Innovation behaviour of nursing professionals in elderly care: A descriptive multiple case study

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Innovations in elderly care are necessary because of the expected increase in the number of older persons and the expected deficit of available labour potential. Previous research showed that innovation behaviour of nursing professionals is a necessary condition for successful care innovation. However, in elderly care, empirical studies are missing about innovation behavior of nursing professionals. AIM AND RESEARCH QUESTON. Aim: to get insight into innovation behaviour of nursing professionals who elderly care. Research question: how is innovation behaviour of nursing professionals manifested in elderly care? METHOD. Design: multiple case study. Two teams in nursing homes, one team in home care and one team in care for disabled persons were included. Data collection consisted of focused interviews, observations and documentation. A topic list and observation guide were used, based on the CanMEDS role of scholar. Data was analyzed using the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven. RESULTS. Innovation behaviour of nursing professionals is manifested in activities, attitudes and self-reflection. The theme ‘activities’ concerns tasks of nursing professionals on innovations, like signal deficiencies. The theme ‘attitude’ affects nursing professionals’ inclination towards innovations, like resistance. The theme ‘self-reflection’ concerns contemplation on activities and attitude. CONCLUSION. The findings show that nursing professionals manifest innovation behaviour by several tasks. Despite different points for improvement, the results confirmed that nursing professionals contribute significantly to innovations. RECOMMENDATIONS. Care institutions should create an environment that encourages innovation behaviour. Education should pay more attention to sustain learned behaviour, and to learn how to reflect on behaviour. Further research is needed to factors which are stimulating or obstructing innovation behaviour and to the way in which innovation behaviour can be sustained in practice.