Launching the 4th We Dare Challenge - Unleashing Student Innovation
For a limited time, from February 1, 2024, to February 16, 2024, the University of Michigan School of Nursing is thrilled to launch the 4th We Dare Challenge, an exclusive opportunity for donors to directly impact the student experience.
Donors who make a gift to the We Dare Challenge will experience the energy and excitement as four student projects vie for donor votes in a live-stream nursing student pitch competition. Immerse yourself in the pitches, interact with the students, ask questions, and cast your vote for the project that speaks to you.
The winning project will receive the donated funds to turn their innovative ideas into reality. Supporters will receive updates on the project's progress, witnessing firsthand the tangible impact of your We Dare Challenge gift.
Join the hundreds of nursing donors who have embraced the We Dare Challenge, empowering the next generation of nurses to grow into skilled problem-solvers and visionary leaders.
Want to know more about the initiatives that student groups are eager to tackle? Explore and learn about the four compelling, student-led projects competing for your support in the We Dare Challenge
Be a donor to the We Dare Challenge
We Dare Challenge Student Initiatives
Empowering Global Health Nursing Leaders
Global Health Immersion experiences are transformative and designed to enrich students’ clinical and scholarly experiences with a global perspective. These opportunities are open to all UMSN students, focusing on understanding how healthcare systems impact health outcomes in a global setting. A prominent challenge is limited funding, inhibiting learning experiences which are instrumental in shaping proficiency and readiness of nurses as future leaders in the global health landscape.
These global experiences equip students to emerge as highly prepared professionals, positioning them not only to contribute to global health initiatives but also to make substantial impact in the United States. This student project aims to address critical funding gaps within the School of Nursing for all UMSN students.
Be a donor to the We Dare Challenge to hear more about shaping future healthcare leaders with a comprehensive understanding of global health challenges and solutions.
InspireU: The Nursing Student Podcast Series
After a successful pilot, this project will scale-up the InspireU Podcast focusing on highlighting nursing innovation through interviews and case studies with nurse innovators. The nursing student-led podcast is designed to introduce core innovation topics into the nursing curriculum and could also be educational and inspirational for faculty, alumni, practicing and future nurses.
Prior topics have highlighted two nursing students' journey taking an innovative program to market and intellectual property and business collaborations. Future topics may include the design thinking process, commercialization, and scaling-up ideas. The goal of this project is to continue the exciting and informative interviews and elevate this podcast to a national platform using pre-existing streaming services such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Make a gift to the We Dare Challenge to learn more about the nursing student podcast series.
Nursing the Nurses to Optimize Student Health and Well-being
Going through nursing school is very stressful and can be an overwhelming experience. Navigating the demanding journey of nursing school involves a rigorous academic curriculum and involvement in complex, high-stress care scenarios, all while balancing personal independence and financial responsibilities. Developing coping strategies and skills is imperative for nursing students to thrive personally and professionally and to ensure students have the tools to support self-care in their future nursing profession.
The "Nursing the Nurses" project endeavors to (1) foster a sense of community and belonging, (2) equip students with coping mechanisms for stress management, and to(3) bolster academic success. Current program events have been well received and have garnered positive feedback, with students expressing an increase in morale and overall well-being. Unfortunately, financial costs have limited the number of events that can be offered.
This funding could allow us to overcome these limitations and expand our initiatives. We aspire to create additional avenues for supporting the health and well-being of nursing students and equipping the future generation of nurses with the resilience and skills needed to meet the challenges within healthcare.
Support the We Dare Challenge with a gift to get an inside look at a plan to “Nurse the Nurses”.
Advancing Health for All in West Willow, Ypsilanti
The West Willow neighborhood of Ypsilanti is a historically significant community originally developed as housing for factory workers at the Willow Run plant. Since its original development, the community has experienced significant disinvestment and has been structurally disadvantaged at the policy level. More than 25% of West Willow residents live below the poverty line. Across numerous health indicators, West Willow residents fare worse than Michiganders and their fellow Washtenaw County residents.
Since 2019, UMSN faculty and students have engaged in community health promotion activities in West Willow. This community engagement gained momentum in 2022 when the UMSN achieved funding to establish a health clinic in the West Willow neighborhood. Through an innovative three-way partnership between the UMSN, Packard Health, and the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, the UMSN opened a health clinic in West Willow in July 2023. Under the partnership, New Covenant provides the space to operate a clinic, Packard provides the clinical infrastructure, and the UMSN provides a faculty nurse practitioner and students to deliver healthcare services.
Since opening, the clinic has provided essential primary care services to community residents ranging in age from 21 days to 85 years old. It also provides learning opportunities for community health for UMSN students. By bringing healthcare to a community that has experienced decades of disinvestment, UMSN faculty and students are delivering on our mission of Health for All.
Become a supporter of the We Dare Challenge to learn more about our student-led plan to utilize project funding to help this vital neighborhood clinic in West Willow.
