Chippewa Valley Times

Dr. Charlotte Sortedahl, a professor of nursing at UW-Eau Claire, and Dr. Min DeGruson, director of the packaging program at UW-Stout, have been awarded a grant for their proposal titled “Driving Innovation and Value in Education Through Collaboration of Nursing and Packaging Students and Professionals: DRIVE Initiative.” This initiative is one of three finalists being considered by a review panel to receive additional funding of up to $400,000 over three years.

The collaboration between the two Chippewa Valley universities demonstrates the potential of interdisciplinary work, according to UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt. "This UW Innovation Grant highlights the outstanding work of our College of Nursing program," Schmidt stated. He emphasized that partnering with UW-Stout's packaging program can address common challenges for collective improvement.

The proposal builds on an existing partnership initiated in 2023, which brought together engineering and nursing students to enhance the packaging of sterilized medical devices. The project aims to improve patient safety, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency.

Sortedahl noted that the project will enhance undergraduate prelicensure nursing education by preparing students for healthcare careers through research collaboration with packaging students. "Students will learn how to solve real world problems through research and collaboration," she said.

Materials developed during this project will be used in a course for third-year UW-Eau Claire nursing students. These resources include sterilized medical packaging kits based on recommendations from field nurses.

DeGruson highlighted the success achieved through bridging differences between engineers' and nurses' mindsets. "We quickly discovered that hands-on experiences...are far more impactful than discussions alone," he explained.

He further mentioned that grants like this encourage institutional collaborations to tackle complex issues by leveraging unique expertise. "The project is a prime example of how UW institutions can combine resources and expertise," DeGruson added.

UW President Jay Rothman expressed optimism about the project's potential impact on patient outcomes both in Wisconsin and nationwide. "Ultimately, this work could generate better patient outcomes," Rothman remarked.