Nurse-led innovation was front and center during the height of the pandemic. Now, it continues as systems address strategic priorities amid substantial margin and workforce challenges. Nurses are driving innovative solutions to provide care in alternative sites, partner with patients to drive self-management, find creative ways to utilize emerging clinical technology, and address social determinants of health. Nurse-led innovations to address complex workforce challenges that contribute to burnout and turnover are also accelerating — and sorely needed.

Innovation is hard — and innovative solutions often conflict with organizational, cultural, and professional norms. The innovative nursing professional is courageous, curious, confident, optimistic, and action-oriented. 

Leaders should take steps to ensure that a culture of innovation permeates throughout their organization — one that provides channels for the continued generation of ideas, the encouragement of experimentation, a transparent review of successes and failures, and recognition/reward mechanisms for the commitment to innovation at all levels within the nursing enterprise.

Reflect on the power of nurse-led innovation in your organization or system. Then, recognize the achievements that have been accomplished. 

We've put together resources to help healthcare leaders recognize the nurse-led innovations in their organization.

• 8 insights for nurse leaders to achieve success with alternative staffing models
• Novant Health-NHRMC's Resiliency Governance Council
• Q&A: How Ascension mobilized nearly 10,000 nurses for Covid-19—in less than 2 weeks
• How Genesis Medical Center boosted morale and cut burnout—in just 6 weeks
• The Customizable Staff Recognition Card
• Celebrate the little things with a boost board at your organization