Columbus Nurse Appreciation Week 2025 Complete Guide To Freebies And Discounts

National Nurses Week, observed from May 6 to May 12, 2025, presents an opportunity for healthcare professionals in Columbus, Ohio to receive appreciation through various free offers and discounts. The annual recognition, which begins on May 6 and ends on May 12 (Florence Nightingale's birthday), has been formally observed since 1994, following a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. Throughout this week, numerous businesses in Columbus extend special offers to nurses and teachers as tokens of gratitude for their service. This comprehensive guide details the available freebies and discounts, eligibility requirements, and how nurses can access these appreciation offers.

Food and Beverage Freebies

Columbus area food establishments have created several special offers for nurses during National Nurses Week. These free food and drink options provide convenient ways for busy healthcare professionals to enjoy a treat during their workday or personal time.

Doughnuts and Cookies

Several establishments are offering complimentary baked items to nurses during Nurses Week:

• Krispy Kreme will provide a free original glazed doughnut to teachers and nurses on Wednesday, May 6, 2025. This offer is available to professionals who present their professional badges at participating locations.

• Insomnia Cookies has announced a free classic cookie offer for nurses who visit in-store between May 6-12. Notably, this complimentary cookie requires no purchase. Additionally, the cookie chain is running a separate giveaway through May 12 where five lucky nurses or teachers will be selected to receive a $250 cookie catering package.

• Potbelly will offer nurses a free cookie or regular-size fountain drink during National Nurses Week. Nurses need only present their identification to receive this freebie.

Drinks and Tea

Several beverage establishments have created nurse-specific offers:

• McAlister's Deli will provide a free tea to nurses with valid ID at participating locations. The free tea options include big sweet tea, unsweet tea, half-sweet and half-unsweet tea, or a cup of half-lemonade and half-tea varieties. Flavor shots are not included in this offer.

• Smoothie King is extending a special offer to rewards members, including nurses, who can receive $2 off their order May 6-7 using the code THANKS2024. This offer can be used an unlimited number of times over the two days, providing flexibility for nurses to enjoy the discount multiple times if desired. The chain has multiple locations throughout Ohio, including seven in Columbus and five in Cincinnati.

Other Food Offers

While limited specific food offers were mentioned in the source documents, several healthcare facilities in Columbus are planning sweet treat stops for nurses during Nurses Week:

• OhioHealth Pickerington Methodist Hospital
• OhioHealth Doctor's Hospital
• OhioHealth Grove City Methodist Hospital

These locations will provide sweet treats to nurses as part of the appreciation celebrations.

Retail Discounts

Several Columbus retailers are offering special discounts for nurses and teachers during their respective appreciation weeks. These discounts apply to various product categories, from clothing to office supplies.

Clothing and Accessories

• Clothes Mentor, with four Columbus locations, is offering a 25% discount for teachers and nurses during their appreciation week (May 2-6, 2025). The discount is available in-store only and requires presentation of a nurse, daycare, or teacher badge or ID at checkout. The sale excludes clearance and designer items, and the discount cannot be combined with other discounts or offers.

Office Supplies

• Staples is providing a 20% discount on in-store purchases for teachers throughout Teacher Appreciation Week. While the specific dates are not mentioned in the source documents, this offer is available during the week leading up to Friday.

Shoe Discounts

• Skechers and Nike are each offering a 10% discount on shoes for nurses. This discount is available during Nurses Appreciation Week (May 6-12, 2025) and requires presentation of professional identification.

Healthcare-Specific Offers

Several healthcare-related companies and organizations have created special offers for nurses during Nurses Week and throughout May.

Crocs and Scrubs Giveaway

• Crocs has partnered with scrubs-maker FIGS to offer healthcare workers a chance to win free scrubs and free Crocs through a special drawing to celebrate Nurse Appreciation Week. Entries for this drawing were open from May 6-12, 2022. While the source document indicates this was a 2022 offer, it suggests similar promotions may occur during future Nurses Weeks.

• Hondros College of Nursing is organizing various activities and events throughout Nurses Month. While specific details about 2025 events were not provided in the source documents, the college has previously hosted events including career fairs, volunteer opportunities, and health and wellness fairs. The college also maintains partnerships with healthcare facilities that provide sweet treats and other appreciation gestures.

Hospital Treats

Several healthcare facilities in Columbus are participating in Nurses Week celebrations by providing sweet treats to nurses:

• OhioHealth Pickerington Methodist Hospital
• OhioHealth Doctor's Hospital
• OhioHealth Grove City Methodist Hospital

These locations have planned sweet treat stops as part of their appreciation activities for nurses.

How to Access These Offers

Accessing nurse appreciation offers typically requires verification of professional status. The specific requirements and methods vary by establishment.

Verification Requirements

Most offers require nurses to present some form of professional identification:

• Professional badges or ID cards are the most commonly accepted form of verification. This includes hospital-issued ID badges, nursing licenses, or other professional credentials that clearly indicate the individual is a nurse.

• Some establishments may accept alternative forms of identification, such as pay stubs that show employment as a nurse or letters from healthcare employers.

• For online offers, such as KIND Snacks' sitewide discount, nurses must verify their identity through ID.me at checkout. This digital verification service allows healthcare professionals to confirm their professional status online.

Timing and Locations

The availability of offers varies by establishment:

• Most offers are specifically tied to National Nurses Week (May 6-12, 2025) or Teacher Appreciation Week (until Friday in early May).

• Some offers, like Smoothie King's discount, have specific dates within Nurses Week (May 6-7).

• Retail discounts may be available only during specific hours or at particular locations. For example, Clothes Mentor's 25% discount is only available at their four Columbus locations and cannot be used online.

• Food and beverage offers are typically available during regular business hours at participating locations.

Additional Resources

Nurses in Columbus can access additional resources and information about Nurses Week events through several channels:

• Hondros College of Nursing maintains a webpage with updates about Nurses Month activities. While the source document indicates the college will add more activities as Nurses Month continues, specific details about 2025 events were not provided.

• Healthcare facilities such as OhioHealth often host internal appreciation events for their nursing staff. Nurses may check with their employers for facility-specific celebrations.

• Local media outlets may provide additional information about Nurses Week promotions and events in the Columbus area.

Conclusion

National Nurses Week 2025 presents numerous opportunities for healthcare professionals in Columbus to receive appreciation through free food items, retail discounts, and special offers. From complimentary doughnuts at Krispy Kreme and free cookies at Insomnia Cookies to 25% off at Clothes Mentor and 10% discounts at Skechers and Nike, nurses have multiple ways to enjoy recognition for their service. To access these offers, nurses typically need to present professional identification, though verification methods vary by establishment. As Nurses Week continues to grow in recognition, both nationally and in Columbus, the number of participating businesses and variety of offers may expand in future years. Nurses are encouraged to check with their favorite local establishments for potential additional offers not listed in this guide.

Sources

1. Businesses offer discounts to honor nurses, teachers this week
2. Free Crocs for healthcare workers
3. National Nurses Week deals
4. Columbus nursing jobs
5. Teacher & Nurse Appreciation Week sale
6. Hondros College Nurses Month