A qualitative study of facilitators and barriers to nurses' innovation at work

This article describes innovative experiences of nurses during clinical work and identifies the factors promoting and hindering clinical innovation.

The nursing staff is replete with innovations in providing medical and healthcare that can help nurses solve clinical problems. Nurses need to understand their experiences in the creation and identify the factors that facilitate or hinder clinical innovation.

A semi-structured interview question framework was used to explore nurses' innovation patents, particularly the development of innovative ideas and the difficulties encountered in innovation. From 15 December 2021 to 17 February 2022, 14 nurses with innovation experiences were recruited in Shanghai, China, using a snowball sampling method. Interviews were conducted in the participants' native language, Chinese, and the interview records were analysed using Colaizzi phenomenological analysis.

This study has formed three main themes which are facilitators (including seven sub-themes), barriers (including two sub-themes) and results of the innovation. Position characteristics, the ability to resolve obstacles in clinical work, peer motivation and pressure urge nurses to have innovative ideas. Self-support and external support helped nurses overcome difficulties in the process of innovation. Technical translation and seeking professional assistance help realize innovative ideas for nurses. However, busy clinical work and limited resources are important barriers to nurse innovation.

Innovation in nursing comes from clinical problems, and nurses' creativity in healthcare organizations can promote positive changes in nursing practice. Nurses have carried out many innovative activities during their work, including quite a few aspects of promotion in this process. Some factors have hindered or promoted this innovation process, which is more extensive than in previous studies. Therefore, policymakers, nurse educators and hospital managers should establish an environment conducive to innovation and provide nurses with job flexibility and resources to foster innovation.

This study suggests that nursing managers should take the initiative to care for nurses, pay attention to their contributions to hospitals and provide them with abundant resources. In addition, managers should try their best to allow every nurse to participate in exchanges and learn continuously. In doing so, the innovation level of nurses can be greatly improved.