Sometimes challenges get in the way of performing routine nursing tasks efficiently and safely. Throughout the course of history, nurses have invented some innovative tools to make their lives easier while improving patient outcomes.
During the pandemic, some nurses made headlines for their creative medical inventions that protected healthcare workers and patients.
From wearable LED lights to COVID-inspired face masks, nurses have come up with some pretty ingenious ideas. In this article, you can learn about 10 of the most recent ways nurses have impacted the delivery of healthcare services. We tick off the inspired creations and tell you how you can get your hands on them. Featured inventions include:
- Tubesies
- Lumify
- Together Mask™
- Cath Wear
- Portable Fall Injury Prevention Device
- N95 Mask Preserver
- The Doc in a Box
- Scrub Appeal
- Fruity Feet
- FemScope
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#1: Tubesies
Accessing a feeding tube port can be tricky on any patient, let alone a newborn or young child. That’s why neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse Cecilia Auth came up with a bodysuit designed to make the task more pleasant for the nurse and the child.
Each Tubesie consists of medical-grade Velcro, a waterproof flap, and a compartment for changing out and holding gauze. Tubesies are compatible with gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes), jejunostomy tubes (J-tubes), and PEG-tubes.
Why it matters
Premature babies often can’t breast or bottle feed and require therapeutic feeding methods. Other conditions may require young children to have feeding tubes and ports, making this product adaptable for any situation. It makes sure that children get the nutrition they need without further traumatizing them or their caregivers.
Cost
$20.99 to $90.99 depending on style/quantity
#2: Lumify
It’s hardly a secret that an overnight stay in the hospital guarantees interrupted sleep. Nurses and other healthcare team members must perform care tasks 24/7. Most of the time, that care requires light.
Fellow nursing students Anthony Scarpone-Lambert and Jennifferre Mancillas got tired of disrupting their patients’ sleep. The duo’s solution: uNight light by Lumifycare. The light helps them see but not be seen by resting patients.
Why it matters
Poor sleep is a frequent complaint of hospital patients. Interrupted sleep can delay the healing process. Using the uNight light can help patients sleep better without preventing nurses from doing their work.
Cost
$10 to $77 depending on style/quantity
#3: Together Mask™
Dealing with Personal Protective Equipment shortages led nurse innovator Lindsey Roddy to develop a patent-pending mask to protect patients and healthcare workers. Roddy and her husband, John, who is an ICU doctor, launched Roddy Medical, LLC, and got to work on designing and producing the mask.
Why it matters
SARS-CoV-2 doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals need access to PPE for the continued battle against COVID-19 and other infectious airborne diseases.
Cost
Prototype still in development
#4: CathWear
Having a catheter can be embarrassing for adults who want to continue to live active lifestyles. Concealing them without causing skin irritation or leg numbness is challenging. RN and entrepreneur Brian Mohika decided to flip the script on cath shame with his CathWear device.
Why it matters
CathWear makes wearing a permanent catheter more comfortable for patients. This reduces the risk of complications like skin irritation and infection from improper use. It also allows patients to wear a cath discreetly, which can help them enjoy life.
Cost
3 for $99 (some health insurance plans may cover the cost)
#5: Portable Fall-Injury Prevention Device
Nearly 36 million older adults fall each year. One out of every five falls causes an injury like broken bones. Barbara Wadsworth, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Main Line Health had a brilliant idea for preventing falls on-the-go.
She came up with a portable airbag/cushion-deployment device equipped with a sensor to detect when a patient is falling. Her invention immediately inflates to prevent injury.
Why it matters
It can be difficult to prevent falls. This device ensures that if your patient does take a tumble, they are less likely to get seriously injured.
Cost
Prototype still in development
#6: N95 Mask Preserver
Masks and other PPE became more than an added convenience during the pandemic. PPE shortages forced healthcare workers to find creative ways to preserve and reuse N95 masks. Emergency room nurse Timothy Aurelio got tired of seeing N95s crushed and soiled.
He used medical-grade plastic that included an antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-mold, and mildew additive. Washable and durable, it keeps masks safe when not in use.
