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Published on: June 21, 2010
A Culture of Inquiry: Practice-Based Knowledge for Nurse Leaders.
Anne Schmidt1, David Marshall, Rosanne Raso
1Author Affiliations: Director (Dr Schmidt), Optum Advisory, Eden Prairie, Minnesota; Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive (Dr Marshall), Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, California; Editor in Chief (Dr Raso), Nursing Management, Wolters Kluwer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive (Dr Sintich) Inova Health System, Fairfax, Virginia; Interim Director of Centralized Functions and Associate Chief Quality Officer (Dr Poch), The University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City; and Distinguished Scholar in Nursing, Clinical Professor, and Director (Dr Joseph), Health Systems/Administration Program, The University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Nursing leaders can foster innovation by cultivating a culture of inquiry. This involves prioritizing psychological safety, building connections, and implementing design thinking to drive healthcare improvements.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Leadership
- Healthcare Management
- Organizational Psychology
Background:
- Traditionally, nursing leadership has not emphasized a culture of inquiry.
- Evolving healthcare demands necessitate reevaluation of barriers to improved outcomes.
- A lack of inquisitiveness is a recognized impediment to healthcare innovation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advance the understanding of a culture of inquiry within nursing leadership.
- To apply a practice-based learning approach for knowledge development in this area.
- To identify foundational elements for establishing a culture of inquiry.
Main Methods:
- Convened a workgroup through the American Organization for Nursing Leadership.
- Applied a practice-based learning approach to explore the concept.
- Synthesized findings to recommend foundational elements.
Main Results:
- A culture of inquiry is crucial for nursing leadership and healthcare innovation.
- Key foundational elements include psychological safety, building connections, and design thinking.
- These elements should be integrated at all organizational levels.
Conclusions:
- Fostering a culture of inquiry is essential for modern nursing leadership.
- Psychological safety, connection-building, and design thinking are vital components.
- Implementing these elements can drive innovation and improve healthcare outcomes.
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