As a student growing up in Jamaica, Ena Williams always knew she wanted to be a nurse. Her drive and dedication led her to become the first Black Chief Nursing Officer at Yale New Haven Hospital, one of the top facilities in the region. In honor of Black History Month, this inspirational nursing leader shares the advice and insights for new and future nurses that she’s learned in her decades-long leadership journey.

When the nursing workforce is more representative of the communities they care for, access to quality care and patient outcomes improve for all. But building a diverse workforce requires intentional inclusivity across the professional pipeline – including the nursing school environment. Two unique programs funded by Johnson & Johnson’s Our Race to Health Equity initiative (ORTHE) are proactively working to improve the experience of nurses and nursing students of color.

For nurses, more flexibility and better work/life balance are essential. Solutions like Mercy Works on Demand are meeting nurses where they are by offering a gig-based approach to scheduling. Not only is Mercy’s innovative approach addressing shortages and improving patient care, it is also bringing joy back to nursing and demonstrating that a new, flexible future is possible for the profession.

Building well-being and leadership skills in nursing isn’t a new concept, but surprisingly, it hasn’t traditionally been a formal component of nursing education. As a result, many nurses enter the profession unprepared for what’s ahead. Beginning this winter, a new educational curriculum from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing will pilot a competency-based approach to developing the next generation of nurses at 10 nursing colleges nationwide, focused on empowering students with the skills needed to prioritize self-care, healthy behaviors and well-being in the healthcare work environment.

Johnson & Johnson is proud to have supported nurse innovators and entrepreneurs through the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge Awards, which has provided grant funding for nurse-founded healthcare solutions and approaches. But the innovation journey doesn’t stop there. Here, three inspiring QuickFire Challenge awardees share what they’ve been up to since receiving their award, how their solutions have grown and expanded, and their advice for other nurses inspired to solve for healthcare’s biggest challenges.

As a hospital-based nurse, Kwamane Liddell saw how important it was for patients to have healthy meals tailored to their medical needs. Liddell created Nutrible, a technology platform that helps healthcare providers connect patients with healthy food aligned with their medical and cultural needs.

Nurse-led, multidisciplinary health system teams took center stage to pitch their solutions for redesigning a healthcare workplace where nurses and other health care professionals can thrive. Meet the 2022 NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon awardees.

Nurse-led, multidisciplinary health system teams took center stage to pitch their solutions for redesigning a healthcare workplace where nurses and other health care professionals can thrive. Meet the 2022 NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon awardees.

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Adrianna Nava, president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), shares how this organization is working to address the needs of current and future Hispanic nurses and the communities they represent.

A former bedside nurse, USCF Health's Pat Patton’s data-backed, listen-first, feedback-driven approach to creating a supportive environment where nurses stay and thrive is working—and presents a blueprint for health systems everywhere.

The future of nursing starts in the classroom. At Johnson & Johnson, we’re proud to amplify nurse-led programs and practices that find innovative ways to prepare, strengthen and empower the next generation of nurses. Below, read more about four best-in-class pilot programs investing in nursing education, funded by the American Nurses Foundation, so new nursing graduates are ready to practice.

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.

In June 2022, Johnson & Johnson was a proud presenting sponsor at Aspen Ideas: Health, an annual health and medicine conference bringing together visionaries, activists, clinicians, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers, innovators and executives for thought-provoking discussion around some of the most important topics facing the healthcare industry today.

How nurse representation, innovation and empowerment are improving access and outcomes.

How do you scale sexual and gender-affirming care for LGBTQIA+ patients? Ask nursing students. This Pride Month, Johnson & Johnson is proud to recognize the Eidos LGBT+ Health Initiative, a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to improve gender and sexual health equity.

Lynda Benton, Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives at Johnson & Johnson, reflects on the way forward for the nursing profession as we celebrate this year’s National Nurses Month.

Charlene Platon’s innovative well-being app provides a safe space and a community for nurses to heal

Two Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovation Fellows hope to address the problem of attrition by mentoring nursing students and bedside nurses alike with the power of innovation.

Two years ago, when COVID-19 patients began arriving in her hospital, Lisa Kilgard, BSN, RN-BC, raised her hand to move full-time to that unit, where she thought she could learn something new and take care of vulnerable members of her community.

As a kid, Julius Johnson, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, watched his father, an ICU nurse, run toward every crisis. Julius loved the adrenaline rush, but he realized that what he really loved was helping people, so he became a nurse.

Gina Brown, PhD, MSA, RN, FAAN, and Eileen Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN, are deans of two prestigious nursing schools in the U.S. Brown leads Howard University’s College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences and Sullivan-Marx leads New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Together, they aim to tackle health disparities through an innovative collaboration in the classroom.

Lack of access to primary and mental healthcare is an issue faced by many across the country, and a situation that is even more challenging for rural communities.

Jasmine Bhatti and Ayan Said of Navi Concierge Nurses are building a platform that connects both patients and nurses seeking better outcomes in at-home care

ICYMI: Get inspired! Check out what happened during the latest NurseHack4Health hackathon. From improving onboarding for new nurses to addressing burnout, the winning innovations from the weekend had one common denominator: creating a more sustainable workforce for nurses.

The COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses campaign, led by the American Nurses Association in partnership with 22 other leading nursing organizations and sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, has reached and supported nurses with culturally relevant, critical information and expert perspectives about the safety, efficacy and importance of vaccines.

