A nurse’s guide to innovation and challenging the status quo

Shanyse Lingham, MSN, RN, CEN

Have you ever looked at a device or intervention and thought, “This is not practical?” That’s the kind of thinking that can make a real difference in health care innovation. The health care field is booming with opportunities for innovation, and as nurses, we possess a diverse skill set and perspective that can accelerate innovation, challenge the status quo of health care, and ultimately improve quality of life for our patients.

Advice

There are no barriers to entering innovation. You don’t need specialized knowledge, degrees, or skills. A great way to get started is to participate in events, workshops, and conferences that pique your interest. By listening to the latest research and newest technology, you can start thinking of ways to bring your ideas to the bedside, improve patient care, and network with like-minded people.

Despite my years of critical care nursing experience, military experience, and pursuing a DNP and MBA, I didn’t think I had the resources to be an innovator. But I learned that innovation only requires passion, curiosity, and teamwork. Innovative ideas come in various forms, and your unique experiences and skill set as a nurse already make you a valuable innovator or contributor in your own right.

Your thought process and passion for problem-solving are valuable assets. Seek out supportive environments where diverse independent thinking is encouraged and surround yourself with like-minded individuals who will uplift and inspire you.

My Innovation Journey

As a nurse, entrepreneur, and military leader, my journey has been marked by continuous learning, embracing failure as a steppingstone to success, and a deep-seated desire to improve patient care by transforming healthcare.

One of the key highlights of my journey was my groundbreaking doctoral project, which I presented at an international conference. The project focused on designing a standardized orientation for clinical resource nurses at Massachusetts General Hospital, including designing and implementing interactive learning modules.

My newly discovered entrepreneurial spirit has led me to found a startup through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology DHIVE, a program that focuses on health care entrepreneurship. This startup focuses on assessing postpartum depression and treatment responsiveness in a nonconventional way. The opportunity showcased my natural abilities in strategic planning, business development, networking, and project management, which were previously developed from being a nurse connecting with patients and families, as well as time management in the emergency department and intensive care units.

This experience inspired me to find other like-minded medical providers, which led me to attend the Society of Nurse Science Innovators Entrepreneurs and Leaders.

Problem Requiring Innovation

During my Psychiatric Mental Health DNP program, I became acutely aware of the lack of resources and support for women’s perinatal mental health. I dove deeper into this area and attended the Postpartum Support International conference, determined to enhance awareness and discover new approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Perinatal mood disorders are complex, and often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Solving these issues requires a collective effort. By embracing innovation, challenging the status quo, and bringing our unique perspectives to the table, we can make a significant impact on perinatal mood disorders.

Some Points to Consider:

• Perinatal mental health affects not only 1 in 5-7 women with postpartum depression but also 1 in 10 men. Furthermore, there is a lack of data and resources for the LGBTQ+ community concerning perinatal mood disorders.
• According to the CDC, mental health is the leading cause of pregnancy deaths, and it’s essential that we address these gaps in perinatal mental health care. What technology can we leverage to alter this statistic?
• The current subjective questionnaires used for assessing perinatal mood disorders often lead to misdiagnosis due to culture, language barriers, and stigma. We must question whether the current PPD screening questionnaires accurately assess the needs of each community. Also, considering the effectiveness of these PPD screening questionnaires, can we leverage technological advancements to bridge these gaps?
• The search for perinatal mood disorders biomarkers.
• How do we scale education/awareness regarding the relationship changes that occur during the postpartum stage and protective factors parents can implement? If so, what technology would you use?
• In 2017, untreated postpartum depression cost 14 billion dollars; these costs were related to unemployment and productivity loss. Additionally, data states that untreated postpartum depression has an impact on child development, also leading to increased costs.
• Can we leverage advancements in technology, artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence, holograms, virtual reality, wearable technology, facial emotion recognition, or an app with gamification among spouses to address these concerns? Are there medical devices that are already FDA-approved and being used for other specialties that can also be applied to advance precision psychiatry, specifically perinatal mood disorders?

Solving these complex issues requires a village of passionate individuals working together. Whether you’re just beginning your innovation journey or are well on your way, with an open mind, a creative spirit, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, there are no limits to what we can achieve!

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. Let’s revolutionize health care together!