It’s All Broken: The Imperative for Innovation in Nursing

The healthcare sector, especially nursing, has reached a critical juncture necessitating an urgent transformation. The global health crises have not only spotlighted the inefficiencies within the healthcare delivery system but also escalated the difficulties of a broken nursing profession. The stakes are exceptionally high in this scenario as a survey by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and The Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers indicates a significant portion of the nursing workforce is nearing retirement. This reality collides with a global pandemic, which has stretched healthcare systems thin and further emphasizes the need for rejuvenation and innovation within the nursing sphere.

How can innovation and technology be the beacon in navigating this healthcare crisis, specifically in nursing? What does the future hold for nursing in an era of technological advancements, and how does this align with the expectations of the newer generations entering the profession?

On the Holistic Leadership Podcast hosted by Geoffrey Roche and Travis Hearne, they delve into these pressing issues with Bonnie Clipper, DNP, a nurse futurist and a pioneer in virtual nursing. The conversation explores the imperative for innovation in nursing, the role of technology, and how it intersects with the future of nursing.

Several critical themes from this conversation include:

• The necessity of innovation: Dr. Clipper emphasizes that the traditional structures within nursing and healthcare at large are unsustainable, necessitating innovation to navigate through the cycle of disruption
• The amalgam of nursing and technology: The future of nursing, as envisioned by Dr. Clipper, is one where nurses are augmented by technology, not replaced. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies will redefine the roles within nursing
• Academia’s role in the transformation: The need for a paradigm shift in academic circles to better prepare nurses for a tech-augmented healthcare environment

Bonnie Clipper, with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), is the Founder & CEO of Innovation Advantage and a vanguard in blending technology with nursing. Her illustrious career spans various facets of healthcare, from being the first VP of innovation at the American Nurses Association (ANA) to a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellow. She has extensively researched, published, and advocated for a culture of innovation within nursing. Through her firm, Innovation Advantage, Dr. Clipper is at the forefront of revolutionizing hospital-based nursing care, making significant strides in virtual nursing care delivery. Her advocacy for innovation and technology in nursing aims at not just remedying the present crisis but also future-proofing the profession against forthcoming challenges.