Break the mold: 3 steps for nurses to spur innovation

Avoid falling into the temptation of asking for ideas. Remember, creativity is the driving force for innovation. Creativity is spurred by curiosity, so allow your mind to run limitless with questions. Eventually, a thought or suggestion will occur to you, further lighting the road to true innovation. 

Clara Barton, an American nurse who served during the Civil War, saw that Europe had its own national society dedicated to providing voluntary aid in times of crisis. Noticing that the United States lacked a similar organization, Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881. She was once quoted as saying,

“I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past.”

 

Innovation is bold. It requires you to confront current limitations in your healthcare organization and see why and how they can be transformed. Once you’ve decided to break the status quo, you can see how to carry your new idea forward, so it eventually becomes true innovation. 

2. Organization 

When planning, put yourself in your patients’ or employees’ shoes because they will be the ones impacted by the innovation. Always remember that the reason fueling your innovation must remain at the forefront of your creative process. In other words, you should be able to easily answer this question: Why is this new workflow or product beneficial?

The road to executing your healthcare innovation may be ripe with challenges, but you can increase your chances of success by avoiding these three common pitfalls: 

1. Treating the innovation like all other projects 

Think of the innovation as a business. It deserves its own funding, dedicated personnel, and resources to guarantee its success. Encourage other stakeholders (e.g., your directors or team members) to recognize the unique value of the innovation, so that it receives the attention it needs to thrive. 

2. Focusing on only money

Ever walked into a store, fell in love with an item, but hurried out when you saw the price tag? This same apprehensiveness can ensue when we discover the cost to implement a new idea. However, it's essential to concentrate on the value of the project rather than the cost. 

With this perspective, you and your team can focus on how to fund the innovation, including finding new ways to achieve the desired results. In times of constraints, whether in time, money, or people, a heightened level of creativity tends to occur. 

3. Being afraid to fail 

Many innovation stories are ignited with tales of failure and eventual triumph. The underlying theme is that it’s better to fail, learn quickly from the error, and pivot in a better direction. With persistence, you’ll find effective results that last. Ensure the implementation of your innovation involves small pilot projects that will help you understand what works and what doesn’t. These small tests will allow for a smoother, larger-scale execution.  

As you work to execute your idea, you’ll discover how much you need others by your side. For this reason, innovation thrives on working successfully with others. 

3. Collaboration

Innovation often results from a multitude of different ideas that harmonize well to produce a valuable new product or workflow. Depending on the innovation, you may find yourself collaborating with people in different roles seemingly unrelated to healthcare. However, their unique skills may unlock your innovation’s highest potential.

Once you have formed a team of dedicated team members, consider these tips to maximize collaboration: