CNO discusses fostering innovation

Yale New Haven Hospital has encouraged nurses to question the status quo and use their skills to improve their practice to benefit patients, according to CNO and Senior Vice President Ena Williams, PhD, RN. Fostering innovation requires a hospital to incorporate structures, processes and clarity, as well as to educate nurses and leaders. Williams, an AONL member, encourages nurses to start small and then pull colleagues in, and she makes available individuals who can advise nurses on incorporating their ideas into practice. She also ensures nurses have time to innovate or to collaborate in teams to lead research projects. Yale New Haven Health System provides funding for research teams and makes a librarian from the medical school available to provide nurses with evidence-based research articles. (HealthLeaders Media article, 4/17/23)