Verpleegkundigen als innovatiebron; In hoeverre is de (mis)fit tussen individuele kenmerken van verpleegkundigen en teamkenmerken van invloed op diverse soorten creativiteit?

Abstract

Abstract Title: Nurses as source for innovation

Introduction: Due to changes in Dutch healthcare, rise in demand and complexity of care, organizations should cherish and develop their innovative potential. As nurses are closest to the patient they are in a unique position to discover motives for innovation. Creativity is the starting point of any innovation. Research on creativity amongst nurses is scarce. In this study creativity will be divided into 4 types. Creativity will be looked at from a fit perspective with creativity as a multidimensional concept; what is unique up until now.

Aim and research question: To what extend does (miss) fit between individual characteristics of nurses and team characteristics influence different kinds of creativity? Aim is to provide organizations with knowledge to stimulate and aim creativity. Furthermore this study could present data for theory development.

Method: Cross sectional correlational study. In one Dutch hospital 350 nurses were included. Fit was looked at as a system characteristic. Two types of analyses were performed. One with euclidian distance measures, the other with twostep cluster analysis.

Results: Both analyses did not provide evidence for fit being supportive for creativity. Twostep cluster analysis showed that lower scores on team characteristics go with higher scores on all types of creativity. All types of creativity are correlated with one another (Spearman’s Rho 0.485 to 0.612). Creativity therefore seems to be a, partially, overall characteristic of nurses.

Conclusion: Creativity is a unique part of the innovation process, in which fit is not preferable, as with adoption and implementation. Deviation from team characteristics promotes creativity.

Recommendations: Research on creativity as a multidimensional concept. Studies including more and different individual and team characteristics. Longitudinal studies to find interactions between different variables.