Real Nurses Real Stories

At Johnson & Johnson, we will never stop advocating for, elevating and empowering nurses as innovative, critical leaders on the frontline. This National Nurses Month, and in the International Year of the Nurse, learn how we are working to support nurses on the frontlines of COVID-19.

Johnson & Johnson sees the threat of infectious disease as one of the most pressing, yet addressable, public health challenges. Over two million are infected with HIV each year — mothers, fathers, children, men and women, gay and straight, on every continent — and over one million die each year.

For years, many in healthcare have been focused on improving health equity and reducing disparities. However, despite these efforts, a new report finds little has changed in the last two decades. Now more than ever, we need new models of care, new policies and new ways of thinking about the healthcare workforce to end health and healthcare inequities.

When health systems tap into the true potential of nurses, the outcomes are actionable, enduring drivers of healthcare transformation. In new research, Johnson & Johnson, American Nurses Association and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership set out to quantify critical learnings and promising nursing practices uncovered during the pandemic, and below, four exemplar nurse leaders share real, replicable examples of barrier-breaking nurse-led innovation.

Johnson & Johnson has proudly championed the nursing profession for over 125 years because we know that for healthcare to work, it takes nurses. This National Nurses Month, we celebrate the innovation, expertise and tremendous impact of more than 4 million nurses across the U.S. Below, meet four inspiring nurses dedicated to transforming the health of their patients and communities, underscoring the innovation and leadership of the nursing profession.

Through an action network created by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement and Johnson & Johnson Foundation, with the support of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, five nurse-led teams piloted acute care delivery solutions to support and empower a thriving nursing workforce. Across three phases and 22 months, here’s what they found – and how health systems nationwide can implement their learnings.

Nurses are well-positioned to create transformative solutions for healthcare delivery, especially leveraging technology to care for patients more effectively and efficiently. Nurses Kelly Ayala and Shannon Hattenhauer are solving care gaps through Streamline Flow, a new and innovative solution that simplifies healthcare workflows and helps patients stay on their care plan.

Johnson & Johnson was a proud presenting sponsor at Aspen Ideas: Health. In “Be Advised: Addressing Health Workforce Moral Distress,” a panel of nursing and healthcare experts confronted the challenges and highlighted the path forward to solve the healthcare worker shortage and ensure safe, quality healthcare for everyone.

In celebration and as a call to action related to the World Health Organization’s designation of 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we asked 14 nurse leaders and innovators across the US what the Year of the Nurse means to them today, and to the future of nursing.

Ten nurse-led multidisciplinary health system teams from around the world were selected as finalists for the NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon, with the chance to be awarded up to $150,000 in grant funding to bring solutions for a thriving workforce and healthy work environment to life. Meet the finalist teams below!

The U.S. faces a substantial primary care shortage. Nurse practitioner-led clinics are well positioned to fill these gaps, but operating a healthcare enterprise comes with its own challenges. Meet the NP working to expand care access by providing the resources and economies of scale to other nurse-led clinics.

In an inspiring display of nursing innovation, the nurse-led teams from the Ghanaian-Diaspora Nursing Alliance and Seattle Children’s Hospital have together been awarded a combined $185,500 in grant funding through the third annual NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon. Meet the two teams here.

The largest health system in the Carolinas has introduced a Well-Being Coaching Initiative that is transforming nurse well-being by reducing burnout and turnover by fostering self-leadership. This program trains nurses to coach both themselves and their peers, creating a ripple effect of support across the organization. With impressive results, Atrium is building a long-term culture of well-being by empowering its nursing staff.

Is perioperative nursing for you? Perioperative or operating room (OR) nurses provide patient-focused care in a variety of settings and specialties, with ample opportunities for professional growth. Get the scoop on this fast-paced, team-based, and fulfilling specialty, and find out how health systems and nursing schools are working to strengthen the pipeline of new nurses entering this critical specialty.

