Belmont Hosts Inaugural Nursing Innovation Summit

Leaders in health care gather to address challenges and inspire creative solutions

The Inman College of Nursing's Center for Nursing Innovation hosted its first-ever Nursing Innovation Summit Sept. 13, bringing together health care leaders, educators and innovators to address pressing challenges in the nursing profession and health care delivery. The summit comes at a critical time when the health care industry faces unprecedented challenges, including a severe nursing shortage and the need for transformative care models. 

Dr. Oriana Beaudet, vice president of innovation at the American Nurses Association, delivered a compelling keynote presentation emphasizing the critical role of nurses in shaping the future of health care. She highlighted the need for nurses to provide care in new, dynamic ways that meet the evolving needs of diverse populations.  

"Nurses can drive change and are responsible for it," Beaudet asserted, underscoring the unique position of nurses at the frontlines of care. As a bedside nurse, an administrator, a policy maker or any role in between, nurses are equipped with valuable insights and experiences to enact such innovation. 

Despite the challenges facing nurses across the profession, Beaudet encourages them to explore diverse roles within health care, from traditional bedside care to roles in leadership. The profession can retain valuable talent and perspective while driving positive change throughout the health care system. 

"I would rather a nurse take a parallel path than leave the profession altogether," she said. 

Executive Director of Belmont’s Creative Arts Collective for Christian Life & Faith Rick Rekddal presented the ensuing session, "Reimagining Nursing Through Creativity." Rekedal challenged attendees to think in new ways, fostering collaboration and inspiring a reimagining of the nursing profession. This unique approach encouraged nurses to tap into their creative potential to solve complex health care challenges. 

The Innovation Spotlight-Open Mic session provided a platform for professionals to share their own unique approaches to the nursing profession. Attendees heard from nurses who had developed novel patient care techniques, created new educational programs and leveraged technology to improve health care delivery. This session set the stage for the panel discussion that followed, featuring prominent nurse leaders who shared their insights on the future of nursing. 

"We really need to think about the resources that we're putting into the educators and the education system so that they can be ready for the challenges that they face," said Dr. Julie Honey, dean of nursing. "We need to be asking students, 'What kind of nurse do you want to be?'" 

The discussion emphasized the importance of rethinking resource allocation to better equip future nurses for real-world challenges. Panelists suggested nursing programs should focus on developing critical thinking skills, fostering adaptability and providing exposure to diverse health care settings. This approach aims to produce nurses who are not only clinically competent but also prepared to lead in any situation.  

The panelists also touched on the critical role nurses play in systems thinking, utilizing their interdisciplinary knowledge to drive change and improve health care delivery. 

"Nurses are champions," said Dr. Shelby Garner, director of global health innovation at Belmont. "When we look at systems thinking, nurses have extensive experience working within and across all disciplines." 

The Nursing Innovation Summit represents a crucial step towards fostering a culture of rethinking what the nursing profession is and can be. By bringing together diverse perspectives and encouraging creative problem-solving, the Summit has set the stage for meaningful change across all levels of nursing, from students to seasoned professionals. This collaborative approach to ideation and problem-solving has the potential to drive significant improvements in health care delivery, patient outcomes and overall nurse satisfaction. 

"You have to take the keys and drive the car, or somebody else is going to take the keys and drive the car for you," said Whitney Staub-Juergens, vice president of clinical operations and integration for HCA. "Do not sit in the back seat of the car while this transformation happens in health care. Take the keys. It's up to you."