The Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) and Johnson & Johnson announced the launch of their collaborative program yesterday, the Johnson & Johnson TRU Heroes Cystic Fibrosis Nursing Program. This unprecedented program will be the first of its kind to help nurses specialize in cystic fibrosis education, with $1,000,000 in funding from Johnson & Johnson.
Currently there is no existing certification for nurses who want to specialize in treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), inspiring the TRU Heroes program which was developed to inspire recruiting, accrediting, and educating nurses about the challenging journey of working with patients with CF. TRU Heroes will provide core educational initiatives for nurses with an interest in cystic fibrosis treatment and care, as well as publicly recognize nurses already paving the way for better CF treatment, and provide national and local scholarships, CF seminars, educational grants, and nursing achievement awards.
Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of 30,000 children and adults in the US, and 70,000 people worldwide. It is caused by a defective gene and its protein product which produces unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. The pancreas is also obstructed by the mucus and can stop natural enzymes from breaking down and absorbing food in the body.
TRU Heroes was launched to celebrate and encourage nurses who Teach, Respect, and Understand (TRU) patients with CF who are in need of exemplary care. Program initiatives will include seminars led by patients with CF to educate nurses about the disease; scholarships for nurses receiving CF education, as well as scholarships to help people with CF pursue nursing careers; and an Outstanding Service Award which will recognize nurses making a profound impact on patients battling CF in the US.
Johnson & Johnson has been a large supporter of nurses since the company was founded 130 years ago. Their most notable recent project is their Campaign for Nursing’s Future which was launched in 2002 to address the widespread shortage of nursing professionals across the country. The $50 million national initiative partners with Penn Nursing and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Future of Nursing Scholars program to enhance the image of the nursing profession, recruit new nurses and nurse faculty, and help retain current nursing professionals.
The Boomer Esiason Foundation is honored to partner with Johnson & Johnson and the power that their company brings to nursing initiatives. BEF plans to roll out their program through social media campaigns, educational programs, and scholarships, reaching 3,000 nurses and working closely with 200-500 nurses in the program’s first year. Second year goals aim to scale program awareness, reaching 10,000 nurses and working closely with 1,000-1,500 nurses, while creating additional education accreditation programs in partnership with medical schools across the nation.
- Nationwide Shortage of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Prompts Alternative Solutions from States - March 30, 2020
- Coldiron Senior Nurse Executive Fellowship Program Established to Enhance Development of Senior Nurse Executives - March 27, 2020
- Nurse of the Week: UW-Madison Nursing Student Marcela Hanson Crowdsources Childcare Help For Local Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic - March 25, 2020