A new resource from the Duke University School of Nursing is empowering nurses to make artificial intelligence (AI) an ally in their nursing practice. Nurse and Associate Professor Michael Cary, PhD, RN, FAAN emphasizes the importance of training and educating nurses for practice in the era of AI and how to use it to best benefit patients.

What do a nurse, a handyman, and an occupational therapist have in common? Each plays an integral role in providing in-home health services to older adults through the Community Aging in Place — Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) intervention. This multidisciplinary team approach aims to equip low-income older adults to live more comfortably and safely in their homes by letting patients set their own functional goals, like taking a bath or walking to church, while also improving their living environment though renovations like installing hand rails or lowering shelves.

Throughout history, nurses have played an outsized role in interacting with patients, with critical roles in prevention, education, treatment and recovery. In celebration of International Women's Day and Women’s History Month, meet nurses whose innovative approaches to patient care have profoundly changed human health.

Across the country, registered nurses (RNs) play a critical role in the medical preparedness and response to natural disasters of all kinds, working to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the at-risk public. Nurses are uniquely qualified to manage emergency situations — which can come at a cost to themselves and their families.

Nursing informatics (NI), as defined by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), is a “specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information management and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge and wisdom in nursing practice.” Nursing informaticists combine nursing knowledge with information technologies to develop more efficient processes, advance healthcare and provide exceptional patient care.

From inventing a medical grade protective mask to forming an interdisciplinary prone team; developing a virtual rounding tool to creating color-coded signs to improve communication. Johnson & Johnson was excited to speak with ten U.S. nurses who have developed innovative solutions in response to COVID-19.

Data and information gathering is vital to healthcare outcomes and quality – from identifying best practices for taking care of patients to predicting and planning resource needs and staying nimble during constant change. The role of nurses in technology and informatics is more critical than ever as AI is poised to streamline systems and practices.

Telemedicine is here to stay. According to an article published in the American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC) earlier this year, telemedicine is changing the way patient care is provided in a growing number of intensive care units across the country.

These stories are just a small snapshot of the many ways in which nurses are innovating and leading to improve care delivery in communities. Johnson & Johnson is committed to advocating for, elevating and empowering nurses as they transform healthcare and change human health for the better.

Are you drawn to a nursing career, but want to avoid working in a hospital setting? Visiting nurses meet patients where they are, by providing care for them in their homes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, home healthcare is one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 5 percent for 2014–2024, which translates to approximately 760,400 new jobs.

Did you know that January is National Mentoring Month? By preparing young adults for college and careers, mentoring helps develop the future talent pipeline for skilled professions like nursing. Mentors are especially important for students from demographics that are underrepresented in the workforce.

Nurses have a long history of supporting disaster relief efforts through the American Red Cross. In the past six weeks, the Red Cross has launched a wide-ranging relief effort to help people devastated by three historic, back-to-back hurricanes—Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Rebecca S. Koszalinski, PhD, RN, CRRN, CMSRN, was inspired to become a nurse after experiencing a nurse’s care during her own health journey.

Improving the health of women can not only save lives, it can contribute to the overall health and economy of a nation. Nurses can help communities improve women’s health by providing education, healthcare services, health supplies and increased awareness of key issues.

As AI-based technologies help to solve complex problems, it’s essential that systems emphasize the importance of collaboration between nurses and AI developers to ensure care is delivered compassionately, equitably, and safely.

Interprofessional collaboration is the practice of approaching patient care from a team-based perspective, with a team comprised of multiple health workers with varying professional backgrounds. By implementing interprofessional collaboration into healthcare environments, multiple disciplines can work more effectively as a team to help improve patient outcomes and better the workplace.

Nurses serve as both the backbone of the healthcare industry and on the front lines of developing health solutions. The day-to-day reality of their job has changed in dramatic ways over the past ten years.

Nurses of color have long-shaped the nursing profession and transformed healthcare, but their stories are underrepresented in the broader nursing narrative. A new nurse-led project, “Nurses You Should Know,” is using storytelling to help close the representation gap by amplifying their contributions.