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.

Johnson & Johnson, together with the American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) proudly announce the eighth Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge: Healthcare Transformation Through Nurse-Led Tech.

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.

Both before and during the pandemic, information has been vital—to identify best practices for taking care of patients, pinpoint resource needs, predict and plan, and stay nimble during constant change. The nursing workforce has been key to this work, applying the innovative use of data and informatics to streamline systems and practices.

Shawna Butler, RN, MBA is a nurse economist, health tech catalyst, host of the SEE YOU NOW podcast, and above all—a relentless advocate for nurses everywhere. We spoke with Shawna about her career path, how she leverages her nursing expertise in a wide range of roles, and why she is so enthusiastic about the SEE YOU NOW podcast.

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.

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.

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 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.

Johnson & Johnson, together with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Association of Public Health Nurses proudly announce the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge: Improving Access to Care. This challenge looks to nurses to create potential solutions that aim to improve quality and access to equitable care and ultimately help prevent, intercept or treat disease.

Johnson & Johnson, together with the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, are thrilled to announce the Awardees of the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge on Mental Health: nurse Entrepreneur Chris Recinos and Nurse Disrupted co-founders Bre Loughlin and Tracy Zvenyach.

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.

Amid a global pandemic, nurses applied ingenuity, innovation and community connections to unlock greater potential for improved human health. We see you. And we’re proud to share the stories of a range of nurse leaders who have disrupted healthcare to strengthen health systems and improve patient outcomes for communities everywhere. During National Nurses Week 2021, National Nurses Month and far beyond, we celebrate you and all nurses. #NurseDisruptors #NursesWeek #YON2021

New focus areas. An inspiring keynote speaker. Worldwide collaboration. Our upcoming NurseHack4Health is gearing up to be our most exciting and rewarding experience yet! Hear from NurseHack4Health organizers and participants on what they are most looking forward to at our next virtual hackathon.

Most people don’t think about catheters—until they need to live with one. Brian Mohika, RN, BSN, is a nurse inventor and entrepreneur on a mission to inspire others with his innovative medical underwear that’s helping to improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients who need catheters.

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!

In the year since WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, nurses have problem-solved and led transformational health system change from within to respond to the crisis. Five nurses from Advocate Aurora Health share how they used technology, collaboration and expertise to lead change with lasting impact.

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.

In the early stages of COVID-19 when PPE was scarce, University Health CNE Tommye Austin sprang into action to protect her front line colleagues—creating a mask with surgical draping and filters. Almost a year later, Tommye’s innovation success is helping to inspire nurse innovation at her health system and beyond.

Together with AONL and SONSIEL, we’re thrilled to announce the Awardees of the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge in COVID-19 Patient Care: Jennifer Stinson, nurse scientist from The Hospital for Sick Children, and Kathleen Malouf, pediatric nurse at Monmouth Medical Center.

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.

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.

In the Year of the Nurse and amid COVID-19, nurses’ understanding of patient care issues and their innovative, problem-solving mindset has been instrumental in improving care and outcomes. Learn how the NurseHack4Health virtual hackathon provided nurses with a platform to bring new ideas forward.

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.

Are you looking to perfect your hackathon pitch for your innovative idea? Ahead of the NurseHack4Health: Pandemic Management—Improving Education and Communication virtual hackathon, we’ve gathered best practices and tips from nurse innovators and created a quick guide to crafting a memorable pitch!

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.

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.

As the host of the SEE YOU NOW podcast series, nurse economist and health tech specialist Shawna Butler is shining a light on impactful nurse-led solutions amid COVID-19, to support and empower today’s nurse innovators and leaders and create a broader community of collaboration.

Together with the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs & Leaders, Johnson & Johnson is inviting nurses worldwide to share their innovative ideas in the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge: COVID-19 Patient Care.

After taking first place at the 2019 SONSIEL Nurse Hackathon, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, the Nightvision Care team hasn’t stopped working to help ensure safer conditions for patients and night shift nurses. Learn how the nurse-led team has been turning their innovative idea into a start-up.

COVID-19 is taking a significant toll on the mental health of both adults and children. A student-led webinar series from The Ohio State University College of Nursing is providing children and teens with evidence-based tips to help improve their health and wellbeing amid this pandemic and beyond.

Recognizing the need for public awareness of how the healthcare industry is working to address COVID-19, Johnson & Johnson launched “The Road to a Vaccine,” a live educational program hosted weekly by journalist Lisa Ling. The series features key experts from health, research, science and beyond to explore the global effort to develop a vaccine against the disease.

Like the pioneering nurses who were on the frontlines of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, nurses on the frontlines of COVID-19 are overcoming challenges and driving new standards of care. Learn how the Rutgers University School of Nursing is inspiring nurse leaders of tomorrow with lessons from the nurses of Ward 5B.

On May 15-17, 2020, Johnson & Johnson proudly co-sponsored the NurseHack4Health: COVID-19 Virtual Hackathon. Together with SONSIEL, Microsoft and dev up, we convened over 500 nurses, other healthcare professionals and tech enthusiasts to help solve COVID-19 health challenges with technological solutions.

Together with the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS, we’re thrilled to announce the two awardees of the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge in Oncology: Micah Skeens from Nationwide Children's Hospital and Janet Van Cleave from New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing.