Exploring nurse's creativity consequences in clinical settings: A qualitative study

Nurses are a key component of the health care systems and have the ability to provide creative solutions to improve quality and safety of patients while improving workplace conditions. This study aimed to explore nurses’ creativity consequences in clinical settings. This qualitative study was conducted by qualitative conventional content analysis approach. Data collected through semi- structured interviews with 16 nurses who selected by purposive sampling and were provided novel and useful ideas in educational hospitals affiliated to Tehran and Jahrom universities of medical sciences. All the interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and finally analyzed by qualitative content analysis method. Rigor was approved by member check and external control. Five categories emerged from the data analysis, including: (a) work simplification, (b) quality improvement, (c) organizational development, and (d)creativity rewards, and (e) reducing financial burden. The results indicated that nurses’ creativity and innovation in clinical settings leads to simplification of nursing care increase the quality of care in patients, nurses and other health care team members, promotion of health agencies, positive emotions and reducing the financial burden. Accordingly, nurse managers and policy makers need to create nurturing climate as well as supporting innovative and creative behaviors of employees.