From improving mental health care to making it easier for nurses to develop their innovative ideas, the 12 Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovation Fellows have been busy building their networks, and applying their insights, experiences and learnings from the Fellowship to individual projects that spotlight the power and potential of nurse-led innovation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has added incredible strain on health systems and organizations who aid our most vulnerable populations. In honor of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, meet five nurses who are continuing to go above and beyond to help improve access to care in local communities.

For more than 25 years, Johnson & Johnson has partnered with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) to eliminate mother-to-child-transmission of HIV in India and seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nurses are more likely to come in contact with human trafficking victims during the time of their exploitation than any other profession[1], but very few are identified by staff and helped to find safety. Nurse innovator Danielle Jordan Bastien, APRN, DNP, FNP-BC, was determined to help those potential victims who might be in danger by developing a screening protocol that helps healthcare workers identify signs of abuse.

As the healthcare industry becomes more focused on innovation as a pathway to improving patient outcomes, nurses are stepping up as leaders and innovators, turning their frontline experience into creative solutions to improve patient care. Across her various positions at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), Marion Leary, RN, MSN, MPH, FAHA, is focused on researching ways that nurse-led initiatives can improve healthcare now and in the future.

For years, the best practice for protecting a certain type of birth defect called an omphalocele before surgery was to dry it out, which shrinks the surface area of the exposed organs, but requires a lengthy hospital stay. Enter Roxana Reyna, MSN, RNC-NIC, WCC, CWOCN, FNP-C, a nurse with 20 years experience as a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

While working for Mercy Health Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids, Mich., Lauran Hardin, MSN, RN-BC, CNL, met one patient whose complex social issues and challenging life circumstances led to his frequent visits to the emergency room — not because he was injured or sick, but because he needed somewhere to go to feel safe. She realized that there is much more complexity to every patient than just their medical conditions, and healthcare providers can make a difference for these vulnerable people.

Taura Barr, RN, PhD, FAHA, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at Valtari Bio Inc. is developing a new bedside diagnostic tool to help triage suspected stroke patients in the emergency room setting.

Though some forms of CHD do not result in health problems later in life, about 25 percent of infants with CCHD have a critical CHD, which can lead to negative outcomes if not diagnosed soon after birth.

Significant healthcare innovations are often developed in response to issues encountered by providers, including nurses. When it became evident there was a way to provide more efficient care to some of the smallest, most fragile patients – babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) – Erin Hoch, RN, BSN, was determined to bring her innovative idea to life. Working at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in Loma Linda, Calif., Erin’s idea has helped to improve the feeding process for these newborn patients.

Many school nurses were already overwhelmed, but as districts across the country return to school amid COVID-19, they are facing the profound challenge of ensuring both student and staff safety. Six school nurses share their thoughts on the pandemic and how they’re innovating to adapt.

We are excited to share our latest innovation resource, the Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovation 101 Hub, an online destination exploring nurse innovation, providing key resources and celebrating the legacy of nurse innovators who have improved patient care and strengthened health systems.

Johnson & Johnson, SONSIEL, Microsoft and dev up have teamed up again to host “NurseHack4Health: Improving Access to Care,” a free, virtual hackathon, May 14 - 16, inviting nurses and other innovators to solve for better quality, sustainable and equitable access to healthcare. Register today!

Nurses are facing unprecedented challenges in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We spoke to Hiyam Nadel, RN, MBA, CCG, Director of the Center for Innovations in Care Delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital, to hear how her team is working to support and recognize nurses on the frontlines.

Amid a global pandemic, when the world needed their leadership in healthcare more than ever, nurses answered the call. Johnson & Johnson is celebrating National Nurses Month 2021 by sharing the stories of 15 nurse healthcare disruptors, just some of the many nurses who led the way through COVID-19.

