Tackling challenges and burnout with ‘FuN’
Interdisciplinary FuN Bootcamp addresses nursing challenges at UND’s BioInnovation Zone
In a collaborative effort to tackle nursing challenges and burnout, the Future of Nursing (FuN) Bootcamp took place from August 7th to 11th at the University of North Dakota’s BioInnovation Zone (BiZ) in Columbia Hall. This event brought together students and faculty members from three universities to brainstorm, innovate, and develop solutions that hold the potential to reshape the nursing landscape.
Representatives from the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Israel, the University of Arizona, and the University of North Dakota Biomedical Engineering Program converged for a week of intensive collaboration. Their collective effort yielded five projects designed to address five crucial nursing challenges.
As part of the bootcamp’s immersive experience, participants engaged in a field visit to Edgewood Assisted Living in Grand Forks, ND. The team had the opportunity to converse with managers and nurses, gaining valuable insights into the real-world complexities of nursing environments.
This interdisciplinary and international initiative was made possible through sponsorship from the Shatz Family Foundation via the Center to Stream Healthcare in Place (C2SHIP), an NSF I/UCRC recently joined by UND.
The event’s hosts and technical leaders from UND included Drs. Dan Ewert, Ryan Striker, Pantea Tavakolian, and Kouhyar Tavakolian. The University of Arizona’s delegation, led by Drs. Janet Roveda and Shu Fen Wung, brought valuable nursing expertise to the table. The Bezalel team, led by Eyal Fried and Dr. Tal Hasdai-Rippa, facilitated and infused the workshop with a design experience curriculum as offered at 212 Innovation Lab at Bezalel.
UND’s College of Engineering and Mines played a vital role in this collaborative endeavor, thanks to its visionary BioInnovation Zone. Dedicated to fostering innovation and industry interaction, the BiZ functions as a hub for cutting-edge research and development. This event further underscores UND’s prominence in the field of biomedical engineering.
The FuN Bootcamp’s success underscores the significance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing complex healthcare challenges. As the participants’ innovations take root and evolve, they hold the potential to shape the future of nursing, fostering improved patient care and alleviating burnout within the nursing profession.
Written by Paige Prekker // UND College of Engineering & Mines
