Registered Nurse Individual Innovative Behavior and Research Utilization

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to describe individual innovative behavior among registered nurses who work in acute care hospitals and to understand the antecedents to individual innovative behavior as well as the relationship of individual innovative behavior and research utilization.

Methods:  

A descriptive, cross-sectional research design was used to answer the questions for this study. A questionnaire (paper and on-line) was administered to registered nurses who worked in acute care hospitals. Registered nurses were asked to identify the hospital they worked for in order to tie them to organizational characteristics.

Results:

It was found that nurses had on average moderate individual innovative behavior as well as moderate commitment to research utilization. Individual innovative behavior was predicted by autonomy, specialty certification, and belief suspension. Research utilization was predicted by individual innovative behavior, attitude towards research, and in-services and continuing education.

Conclusion:

Both individual innovative behavior and research utilization needs to be improved among registered nurses. Organizations need to provide the support and environment necessary to help cultivate both behaviors in order to help improve the quality and safety of patient care. Registered nurses should engage in identifying problems and accessing, assessing, applying, persuading, implementing, and integrating research findings into their nursing practice to help resolve quality and safety problems in healthcare.