ABSN student attends national event to explore nursing innovations

Jessica Rohde, an accelerated nursing student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the UNC School of Nursing, recently participated in the NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon, a collaborative event focused on nursing innovation in clinical settings.

The NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon, organized by Johnson & Johnson, SONSIEL (Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, and Leaders), and Microsoft, and sponsored by ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation, offers nurse-led health systems a platform to present innovative solutions aimed at fostering a thriving workforce and improving work environments. Participants can compete for grant funding of up to $150,000 to implement their ideas.

One pitch that stood out to Rohde came from the James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Their proposal focused on creating “de-escalation carts” for Emergency Departments. These carts would provide resources such as aromatherapy, snacks, and earplugs to help reduce patient stress and de-escalate potential conflicts. The intervention also included an app offering hospital FAQs, meditation tools, music, patient education, and options to request de-escalation resources.

“It is inspiring to see so many people working toward better patient outcomes and improved working conditions,” Rohde said. “As a future nurse, it makes me optimistic for my future patients, and I hope to one day lead the way in finding the next great innovation.”

The event also highlighted the potential of AI tools in nursing, such as systems to predict pressure ulcers, voice-activated patient charting, and tools to detect peripheral I.V. line failure without additional equipment. These advancements emphasize the growing role of artificial intelligence in enhancing patient safety, efficiency, and outcomes.

For more information about the NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon, visit here.

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