Young coders designed apps to solve real-life challenges in the nursing industry as part of a weeklong ‘hackathon’ at the Code Academy hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. A team from Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nursing crafted a showcase of several case studies including:
- sleep and well-being for nurses,
- how to help patients comply with treatment for high blood pressure,
- hiring and retention strategies with a focus on boosting the number of male nurses, and
- how to stay on task amid competing demands.
The students worked in groups over the week to build their apps to present to a group of nurses who judged the concept, design, functionality and level of research that went into the project.
The collaboration is an example of how VUMC Nursing is partnering with educational organizations around Nashville to introduce the field of nursing to students, said Mamie Williams, PhD, MPH, MSN, APRN, senior director for Nurse Diversity and Inclusion at VUMC.
The Boys & Girls Clubs started Code Academy to increase youth interest in tech/digital careers and to help facilitate a platform to elevate youth voices.
“Code Academy is a great program for young people, and I am proud to have our youth put their minds and their voices to work as they come up with innovative solutions for the nursing industry,” said Melissa Smith, director of Virtual and Blended Learning at Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.