Why it matters
PPE shortages never have to impact healthcare worker safety with this inexpensive protector available. Putting them in this case between uses helps them last longer and stay germ-free. N95s are able to be reused.
Cost
$15 each (bulk orders available)
#7: The Doc in a Box
High blood pressure affects 1 in every 3 adults in the U.S. To help Americans keep their hearts healthy, a family NP from Cleveland, OH, came up with an accurate – and easy – way to check blood pressure at home. Doc in a Box includes an innovative health monitoring toolkit designed for self-assessments.
Its inventor, Toi Worthy, caught her own high blood pressure while demonstrating to one of her patients how to take their BP at home. She knew if she could miss the signs of high BP, anyone could.
Why it matters
High blood pressure is called the silent killer for good reason. People often miss the subtle signs or attribute them to other things. Doc in a Box provides the tools to monitor high blood pressure, plus the educational materials on why it’s important to check it daily.
Cost
$159.99
#8: Scrub Appeal
Nurses work long hours. Comfortable scrubs and shoes are a must, but that doesn’t mean they should be boring. RN Stephanie White wanted to ensure nurses could express their individuality, so she created a line of uniform and medical apparel.
White and her husband, Tremaine, opened Scrub Appeal on Oct. 23, 2021. Customers can shop in-person or online.
Why it matters
Nurses spend a lot of time in their scrubs. They shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort for style. With Scrub Appeal, they can have the best of both worlds.
Cost
Varies
#9: Fruity Feet
Children living with chronic pain can fear working with physical therapists. Jennifer Stinson helped young patients confront their fears with the PR-VR program called Fruity Feet. It uses virtual reality games to engage children in a fun and relaxing way during physical therapy sessions.
Why it matters
Kids living with chronic pain need extra motivation to endure physical therapy that can be uncomfortable. Turning therapy into a VR game can encourage children to work through the pain of rehab to improve their quality of life.
Cost
Available only at the Hospital for Sick Kids (Toronto, Canada)
#10: FemScope
Marilyn Filter believed the healthcare field was failing women patients. Millions of women undergo vaginal exams each year, subjected to a 200-year-old device called the speculum. The device does its intended job, but it is a very uncomfortable process.
Filter decided enough was enough, and it was time to improve things. Her patent-pending FemScope has the potential to change the way women feel about annual screenings.
Why it matters
Reproductive health is important for women. Making annual exams less painful can encourage more women to schedule them. This helps catch potentially life-threatening conditions early.
Cost
Still in development
New inventions in the nursing field
Nurses have innovated changes to patient care and outcomes through some amazing inventions. Have you created something that makes your job easier as a nurse? We’d love to hear about it on our community forum!
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Sources
- “Clinicians innovate state of the art ‘Together Mask’ to help frontline workers.” wisn.com. Accessed March 30, 2022.
- “Facts About Hypertension.” cdc.org. Accessed March 31, 2022.
- “Keep on Your Feet – Preventing Older Adult Falls.” cdc.gov. Accessed March 30, 2022.
- “Local nurse invents N95 mask preserver.” turnto10.com. Accessed March 31, 2022.
- “Main Line Health is looking in-house for new inventions, and employees have not disappointed.” bizjournals.org. Accessed March 30, 2022.
- “Meet the Mom behind Tubesies.” tubesies.com. Accessed March 30, 2022.
- “New device promoting women’s health invented at UM-Flint.” news.umflint.ed. Accessed March 31, 2022.
- “Nurse opens store selling scrubs in Chesapeake during pandemic” pilotonline.com. Accessed March 31, 2022.
- “Nurse practitioner creates “Doc in a Box” after hypertension diagnosis.” spectrumnews1.com. Accessed March 31, 2022.
- “The Cathwear Journey”. cathwear.com. Accessed March 30, 2022.
- “University of Penn nursing student co-creates product to help frontline workers care for patients in the dark.” 6abc.com. Accessed March 30, 2022.
- “Virtual Reality in Pain Rehabilitation for Youth With Chronic Pain: Pilot Feasibility Study.” researchgate.net. Accessed March 31, 2022.
