Ep 75: Stop the Splash with Sarah Waimon, Nurse Inventor

Sarah Wayman, a nurse with 16 years of experience, transformed a daily hazard in healthcare—being splashed with bodily fluids—into a life-saving invention: Louie, a splash guard for bedpan washing systems. After a personal incident where she was splashed with colostomy contents, she channeled her frustration into action, building a prototype from cardboard and paint, then leveraging Rhode Island’s innovation ecosystem—including NEMIC and Rye Hub—to bring her idea to life. Her journey reveals how nurses, often dismissed as mere caregivers, can become innovators with real-world impact. The episode exposes the emotional and physical toll of workplace hazards, from fear of infection to the trauma of being pulled from patient care, and challenges the myth that only engineers can invent. Sarah’s story is a rallying cry for healthcare workers to trust their instincts, pursue their ideas, and reframe 'imposter syndrome' as a call to action. Her vision extends beyond Louie: she dreams of a future where nurses are empowered to solve systemic problems, especially in mental health and homelessness, with a billion-dollar grant to fund sustainable interventions. The episode underscores that innovation doesn’t require a lab or a team—just a problem, a solution, and the courage to act. Sarah’s journey from a nervous pitch to a pilot study in multiple hospital units proves that even small, simple devices can have massive ripple effects. Her advice to nurses: if you see a problem, don’t wait.