the provided email address to receive a special code. The app matches users one-on-one with a buddy for a week at a time, providing daily support toward various goals, whether it's daily meditation or staying hydrated.

Educational Resources

Continuing education has become even more important during the pandemic as healthcare workers adapt to new protocols and treatment approaches. Several organizations have provided free or discounted educational opportunities.

Orbit CME offers a $100 credit for continuing medical education, helping nurses access valuable professional development resources during the pandemic.

The Florida Nurse Association website includes resources addressing COVID-19 stressors and challenges, evidence-based psychological support, and addressing psychological safety needs. These resources also cover peer support, team support, roles and needs of managers, and long-term recovery considerations for nurses during the pandemic.

Other Notable Freebies

Beyond the categories above, several other companies and organizations have offered unique benefits to nurses during the COVID-19 crisis.

Hertz Cars had offered a free rental car for an entire month to nurses working in New York City. However, this offer reached its limit, and it is no longer available as of the information provided.

JINS Eyewear had provided healthcare workers with a chance to win a free pair of glasses by entering their details. Due to overwhelming response, JINS modified the offer to select 5 people per day for this freebie. The offer was available while supplies lasted.

Knack had previously offered the opportunity to nominate a favorite nurse to win a Knack Pack in honor of Nurses Week. The company selected one winner per day through this nomination process.

LinkBuildingHQ acknowledges the efforts of frontline workers by offering a 15% discount on marketing services for their online presence. Healthcare workers can use the coupon code "Covid15-LBUS" to access this discount.

How to Access These Offers

Most of the free resources and benefits for nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic require some form of verification or registration process. Healthcare workers typically need to:

1. Visit the company or organization's official website
2. Locate the specific COVID-19 support or healthcare worker section
3. Fill out a registration or request form with appropriate verification of employment status
4. Follow any additional instructions provided

Some offers, like the free meditation app from Ten Percent Happier or the TB12 coaching session, require healthcare workers to contact the company directly via email or phone to receive access information.

It's important to note that many of these offers were time-limited or had specific availability windows. Healthcare workers should check the current status of any offer before attempting to access it, as some may have reached capacity or expired.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired numerous companies, organizations, and platforms to offer free resources, training materials, PPE, wellness support, and other benefits to recognize and support nurses. These offerings range from professional development opportunities and educational resources to practical support like PPE, clothing, and mental health services.

While many of these offers were initially available during the height of the pandemic, some may continue to be accessible or similar opportunities may become available in the future. Nurses and healthcare workers are encouraged to regularly check with their professional organizations and preferred brands for ongoing support resources.

The recognition provided through these freebies not only offers practical benefits but also serves as an acknowledgment of the critical role nurses have played in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing resources that address both professional development and personal wellbeing, these offerings contribute to supporting nurses through one of the most challenging periods in recent healthcare history.

Sources

1. Nurse.org Offers, Freebies & Discounts for Healthcare Workers
2. HealthStream COVID-19 Courses Free for All Nurses
3. Nurse Freebies During COVID-19 Crisis & Nurses Week 2020
4. Appreciation Freebies for Healthcare Workers
5. Florida Nurse Association Coronavirus Resources