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At the end of this section, you will be able to:

‹ List four characteristics of an innovator

‹ Provide examples of innovative behaviors in clinical practice

Developing Oneself as an Innovator

Diane McNally Forsyth

17.1 Who Is an Innovator?

An innovator is one who is willing to try new things in practice, using evidence, to enhance the qual-
ity of patient care and to foster nursing knowledge. According to Rogers (2003), “innovativeness is the
degree to which an individual . . . is relatively earlier in adopting new ideas than other members of a
social system” (p. 18). It is vital that a nurse be an innovator because one’s practice is ever evolving in the
fast-paced world of health care. Retaining and using new information is enhanced when one becomes an
active participant in change (Scalon & Woolforde, 2016). Will you be the first to learn about something
new on your unit? Will you wait to see how those who took a class earlier evaluate it before you register?
Evolving into an evidence-based practice (EBP) leader on one’s unit or practice area is a process that
occurs with effort and time.

Innovator Characteristics

There are several characteristics of an innovator. These include (1) a sense of inquiry (Titler, 2001), (2)
flexibility to change (Shaver, 2001), (3) awareness of self and of the unit (MacIntosh, 2003), and (4) good
communication skills (Rogers, 2003).

CHAPTER 17