National Nurses Week, observed annually from May 6 to May 12, serves as a designated period for various brands and organizations to acknowledge the contributions of healthcare professionals. During this time, a variety of freebies, discounts, and promotional offers become available to nurses. While many of these initiatives are centered in the United States, several brands extend their participation to Canada, offering specific benefits to Canadian nurses. This guide outlines the verified freebies and discounts available to nurses in Canada, drawing from recent promotional data.
Food and Beverage Offers
Several food and beverage brands have historically participated in Nurses Week by offering complimentary meals and snacks to healthcare workers. DoorDash has engaged in partnerships with hospitals in both the U.S. and Canada to provide access to 60 days of free Corporate DashPass for nurses, doctors, and hospital employees. This program includes $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees from participating restaurants. Interested participants are required to sign up using a work email address, after which a representative will follow up.
Tim Hortons has offered promotions specifically for Canadian nurses. During previous Nurses Week celebrations, participating locations provided nurses with a Buy One Doughnut Get One Free offer, or a Buy 12 Doughnuts, Get 6 Free deal.
Clothing, Uniforms, and Retail Discounts
For nurses seeking professional attire, Uniform Advantage offers discounted rates on medical scrubs, casual clothing, and footwear for Canadian nurses. Group discounts are also available for bulk orders. Free shipping is available for orders of $125 and above.
Grand & Toy provides savings for members of the Canadian Nurses Association, who can save 10-20% on the regular price of office supplies. Orders above $50 are also qualified for free shipping on the next business day.
KIOTI offers a discount for Canadian nurses and other front-line health workers, allowing them to save up to $2000 when they purchase a new tractor, ZTR, or UTV. This offer was available until May 31, 2022.
Perkopolis provides exclusive discounts on shopping, entertainment, travel, and hotels to nurses who register with the Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (ARNM).
Travel and Transportation Discounts
MSC Cruises offers an extra 10% off fares to Canadian nurses and other healthcare workers. To access this discount, individuals should call MSC customer support or visit a local travel agency and provide proof of employment.
Lake Louise Ski Resort offers a $109 discount on lift tickets for Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses. To request the Emergency Services ticket, individuals can call (403) 522-3555 or email [email protected].
Lord Elgin Hotel offers discounted rates on select rooms to registered nurses who are members of the Canadian Nurses Association.
Health and Fitness Discounts
Peloton has introduced special pricing for the Peloton App One in the US, exclusively for students, educators, healthcare workers, first responders, and military personnel. The availability of this offer to Canadian nurses is not specified in the provided data.
Education and Professional Development
Nurse.com provides a wide range of free continuing education (CE) courses across various clinical and professional development topics, designed to meet nursing continuing education contact hour requirements. These free CEUs, approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), are accessible to nurses nationwide in all 50 states. The courses aim to help nurses fulfil state-specific CE contact hour needs efficiently.
The Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO) offers free access to live and archived webinars (valued at $35) to nurses who register for membership. CANO members also receive a free Cancer Care Pocket Guide and free membership to the Sosido online sharing platform.
The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) provides discounts on education, insurance, and other services to nurses and nursing students. RNAO members receive free access to the Registered Nurse Journal as well as free attendance at webinars, consultations, and meetings. Registration is free for nurses who completed their undergraduate program in the past 12 months.
The Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (ARNM) offers exclusive member discounts to partner stores and businesses. Membership is open to registered nurses, nursing students, nurse practitioners, associate RPNs or LPNs, and non-practicing nurses.
The Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (RPNAO) offers special benefits and discounts to registered nurses, associate nurses, nursing students, and non-practicing nurses. Members can also access free resources on self-care, continuing education, student learning, and career-building.
The Canadian Orthopaedic Nurses Association (CONA) offers discounts on CONA national and local events to practicing, retired, associate, and student nurses.
Financial and Insurance Discounts
National Bank of Canada offers exclusive benefits and no monthly fees to nurses and nurse practitioners who enroll in an account.
Armour Insurance offers a 15% discount on home and car insurance through the Alberta Nurses Group Home and Auto Insurance Program.
Other Member Benefits
The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) provides members with extra savings at select banks, retail stores, car rentals, and travel agencies that are partnered with CNA.
Local and On-Site Freebies
For nurses seeking free items beyond structured discount programmes, local opportunities often arise during Nurses Week. Hospitals may hand out swag bags that include branded gear like water bottles, scrubs, compression socks, or stethoscope accessories—items that nurses can actually use in their day-to-day work. Some facilities even partner with local businesses to provide gift cards, fitness passes, or exclusive discounts for nurses, making these gifts feel even more personal.
Other unexpected freebies for Nurses Week can include spa treatments (free massages, facials, and pampering from local spas, health centres, and wellness clubs), fitness memberships (free gym passes or memberships from fitness centres, local gyms, and yoga studios), emergency kits (first aid kits, disaster preparedness packs from community organisations and health centres), wellness checks (free health assessments and checkups from hospitals and healthcare clinics), and fitness wearables (free or discounted fitness trackers from health-related brands, hospitals, and wellness groups).
To find these local freebies, nurses can check their hospital’s intranet or community Facebook groups in early May. Often, a quick visit to the front desk or HR office during Nurses Week is enough to snag a special gift.
Online Freebie Deals
For nurses unable to make it to in-store deals during Nurses Week or who prefer the convenience of digital offers, several online freebies are available. While the specific offers for 2025 are listed as "TBA" (to be announced) in the provided data, a comparison of typical offers from leading brands includes:
- Starbucks: Free tall hot or iced coffee, claimed in-store with ID, typically valid May 6–12.
- Dunkin’ Donuts: Free donut with drink purchase, claimed in-store or via app, typically valid May 6–12.
- Chipotle: BOGO burrito offer, claimed via online registration, typically valid May 6–12.
- Crocs: Free shoe giveaway (limited), claimed via online drawing, typically in early May.
- CeraVe: Free skincare samples, claimed via online form submission, typically in May.
- Local Cafes: Free coffee or snack combos, claimed by showing a badge in-store, with validity varying by location.
- Hospitals: Gift bags, raffles, and food tents, claimed on-site at HR or break rooms, typically valid May 6–12.
It is important to note that the provided data does not confirm the availability of these specific brand offers for Canadian nurses in 2025. The information is presented as a typical comparison based on previous years' trends. Nurses are advised to verify current offers directly with brands.
Conclusion
Canadian nurses have access to a diverse range of freebies and discounts, particularly during the National Nurses Week period from May 6 to May 12. These benefits span multiple categories, including food and beverage, clothing and retail, travel, health and fitness, education, and financial services. Many of these offers are tied to membership in professional nursing associations such as the Canadian Nurses Association, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, the Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, and others. Additionally, local opportunities for freebies often arise directly from healthcare facilities and community partners. To maximise benefits, nurses should check with their professional associations, employer intranets, and local business pages in early May for the most current and verified offers.