Bedside Brain Breaks: How Stepping Back into Education Can Step Healthcare Forward

Historically nurses have been drivers of innovation, from Florence Nightingale's sanitation movement in the 1850's to Anita Dorr creation of the code cart. This article explores the ingenuity of nursing and emphasizes the importance of education and professional development of bedside nurses. Amid the demands of increasing patient acuity and healthcare challenges, equipping bedside nurses with specialized education can yield improved patient outcomes alongside bedside nurse retention. The pioneering Nursing Research Fellowship in Robotics and Innovation at a local Delaware hospital is leading the way for nurses to engage in research, acquire new skills and become voices of change on their units. This fellowship demonstrates how a structured investment in nurses fosters curiosity and innovation, by offering nurses the tools, time, and support to ask "why not" and unlock solutions to today's healthcare challenges.