Nurses and Innovation

1298 Words3 Pages

Nurses Bridge the Gap
Though the word ‘innovation’ conveys a sense of excitement related to modernization, advancement and progression, its concept has been around since the beginning of time. The most basic definition for innovation comes from Webster’s Dictionary (2013) as “a new idea, device, or method.” Innovation is defined by numerous disciplines or occupations differently, based on the particular field from which the explanations originate. An insightful and appropriate definition related to healthcare, located in current literature, is given here: “the introduction of a new concept, idea, service, process, or product aimed at improving treatment, diagnosis, education, outreach, prevention and research, and with the long term goals of improving quality, safety, outcomes, efficiency and costs” (Omachonu, Vincent and Einspruch, 2010, p. 5).
Nurses can contribute to Innovation in Health Care
Innovation is significant as it advances our world forward with technology. With health innovations continually developing, all health professionals constantly face a learning curve. Because nurses are at the forefront of patient care, they are in a position to bridge the gap between the status quo and the innovation necessary to move health care onward in an ever-evolving world. Nurses can contribute by focusing on the education of innovation in health care in three specific ways.
Educate self
Nurses must stay abreast of recent innovations in healthcare including new concepts, ideas, services, processes, or products. When a new innovation is implemented in the work place, nurses must become the expert in its operation and abilities. Researching and applying evidence-based practice is an ideal way to tutor oneself in the nursing field.
...

... middle of paper ...

...te of Medicine. (2014). About the IOM. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/#sthash.fEhE9jub.dpuf Manning, S. (2011). Bridging the gap between hospital and home: a new model of care for reducing readmission rates in chronic heart failure. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 26(5), 368-376.
Omachonu, Vincent K., and Norman G. Einspruch. "Innovation in healthcare delivery systems:
A conceptual framework." The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal
15.1 (2010): 2.
U.S. Department Of Agriculture, USDA's ChooseMyPlate, n.d., Retrieved from http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ United States Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2020. (2012). About healthy people. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/
Weberg, D. (2009). Innovation in healthcare: A concept analysis. Nursing Administration
Quarterly. 33(3) 227-237.

Open Document