INNOVATION IN NURSING: CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS BASED ON A HYBRID MODEL

  Despite the importance of innovation for the future of nursing and this fact that nurses need innovation to provide better services, there is still no precise definition of this concept. The present study was designed to analyze the concept of innovation in nursing since there is ambiguity surrounding the concept of innovation. This study used a three-phase hybrid model which includes theoretical, fieldwork, and the final analysis phases. First, the concept of innovation in nursing examined in validated databases such as Google Scholar، Cinahl، Pub Mmed, Sid, Iran Med and ProQuest in the theoretical phase. Moreover, the fieldwork phase used the theoretical framework to interview with 10 nurses, and the content analysis was used for data analysis in the last phase of the study.
In theoretical phase, characteristics of concept include generation of new idea, creativity, costs-balance, quality improvement, Benefit patients, and in fieldwork phase identified four main themes for innovation in nursing as follows: "thinking creatively", "using the latest scientific findings", "technology in nursing", and " improvement of conditions". Finally, the analysis phase integrated the previous two phases to reach a comprehensive definition: "Innovation in nursing is obtained through supportive environment, creative thinking and considering the latest findings in nursing by nurses to provide new ideas for patient care. This will lead to improving the current situation, nursing care and obtaining the cost balance." The present study provided a comprehensive understanding of the concept of innovation in the context of nursing in Iran and clarified it more clearly. It also demonstrated that a nurse's knowledge about innovation is a helpful tool in patient care and providing creative ideas.