Industrial - Bachelors

PulSync.

In the demanding healthcare environment, PulSync is the ultimate handheld meditation device that offers immediate stress relief. Nurses can turn to PulSync to unwind after high-stress and emotional situations, ensuring their well-being on the job.

Nikita Hancock

THE PROBLEM

RESPONSIBILITY

In hospital settings, the quality of patient care is closely tied to the well-being and performance of nursing staff. However, a critical issue obstructing the delivery of optimal care is the escalating stress and mental health challenges faced by nurses. The problem adversely affects their ability to perform at their best, consequently impacting the overall quality of patient care.
Typically, the nurse is the first and last point of contact for the patient and the relevant medical professionals. As expressed in the interviews, nurses are often the middlemen for most situations and take on the abuse from patients and co-workers with a smile on their faces. Nurses are the face of the medical industry. They are the ones that patients remember when they leave the hospital, despite the level of quality care and experience they may have encountered.
Even though nurses are the most crucial point of contact in the hospital, they are faced with challenges revolving around understaffing and work overload. How are nurses expected to keep an equal level of care across all patients if their patient workload has been doubled?

CONSEQUENCES

As a consequence of work overload and understaffing, nurses decrease the level of quality care they are expected to provide, limiting time with each patient and prioritising multiple patients due to the level of severity. This leaves the hard-working nurses burnt out, unable to take full breaks (or any at all) and shouldered with an immense amount of stress. Constant and frequent levels of stress can lead to anxiety and depression, among other mental and physical health conditions. Known to nurses, there are very few if any easily available resources to assist in managing their mental health.

Time constraints are the biggest issue. There is a push for patient-centred care, but it means treating people equally, which means no equity.

Nurse 4 – expressed during an interview.

Current mental health services provided by various Australian hospitals

While hospitals across Australia offer a range of mental health support services for their staff, these services are typically conducted outside the workplace. Unfortunately, this often places an additional burden on nurses, who must sacrifice their personal time to access these resources. Many nurses, primarily aged over 40, juggle family and other responsibilities, making it challenging to participate in these programs.

This challenge was underscored by a recent survey, revealing that 39.3% of nurses did not attend these services, even though they were aware of them. A significant 53.6% of nurses were unaware that these services even existed, suggesting a lack of effective promotion. Only a small 7.1% of surveyed nurses attended these services, and their experiences were generally negative, with most finding them insufficient and referring to alternative counselling services after their initial trial.

read more research here

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RESEARCH REPORT
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PulSync.

In the fast-paced and often emotionally charged healthcare environment, PulSync emerges as the steadfast ally of nurses, providing swift and reliable stress relief. It’s a dependable source of solace when nurses find themselves confronted with high-stress and emotionally taxing situations.
At the heart of PulSync’s remarkable functionality lies its unique ability to empower nurses in the art of stress management. Drawing from the therapeutic techniques of meditation and specialized breathing exercises, PulSync offers a profound solution to regain composure in just moments.
With a touch of a button, PulSync takes you on a tranquil journey, gently guiding you toward a reduced heart rate and a restored emotional equilibrium. It’s not merely a device; it’s a transformative experience that equips you to be at your absolute best precisely when it’s most crucial. PulSync, your ultimate stress-relief companion in the demanding realm of healthcare.

Features

PulSync boasts several key features that make it an exceptional stress relief tool. Its Pulse Heart Rate Sensor, activated by palm contact, accurately measures the user’s heart rate for precise stress management. The Reactive Breathing Pattern feature, indicated by LEDs, responds to the user’s heart rate, providing guidance for an optimal breathing pattern. What sets PulSync apart is its remarkable ease of use, as it doesn’t demand advanced technological skills, making it accessible for all. Additionally, PulSync is ambidextrous, allowing users to comfortably use it in either hand, ensuring flexibility and convenience in its application.

TECHNOLOGY

PulSync incorporates advanced technology for effective stress relief. Its Metal Matte Aluminum exterior features Pulse Heart Rate Sensors, activated through skin contact, providing accurate heart rate readings. Reactive Breathing LEDs respond to the user’s pulse, offering a customized breathing pattern. The device is powered by a lithium button battery, rechargeable via a USB-C charger. It includes a wrist strap with a simple adjustor and rubber finger grips for stability, even in stressful situations. PulSync’s technology ensures convenient and efficient stress management for healthcare professionals.

CHARGING STATION

The charging station holds 5 PulSync devices. This white and sleek station charges the PulSync while appearing discrete in the medical environment, placed in the central administration area. The charging station displays LED lights showing whether the PulSync device is fully charged, being used, or charging.

how to use pulsync.

follow the design & development process of pulsync here (ddr)

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HOW PULSYNC ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM

In the demanding healthcare setting, PulSync is your trusted companion, delivering instant stress relief to nurses. When faced with high-stress and emotional situations, PulSync offers a quick and effective solution.
PulSync empowers nurses to effectively manage stress by harnessing the power of meditation and specialized breathing techniques. Within moments, it gently lowers heart rate and helps regain emotional balance, ensuring you’re at your best when it matters most.


PulSync acknowledges that it can’t address all mental health challenges or replace vital services like counselling. However, it stands by our nurses, supporting them in their daily journey. PulSync not only provides emotional relief but also fosters a culture where nurses are encouraged to express themselves and embrace their humanity.

Nikita Hancock

Nikita Hancock is an Industrial Designer based in Brisbane, Australia. Her educational journey in Industrial Design has ignited her passion for sustainability and user-centric product design, focusing on innovative solutions for real-world challenges.