Inadequate access to healthcare or health insurance continues to plague millions around the world every day. This limited access can increase the risk of poor health outcomes, which puts additional strain on our health systems down the road, and increases mortality. Coupling inadequate access to care with racial and social injustices and inequities that plague our communities has led health associations, like the American Nurses Association, to declare racism an urgent public health crisis. Now more than ever, our health system demands novel solutions and care models that can help solve for systemic disparities across our nation.

As innovators on the front lines of healthcare, nurses have the power to profoundly change lives. An estimated 28 million nurses around the world—the equivalent of more than 59% of the healthcare workforce—are the backbone of health systems globally. With invaluable hands-on patient experience, resourcefulness and an innate innovative mindset, nurses have the potential to bring forth powerful ideas for improving patient outcomes and solving for fundamental issues in accessible, high-quality healthcare.

As part of our broader pledge to help support frontline healthcare workers and help provide equitable health solutions for communities of color, Johnson & Johnson is proud to further our 120-year commitment to nurses, which focuses on advocating for, elevating and empowering nurses as innovative leaders who strengthen health systems and change human health for the better. We are excited to collaborate with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the Association of Public Health Nurses (APHN) for the seventh installment of the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge.

The nurse innovators with the best idea(s) will receive up to $100,000 in grant funding and access to mentoring from experts across the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies to help bring their ideas to life.

“Any nurse or nursing student globally can apply to this QuickFire Challenge, and we also hope that teams who are participating in the NurseHack4Health virtual hackathon event May 14-16, which is also focused on improving access to care will be interested in applying too,” said Lynda Benton, Senior Director, Corporate Equity, Johnson & Johnson. “We know without a doubt that nurses have the insights and ability to drive innovation and combat systemic issues in our health system, like access to care. Those who may be unsure of how to proceed or are otherwise looking for resources and funding to support their ideas can find exactly that in this QuickFire Challenge opportunity.”

We invite all nurses and nursing students worldwide to bring their experiences, ideas and insights to help create nurse-led potential solutions, protocols, technologies, devices and/or treatment approaches that can help improve access to care amid the current pandemic and beyond, including but not limited to the following focus areas:

• Vaccine Education and Delivery
• Medical Deserts
• New Models and Settings for Care
• Health Equity, Racial Disparities & Inclusion

"Nurses have a unique vantage point in the health care system, and they are able to develop deep connections with patients that can spark brilliant innovations," said American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) President Sophia L. Thomas, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP. "The Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFirec Challenge aims to help nurses take their ideas for improving access to care from ideation to reality. During this time, when creativity and resourcefulness are needed more than ever, AANP is thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with Johnson & Johnson and support these nurse-led endeavors."
The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a spotlight on nurses and their impact like never before—the world is seeing nurses in action as innovative leaders who possess the resiliency and resourcefulness to navigate health emergencies and provide support to patients and frontline health workers alike. Johnson & Johnson has the scale, resources and know-how to help move solutions forward. Put these two together and that changes everything.

“I am excited to see what ingenious, innovative potential solutions will come out of the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge on Improving Access to Care. Despite the large strides and rapid advancements happening in public health practice, there are still many challenges and areas that need improvement,” said Zenobia Harris, DNP, MPH, RNP, President of the Association of Public Health Nurses (APHN). “The compassion, creativity and selflessness embodied by nurses prime them to lead health system and community change and it is our responsibility—and privilege—to empower them to do so."

The Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge series aims to empower nurse-led innovation in healthcare. Nurses and nursing students worldwide are invited to share their potential solutions, protocols, technologies, devices and/or treatment approaches. In the Improving Access to Care QuickFire Challenge, the nurse innovator with the best idea(s) will receive up to $100,000 in grant funding, mentoring and coaching from experts across the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies and have access to the Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS ecosystem to help bring their ideas to life.

Applications will be evaluated on several factors by an independent panel, including potential impact on human health, the uniqueness and feasibility of the idea, thoroughness of the approach, and identification of key resources. Applications must be submitted by nurses or nursing students. The deadline to apply to the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge on Improving Access to Care is August 6, 2021 midnight PDT.

To learn more about the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge series and previous awardees and to apply to the current Challenge on Improving Access to Care, visit nursing.jnj.com.

The Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge series is part of the QuickFire Challenge platform, which was developed by Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS to attract and develop game-changing, early-stage innovation across the global therapeutics, consumer, health technologies and medical devices sectors.