National Nurses Week: How it started, how nurses can get free Dunkin’ coffee, other deals

The Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Teacher Appreciation Week all fall within days of each other.

Don’t forget about National Nurses Week (May 6-12), which culminates on International Nurses Day, because Dunkin’ Donuts and other big chains certainly haven’t.

Nurses can score free Dunkin’ coffee and other deals during the week celebrating and recognizing their hard work. Here's how.

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How nurses can get free Dunkin’ Donuts coffee on May 6 to start National Nurses Week

Just like mothers and teachers, nurses have a demanding job and play a crucial part in our lives. For their hard work, they deserve notoriety and some pampering.

Dunkin’ is giving away one free medium hot or iced coffee on May 6 at participating locations, Today reports. Frozen, cold brew and nitro cold brew varieties are excluded from the deal, but nurses can add Donut Swirl or flavor shots to their free cup of Joe, and no other purchase is necessary, according to WSYR-TV.

Dunkin’ Donuts isn’t the only spot hardworking healthcare heroes can get great deals, though.

Where can nurses score other deals leading up to International Nurses Day on May 12?

After getting their free coffee at Dunkin’, nurses can find more great deals at other national chains.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Nurses can get 20% off their dine-in or carryout orders when showing valid ID from May 6-12, TODAY reports.

Chipotle

Chipotle will give away 100,000 free burrito gift cards during National Nurses Week, according to USA TODAY. Visit the restaurant’s promotional website to enter. Winners will be asked to verify their profession.

Insomnia Cookies

Insomnia Cookies is giving away a free classic cookie to nurses who visit in-store between May 6-12, per TODAY. And perhaps even sweeter than the cookie? There’s no purchase required.

The cookie chain, which has several locations in Ohio, is also running a separate giveaway through May 12 where five lucky nurses or teachers will take home a $250 cookie catering package.

McAlister’s Deli

With a valid ID, nurses can score a free tea (big sweet tea, unsweet tea, half-sweet and half-unsweet tea, or a cup of half-lemonade and half-tea varieties only; no flavor shots) at participating McAlister’s Deli locations, TODAY reports. There are 19 locations in Ohio, including five in Cincinnati.

Potbelly

Nurses can get a free cookie or regular-size fountain drink to pair with their toasty sandwich during National Nurses Week, according to TODAY. They just need to show an ID to receive the freebie.

Smoothie King

Rewards members — including nurses — can receive $2 off their order May 6-7 using the code THANKS2024. In a nod to the unlimited energy nurses seem to have when taking care of us, this offer can be used an unlimited number of times over the two days, per TODAY.

The drink chain has locations throughout Ohio, including seven in Columbus and five in Cincinnati.

When did National Nurses Week begin?

Nurses have been helping to keep us healthy for hundreds of years, but National Nurses Week is relatively new.

The recognition week, which always starts on May 6 and ends May 12 (Florence Nightingale’s birthday), started to gain traction when President Richard Nixon issued a proclamation in February 1974, according to the American Nurses Association.

In February 1982, the ANA board of directors formally acknowledged May 6 as National Nurses Day. President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation in March of that year declaring May 6 as a “National Recognition Day for Nurses.”

Yet it wasn’t until 1993 that the ANA board of directors set May 6-12 as the permanent dates to observe National Nurses Week starting in 1994.

When did International Nurses Day start?

It took several years for National Nurses Week to get off the ground. International Nurses Day came to fruition a little bit quicker.

According to the ANA, the International Council of Nurses codified May 12 as International Nurses Day in January 1974. The ICN had celebrated an International Nurses Day since 1965.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: National Nurses Week: How it started, how to get free Dunkin’, other deals