D031: CPE Schedule & Nurse Innovator Responsibilities Overview

D031: CPE Schedule & Nurse Innovator Responsibilities Overview

Student Name

Western Governors University

D031 Advancing Evidence-Based Innovation in Nursing Practice

Prof. Name:

Date

D031: CPE Schedule & Nurse Innovator Responsibilities Overview

CPE Schedule Table

The following table outlines the required CPE activities, associated deliverables, anticipated completion dates, and estimated time commitments. This structured schedule supported effective time management and ensured timely completion of all course requirements.

Nurse Innovator Roles and Responsibilities

Description of the Role and Responsibilities of a Nurse Innovator

Nurses play a critical role in advancing healthcare innovation due to their close involvement in direct patient care and clinical workflows. Their firsthand experience allows them to identify inefficiencies, safety concerns, and opportunities for improvement within daily practice. As patient advocates, nurses are uniquely positioned to design and implement innovative solutions that enhance care delivery and patient outcomes.

A nurse innovator applies clinical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and creativity to develop improvements in processes, services, and care models. Innovation in nursing often emerges from the need to streamline workflows, improve patient comfort, reduce adverse outcomes, and increase efficiency. These improvements frequently originate at the bedside, where nurses encounter real-time challenges and opportunities for change (Gerard & Lucia, 2023).

Effective nurse innovators demonstrate adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to learn from failure. They foster a culture of collaboration and positivity among colleagues, encouraging shared ownership of improvement initiatives. Nurse leaders further support innovation by empowering frontline nurses and aligning innovative efforts with organizational goals (Rodrigues da Silva et al., 2023).

Innovation in nursing can be categorized into four primary types: generators, optimizers, implementers, and conceptualizers. Regardless of category, all innovators rely on four foundational pillars: context, culture, capability, and collaboration. Together, these elements enable sustainable and impactful innovation within healthcare systems.

Reflection on Phase 1 Activities

Written Reflection Summary

This phase provided valuable insight into nursing innovation and the diverse roles nurses play in shaping healthcare improvement. Reviewing innovative literature and learning about different innovator types enhanced understanding of how frontline nurses drive meaningful change. The activities reinforced the idea that many impactful innovations arise from efforts to improve routine clinical tasks. This phase strengthened appreciation for the nurse’s role as both caregiver and change agent.

Phase 2: Evidence Appraisal and Cohort Learning

Reflection on Overview Cohort and Evidence-Leveling Navigation Tool

Two prerecorded cohorts were available for this course, both of which contributed significantly to understanding course expectations and evidence appraisal. The first cohort offered a comprehensive overview of course structure, phases, required deliverables, and available resources. It also introduced the concept of disruptive innovation and provided guidance on selecting appropriate innovation topics.

The second cohort focused on the Evidence-Leveling Navigation Tool and its application in identifying credible scholarly sources. Detailed instruction was provided on navigating hyperlinks, applying search algorithms, and evaluating sources for credibility and relevance. Emphasis was placed on distinguishing evidence-based research from opinion-based content to ensure scholarly rigor.

Importance of Selecting High-Quality Evidence Sources

The selection of high-quality evidence is essential when developing and supporting disruptive innovation in healthcare. Peer-reviewed sources provide validated, unbiased findings that strengthen clinical decision-making and innovation proposals. Utilizing literature published within the past five years ensures that evidence reflects current best practices and evolving standards of care.

High-quality evidence supports the credibility of innovation initiatives and promotes patient safety, improved outcomes, and ethical practice. Relying on reputable databases and peer-reviewed journals reduces the risk of implementing ineffective or unsafe interventions.

Written Reflection Summary

This phase significantly enhanced understanding of evidence appraisal and scholarly research. The cohort recordings provided clear, step-by-step guidance on navigating the online library and applying evidence-leveling tools. Learning the rationale behind the five-year publication guideline reinforced the importance of using current, relevant research to support innovation.

Phase 3: Identification of Practice Problem and Disruptive Innovation

Description of the Underlying Healthcare Practice Problem

Pain management emerged as a significant challenge on the medical-surgical unit. Patients frequently experienced inadequate pain control due to breakthrough pain, medication-related side effects such as nausea, or reluctance to use narcotic analgesics because of dependency concerns. Variability in pain tolerance further complicated individualized pain management strategies.

Patients with effective pain control demonstrated improved recovery outcomes, while those with poorly managed pain experienced delayed healing and decreased satisfaction. The demand for alternative pain management options highlighted a critical gap in current practice.

Disruptive Innovation to Address the Practice Problem

To address these challenges, a disruptive innovation incorporating nonpharmacological pain management strategies was implemented. These interventions included aromatherapy, essential oils, guided meditation, and sound therapy. These modalities were used as adjuncts for breakthrough pain and as primary options for patients declining narcotic medications.

The innovation provided patients with greater autonomy in pain management and reduced reliance on pharmacological interventions. Additionally, patients experiencing medication-related nausea benefited from these alternative therapies, contributing to improved comfort and overall outcomes.

Description of the Evidence Search Process

The evidence search process was guided by course resources and cohort instruction. The WGU online library was used to identify peer-reviewed articles published within the past five years. Keywords included alternative pain management, aromatherapy, essential oils, meditation, and sound therapy.

Articles were evaluated for relevance, methodological quality, and applicability to the identified practice problem. Relevant studies were saved, cited appropriately, and incorporated into the innovation proposal to ensure evidence-based support.

Written Reflection Summary

This phase was particularly engaging, as it allowed for direct application of course concepts to a real-world clinical issue. Exploring alternative pain management strategies reinforced the value of innovation in improving patient outcomes. Additionally, this phase strengthened research skills and confidence in identifying reputable scholarly sources to support clinical innovation.

References

Arli, S. K. (2023). Nonpharmacological pain management methods used by post-operative patients: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Perioperative Nursing, 36(4), e36–e41. https://doi.org/10.26550/2209-1092.1284

Barnett, T., Denke, L. (2020). Managing postoperative pain with opioid-sparing therapies. Nursing, 50(6), 60–63. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000694772.54730.b8

De Andrade, É. V., Haas, V. J., de Faria, M. F., dos Santos Felix, M. M., Ferreira, M. B. G., Barichello, E., da Silva Pires, P., & Barbosa, M. H. (2022). Effect of listening to music on anxiety, pain, and cardiorespiratory parameters in cardiac surgery: Study protocol for a randomized clinical trial. Trials, 23(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06233-9

Diller, M. L., & Master, V. (2023). Integrative surgery: Embedding complementary and nonpharmacologic therapies into surgical pain management strategies. The American Surgeon, 89(2), 192–196. https://doi.org/10.1177/00031348221110244

Gerard, S. O., & Lucia, C. J. (2023). Innovation at the frontline of nursing. American Nurse Journal, 18(6), 1. https://doi.org/10.51256/ANJ062344

Hamilton, W., Bradley, D., Backus, C., Zenteno, J., Block, W., Demotica, R., Samosorn, A., & Dickinson, C. (2022). Aromatherapy: Use of essential oils to decrease pain, anxiety, and nausea in acute care. MEDSURG Nursing, 31(2), 110–113.

Rodrigues da Silva, N., Costa, R., Orlandi Honório Locks, M., & Sebold, L. F. (2023). Design thinking: An approach to research and innovation in nursing. Cogitare Enfermagem, 28, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1590/ce.v28i0.93167