Five original recipes for strengthening hospital patient care

Organizational innovation has a varied parentage--its famous mother being necessity--that can include the economic climate, marketplace characteristics, an organization's unique history and culture, leadership style, and corporate species. The following five Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Pew Charitable Trusts grantees (see article, page 1) cast their own perspectives on approaches to strengthening nursing. The first three chose different emphases on programs built on existing practice models. The fourth hospital focuses on preparing the groundwork for major change, while the last looks outside at educating the youth who will eventually fill its caregiver roles.