Date of Award
Fall 11-1-2019
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctorate of Education, Ed.D.
College
College of Education
Department
Education
First Advisor
Yvette Ghormley, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
David Weischadle, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
Julie McCann, Ph.D.
Abstract
Innovation is critical to the survival and continued success of hospitals. Public and political criticism coalesces around costs, quality, and access. This qualitative research study was conducted to discover strategies that may be useful to nurse managers in supporting innovation adoption. The research design of this case study is useful in understanding how managers and nurses experience innovation in critical care settings. Data collection was carried out on the campus of a university-affiliated research hospital located in the southeastern U.S. A semistructured, protocol-driven, interview process, was used to collect data from 12 participants including nurse leaders and staff nurses. Emphasis was placed on culture, emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, education, and competency. Data were triangulated using interview transcripts and the 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment of the site organization. Thematic analysis and the Diffusion of Innovations framework (Rogers, 2003) was used to identify five themes. Findings included information useful in developing strategies that nurse leaders may use to influence the adoption of innovation. Future researchers may seek answers to questions such as reducing barriers to innovation, effective approaches to protected time for creativity and innovation, and effective methods of teaching innovation skills.