Photo by Nino Liverani on Unsplash

Nurses are like the front line combatants of medical practice. Closer to the patient than any engineering lab could ever be, caregivers – often underestimated for their contribution to the health care industry – are uniquely positioned to spot sub-par solutions as well as break-through technology.

To leverage this, MakerNurse and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have launched a program that allows nurses to build innovative tools when they are not busy fiddling with perfusion.

Custom-made health hardware

To build prototypes and test out their ideas, the makerspace at UTMB provides nurses with direct access to resources and expertise. The tech savvy caregivers are coming up with all kinds of inventions, from simple things like tactile call buttons using tongue depressors and silk or cough pillows made out of hospital blankets wrapped in medical tape, to more sophisticated solutions involving sensors and motors.  So, what is the makerspace stocked with? From the press release:

• adhesives and fasteners (Velcro, zip ties, etc.)
• textiles and electronics, including sensors and microcontrollers
• traditional tools, such as pliers and sewing needles
• new-age tools, including 3D printers and laser cutters

Nurses are able to apply their ideas in spaces that have been specifically outfitted as workstations, each equipped to address a specific medical challenge, such as assistive technology, or fluid control. They even have a “selfie station” for bragging rights. How cool is that! Visit MakerNurse.org for the full story.