Q: With National Nurses Week coming up May 6 to 12, how are nurses leading the charge in health care innovation?
A: Nurses have always been innovators in health care, from Florence Nightingale redesigning the way care was delivered during the Crimean War, to Anita Dorr designing the crash cart, to contemporary nurses using remote patient monitoring and artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes.
Q: How are nurses uniquely positioned to come up with innovations that will enhance health care?
A: Nurses are on the frontlines of health care, interacting in direct care and understanding firsthand the solutions needed to improve health and health outcomes for patients, families and the communities they serve. In addition, nurses are the end user of most health care technology and can provide enhancements to optimize impact.
Q: What are some examples of recent innovations in nursing?
A: We have had several innovations in nursing by the nursing faculty at The University of North Texas Health Science Center’s College of Nursing. Dr. Elizabeth Wells-Beede, senior associate dean, has been a frontrunner in virtual reality simulation development and implementation. Dr. Barbara Chapman, a dual-certified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, has created innovative care delivery models, bringing access to health care in rural and medically underserved areas of Texas. Dr. Darla Gruben, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program track coordinator, has developed an innovative microcredential, iTEACH, to increase the numbers of nurse educators and preceptors and strengthen the nursing profession.
Q: How does UNTHSC’s College of Nursing incorporate innovation into its degree programs to better prepare nurses for the future?
A: The college has launched the Master of Science in Nursing Practice Innovation to equip nurses with the skills, mindset and resources to scale an innovation to improve health and health outcomes. The online degree creates expertise to serve as a career nurse innovator and to impact areas of digital health, virtual reality, health care management, correctional health, chronic disease management and more.
Q: What challenges do nurses face when trying to implement innovative solutions, and how can the industry better support them?
A: One of the greatest challenges in implementing innovative solutions in the health care industry occurs when nurses are not at the table during inception and creation. Nurses are most commonly the ones to implement and embrace interventions that improve health. Better still is when the nurse leads the innovative solution.
Q: What strategies can be used to foster a culture of innovation within nursing teams and health care organizations?
A: Health care organizations can foster a culture of innovation to support and fund nurse-driven solutions. Collaborative environments that empower nurses to bring ideas to fruition will not only benefit the patients served but will also transform health care and health care delivery.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Dr. Cindy Weston, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CHSE, FAANP, FAAN
Dean, College of Nursing
3500 Camp Bowie Blvd.Fort Worth 76107
817.735.2003
