In January 2019, when the Director-General of the World Health Organization proposed making 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, there was little indication that with or without the designation, 2020 would prove to be a landmark year for nurses around the world.
At Johnson & Johnson, we know and believe that given nurses’ proximity to patients, their unique vantage point has proven time and again to be one of the greatest sources of clinical innovation—and the global nurse response to the far-reaching novel coronavirus has been no exception. As the current global health crisis raises new healthcare challenges, nurses are rapidly innovating to meet the demands of patient care during this unprecedented time.
As part of our overall commitment to supporting front-line health workers amid COVID-19, our sustained focus on advocating for, elevating and empowering nurses as innovative leaders in health care has never been more critical than it is today. We’re proud to support the current needs of nurses and help power-up nurse-led innovation and leadership on the frontline through our initiatives, platforms and programs.
Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses
Johnson & Johnson and the TYLENOL®, NEUTROGENA®, AVEENO® and JOHNSON’S® BABY brands are proud to have supported the launch of the American Nurses Foundation’s Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses with a $1.9M commitment. The fund provided financial aid, mental health support, training and advocacy related to COVID-19.
Johnson & Johnson Center for Health Worker Innovation
In March 2020, the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation committed $50 million to support and supply frontline health workers—from meals to protective equipment, extra training to mental health support. This commitment expands upon a $250 million multi-year commitment made earlier in the year to support those on the frontlines guided by the Johnson & Johnson Center for Health Worker Innovation.
SEE YOU NOW podcast series
Brought to you by Johnson & Johnson and the American Nurses Association (ANA), SEE YOU NOW shines a light on the nurses addressing today’s most challenging healthcare problems through innovation. Our recently concluded, 10-episode miniseries entitled COVID-19 The Nurse Response brought to life the incredible stories of nurses on the frontline of COVID care. See why this podcast series has garnered over 250,000 listeners and a five-star rating since its launch in January, catch up on previously broadcast episodes, listen to our new season, and follow the social conversation via the #SeeYouNow hashtag.
NurseHack4Health: COVID-19 virtual hackathon
During National Nurses Month in May 2020, in partnership with Microsoft, Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs & Leaders (SONSIEL) and dev up, we launched the first-ever Johnson & Johnson virtual hackathon, NurseHack4Health. The virtual hackathon convened over 500 nurses, healthcare professionals and tech enthusiasts to help solve COVID-19 healthcare challenges with technological solutions, resulting in a global conversation spanning six continents.
We’re excited to announce that our second virtual hackathon event, NurseHack4Health: Pandemic Management: Education and Communication, is scheduled for November 13-15 of this year. We know that amid this current pandemic, information has been rapidly changing, and gaining access to reliable public health education has been challenging – for schools, health systems, families, long-term care facilities and under-served communities. To address this challenge, participants will explore how technology can be leveraged to create better outcomes for all in the most pressing areas: getting students back in the classroom safely; the importance of vaccine education; breaking down racial disparities and social inequities and more. Registration opens in September on the NurseHack4Health website. Check back then for more information on the event and how to register. There is no registration or participation fee, and we encourage individuals and/or teams to join us.
Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovator Spotlight
- Johnson & Johnson Notes on Nursing: We continue to share uplifting, authentic and inspirational stories from nurses on the frontlines with our monthly email newsletter, which includes articles on nurse-led innovation responding to the pandemic and updates on J&J Nurse Innovation programs. Read some of our recent articles on nursing.jnj.com.
- Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovator Series: We are spotlighting nurse innovators across all @JNJNursing channels and have launched a series of shareable social assets featuring nurse innovators on the frontlines of COVID-19. Follow @JNJNursing on Facebook and Twitter to learn more.
Throughout the Year of the Nurse and beyond we will never stop championing the nurse innovators and leaders of today and tomorrow.