Reimagining Nursing Through Innovation and Design Thinking.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Education
• Innovation in Healthcare

Background:

• Nurse recruitment and retention are critical national health concerns impacting patient care and healthcare systems.
• Existing challenges in nursing practice require innovative solutions and professional development opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an innovative Nursing Research and Innovation Fellowship program for nurses.
• To evaluate the program's impact on professional development, job satisfaction, and nurse retention.

Main Methods:

• The fellowship provided nurses with knowledge of a design thinking framework.
• Participants applied design thinking to address complex challenges in their daily work.

Main Results:

• The fellowship fostered the application of design thinking skills among participating nurses.
• The program has the potential to positively influence job satisfaction and nurse retention.

Conclusions:

• Innovative professional development programs, such as this fellowship, are vital for addressing nurse retention.
• Design thinking offers a valuable framework for nurses to tackle complex healthcare issues and improve practice.