Driving Innovation in Health Care Clinical Nurse Leader Role

Background: The clinical nurse leader (CNL) role was developed as a strategy for redesigning care delivery to address quality and safety gaps in health care. However, innovation competencies have never been assessed in this group. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether CNLs have different perceptions of innovation and their own competence to lead it, compared with other nurse leaders. Methods: A web-enabled concurrent mixed-method survey design was used to compare self-reported innovation competencies between nurses in a leadership role and certified CNLs at a large academic medical center. Results: A statistically significant difference between groups was found for only 1 competency, with non-CNLs rating themselves as more competent in the use of unconventional approaches than CNLs. Qualitative data showed wide variation in recognition of innovation and how it is defined. Conclusions: Replication of this study is needed with an increased sample size of CNLs to determine whether curriculum change is needed.