With 2024 almost to a close, we asked our members of the Nursing Institute of Healthcare Design to reflect on their favorite healthcare products, designs, and trends that will surely kickstart an aspirational New Year.

Attending HCD was a great professional and educational opportunity for me. Since there were few nurses that I knew previously that are interested in design, I was able to connect with and learn from others that share my interests. But what stands out in my mind was the friendly, accepting, kind nature of the NIHD membership.

This October, NIHD awarded Abbie Ochsner, MSN, BS, RN, LSSBB, Director, Oncology Infusion Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Leader in Healthcare Design!

Jen Correa, MBA, PMP, Sr. Project Manager, Strategic Space Planning & Transition Strategy @ Stanford Medicine Children’s Health shares three templates that are most helpful in enabling project continuity, favorable stakeholder & communication management and straightforward change management.

As the facility director of a pediatric hospital, I’ve come to appreciate the profound impact that collaboration between facility teams and nursing staff has on creating spaces that support patient care. In a pediatric setting, the stakes are even higher, as our designs must not only meet the needs of all staff but must also provide a comfortable, healing environment for children and their families.

This is quite a busy time for NIHD and our members. Planning and related activities ramp up to our attendance and participation in numerous industry related conferences that happen across the country in the Fall. I think we all know the numerous benefits of networking but what are some easy tips to help make your networking efforts worthwhile?

Last month, NIHD President Kris Krail had the privilege to participate in the Center for Healthcare Design all-day virtual workshop on “Drivers in Healthcare: Perspectives and Conversations Influencing a New Healthcare Landscape.” It was an offering that promised to share the latest thinking in what is driving the future of healthcare and to provide perspectives from a variety of professionals considered experts in the field. Here's a recap.