Innovations in Nursing: Name: Instructor

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Innovations in Nursing
Name:
Instructor:
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Abstract
Innovation has become an increasingly crucial subject matter in the nursing sector,
although it is not a new concept. As agents of innovation, all nurses are engaged in
innovation activities every day. They act towards driving processes and policies, leveraging
technology to provide affordable care for individuals and the community. The activities they
undertake are driven by the need to improve health care outcomes at reduced costs (Kaya, et
al., 2015). Many of the innovative ideas have led to great improvements in individual health
and healthcare systems. Globally, innovation in the nursing industry is very critical for
healthcare systems. Therefore, nurses are in a critical position to provide innovative and
creative solutions that will greatly impact the patients' lives, communities, organizations, and
profession (Thomas, et al., 2016).
Introduction
Generally, the term 'Innovation' refers to a new method, idea, device, or a new and
different thing to do. According to Omachonu & Einspruch (2010), innovation is described as
the integration and application of products, ideas, procedures, and/or processes that are new
to the way things are done within a group or an organization. These ideas or processes are
beneficial to the individual, the group, or the larger community. Innovation may also refer to
using new methods in socio-cultural and administrative environments to accommodate the
changing conditions, and this is according to the definition given by the Turkish Language
Association dictionary.
The National Health Service Institute for Innovation and Improvement points out that
innovation involves doing things differently to attain a larger gain. It is believed that
policymakers, laboratories, or senior leaders develop innovative ideas, but in the real sense,
they come from the staff within these institutions (McSherry, & Douglas, 2011). Innovation
happens to fill a gap or meet a requirement. While this concept has a significant role in
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nursing and research practices, these several definitions of innovation show that the concept
is not clear.
Nursing Innovations Applications
Patient-centered care is one of the major innovations in the nursing sector. It encourages
shared decision-making and active collaboration between patients, their families, and service
providers and provides a comprehensive and customized care plan. The goal basically is to
improve health outcomes for both individuals and the community. The post-cancer remission
support is also a great innovation. There is also the issue of automation and streamlining
work processes. The software has been developed to empower nurses with technology to
make their jobs easier and improve the patient experience.
Nurse entrepreneurs are creating solutions through education and administration to make
high-level industry changes. When they step into businesses as consultants or owners, they
have the opportunity to ensure speedy changes. Therefore, it is wise to have nurse leadership
as they have firsthand experience of how things really work.
According to a survey done by over 600 professional nurses, it was found out that a great
number supports the new technological advancements and equipment innovation as it will
have a positive impact on patient care. The new technological innovations are crucial for
continued patient care, considering the nursing shortage, increased life expectancy, and more
population aging. Some technologies impacting medical care include automated IV pumps,
smart beds, electronic health records, telehealth, and wearable devices, among many others.
Examples of Powerful Innovations in Nursing
There are notable innovations that can be observed all over the world. For instance, Bessie
Blount Griffin, a nurse, and a physical therapist, made a significant breakthrough in the 1940s
by inventing a feeding tube for paralyzed veterans (Walker, 2019). Many veterans returned
from the second world war while amputated, and therefore they had to struggle while
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undertaking basic chores. Therefore, Bessie came up with an electronic feeding tube that
delivered food bites at the individual patients' pace. The patient would bite on the tube, and
then the next food amount would reach the mouth. Her device had a great reception to the
extend of being aired on the television show called "The Big Idea." This gave Bessie a patent,
and she became well-known within the inventor community.
Another example of major innovation is neonatal phototherapy by Sister Jean Ward in the
1950s. Phototherapy refers to the treatment of infants with jaundice conditions by use of
light. It is among the most common non-routine therapy for newborns. A nurse in charge of
the infant's nursery or premature unit named Sister Jean Ward would bring infants outside
and return them to the nursery. She believed that fresh air and sunshine greatly impacted the
human skin (Guyton, 2018). Through her practice, doctors realized that jaundiced babies' skin
changed when exposed to sunlight. This led the hospital physicians to demonstrate that
exposing infants to artificial light lowered the bilirubin levels, which led to the worldwide use
of phototherapy in infants.
Conclusion
Innovation in nursing is important as it ensures and develops quality care. The purpose of
innovation is to gain a competitive advantage. This will lead to increased financial
performance, and hence a strong and successful institution. Nurses use innovation to protect
the health, offer personalized care, produce information, and prevent diseases. Therefore, it
should be concluded that nurses should take part in innovation as part of their professional
lives.
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References
Guyton, G. (2018). Healthcare innovations you may not know were created by nurses.
Retrieved Dec. 2, 2020 from https://www.spok.com/blog/6-healthcare-innovations-you-
may-not-know-were-created-nurses/
Kaya, N., Turan, N., & Aydın, G. Ö. (2015). A concept analysis of innovation in
nursing. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 195, 1674-1678.
McSherry, R., & Douglas, M. (2011). Innovation in nursing practice: a means to tackling the
global challenges facing nurses, midwives and nurse leaders and managers in the future.
Journal of Nursing Management, 19 (2), 165-169
Omachonu, V. K., & Einspruch, N. G. (2010). Innovation in healthcare delivery systems: A
conceptual framework. The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal,
15(1), 20. Retrieved Dec. 2, 2020 from
http://www.innovation.cc/scholarly-style/omachonu_healthcare_3innovate2.pdf
Thomas, T.W., Seifert, P.C., Joyner, J.C., (2016): "Registered Nurses Leading Innovative
Changes" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 21, No. 3, Manuscript 3
Walker, R. (2019): Person-Directed Team-Based Process for Nurse-Led Invention:
Development of Three Novel Technologies to Support Cancer Survivors. Retrieved Dec.
2, 2020 from http://hdl.handle.net/10755/17534

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1

profession (Thomas, et al., 2016).

using new methods in socio-cultural and administrative environments to accommodate the

Nursing Innovations Applications

make their jobs easier and improve the patient experience.

as they have firsthand experience of how things really work.

Examples of Powerful Innovations in Nursing

and she became well-known within the inventor community.

innovation is to gain a competitive advantage. This will lead to increased financial

Retrieved Dec. 2, 2020 from https://www.spok.com/blog/6-healthcare-innovations-you-

nursing. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 195, 1674-1678.

Journal of Nursing Management, 19 (2), 165-169

Omachonu, V. K., & Einspruch, N. G. (2010). Innovation in healthcare delivery systems: A

conceptual framework. The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal,

15(1), 20. Retrieved Dec. 2, 2020 from

Changes" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 21, No. 3, Manuscript 3

Walker, R. (2019): Person-Directed Team-Based Process for Nurse-Led Invention:

Development of Three Novel Technologies to Support Cancer Survivors. Retrieved Dec.

2, 2020 from http://hdl.handle.net/10755/17534

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