Cultivating an optimal environment for nursing innovation

Nurses are uniquely positioned as frontline caregivers and researchers to identify gaps in patient care and find innovative solutions to resolve persistent problems and thereby improve patient outcomes. However, promoting an innovative mindset has not been prioritized in nursing education or practice. This article examines strategies for fostering optimal innovation environments through organizational, individual, and partnership capacity building, drawing insights from the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators. The fellowship program has selected 65 diverse nurse leaders from across the nation to compose five cohorts training to enhance their ability to lead innovations that will improve care across multiple settings. Applications of CommSense technology, Leveling Up Through Simulation, and the SPECTACULAR tool in fellowship projects are presented to illustrate how they support innovation to improve health. Fostering nursing innovation requires a multifaceted approach, including opportunities for interdisciplinary partnerships and learning about innovation frameworks and entrepreneurship.