Determination of Nurses' Innovative Behaviour and Their Views about the Factors Affecting Their Innovative Behaviour: A Qualitative Study in a University Hospital

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify nurses' innovative behaviour and their views about the factors affecting their innovative behaviour. METHODS: This research was designed as a descriptive qualitative study. The study sample consisted of 12 nurses with different educational backgrounds who work in different departments of a hospital, have different tasks and have been working in a university hospital for at least one year. Data were collected via semi-structured in-depth individual face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: It was found that nurses mostly implement innovations developed by others. In the innovation process, nurses try to impress upon and convince their colleagues and the nurse manager and try to abstain from risk taking and disputes. The factors affecting nurses' innovative behaviour were coded under the sub-themes of occupational, individual, organisational and enviromental factors. CONCLUSION: The factors affecting nurses' innovative behaviour were similar to those reported in the literature. The occupational and organisational factors identified in this study are considered helpful in shaping the roles of nurse managers and nurse educators regarding the development of nurses' innovative behaviour.

Keywords

• innovation
• innovative behaviour
• creativity
• nurses
• factors affecting innovative behaviour