A crucial takeaway from the Accelerating Nursing, Transforming Healthcare report was the mental health strain nurses experience and methods of reducing it. From trauma-informed group sessions to songwriting, check out the innovative strategies supporting nurses’ mental health and reducing stigmas.

As part of our broader pledge to support frontline health workers and help provide equitable health solutions for communities of color, Johnson & Johnson partnered with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the Association of Public Health Nurses (APHN) to launch the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge, focused on Improving Access to Care. Meet the Challenge awardees, Erin Athey and Christina Calamaro.

Shaken by the experience of witnessing a child nearly die from heat exhaustion after accidentally being left in a hot car, emergency room nurse Maria Striemer, RN, BA, channeled her insight to invent the Backseet Buddy, an app that provides parents with peace of mind that it won’t happen to them.

For nearly 30 years, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy and dentistry students and more have taken healthcare to their surrounding community, perhaps where it’s needed most. The Farmworker Family Health Program, launched by a nurse leader at Georgia State in 1993, and carried on by Emory University in 2001, provides various students an opportunity to offer basic care for the underserved migrant farmworkers of Colquitt, Cook, Brooks, and Tift counties in southwest, GA. Learn about its inception and how it grew to a nurse-led, community-focused effort.

VA nurse researcher Shannon Munro, PhD, APRN, BC, FNP, discovered an easy and inexpensive solution to reduce cases of hospital-acquired pneumonia in her hospital: encouraging patients to brush their teeth. Munro explains the science behind the nurse-led innovative program, HAPPEN.

At this year’s Aspen Ideas: Health Festival, Johnson & Johnson sponsored two sessions that invited healthcare innovators and changemakers from around the world to share their stories of why and how they’re shaping a world where everyone can thrive.

Johnson & Johnson and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association are proud to announce the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge on Mental Health, inviting nurses and nursing students to submit their ideas with the aim to improve mental health for patients and healthcare workers amid the pandemic and beyond.

Tatu Msangi learned she was HIV-positive while pregnant, but with the help of the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) and the work of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatrics AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), Tatu had access to the care she needed. Now, Tatu works as a nurse at the same hospital where she received care, counseling HIV-positive pregnant women and mothers.

The role of the nurse has evolved greatly over the past century, but nurses’ innovative and compassionate spirit has remained a constant. Meet Nurse Kevin Moore, BSN, RN, who serves in a unique role dedicated to patient advocacy, equity and improving the patient experience for the LGBTQIA+ community at NYU Langone Health in New York City.

Imagine if Florence Nightingale hadn’t worked to improve the standard of the sanitary practices used in hospitals, or if Sister Jean Ward never discovered that sunlight helped treat jaundice in newborns. Throughout history, nurses have been on the front lines of care, profoundly transforming health through the creation of new innovations that ultimately changed the standard of care to this day. By caring for the sick when others won’t, identifying smarter and better ways to heal, and developing life-saving methods, nurses are important facilitators of health across the globe. Still, many people don’t recognize the role nurses play in changing the trajectory of human health.

Providing respectful and competent care is a cornerstone of exceptional nursing. However, a patient’s perception of healthcare and healthcare providers’ abilities to provide comprehensive care can be impacted (positively or negatively) by a healthcare provider’s ability to take a patient’s own background and experiences into account. This is particularly true within Alaska Native (AN) and American Indian (AI) communities, as each culture maintains distinct traditions. When nurses in Alaska are able to relate to indigenous ways of living, knowing, and healing, they can establish a comfortable and trusting relationship with AN and AI patients.

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe that nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, and our critical partners on the front lines of care. Nurse-led innovation has resulted in important healthcare advancements throughout history – and Johnson & Johnson is committed to helping nurses continue addressing patient needs through resources and opportunities like the J&J Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge.

How has the first year of the SEE YOU NOW podcast series helped amplify nurse innovation? Oriana Beaudet, DNP, RN, PHN, Vice President of Nursing Innovation for the American Nurses Association, celebrates an inspiring and innovative year and shares her biggest takeaways from the series in a new featured article.