Building a Culture of Innovation Through Practice Transition Programs

“By creating a safe environment where new graduates and experienced preceptors learn together, the Innovation Accelerator helps nurses develop confidence in their ability to influence change while strengthening relationships across generations of the nursing workforce.” —Karen Ofafa , EdD, MPH, BSN, RN, Vice President, Workforce and Clinical Excellence, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.

The Story of the Innovation Accelerator 

Karen Ofafa and Larisa Solo are nurse leaders dedicated to supporting nurses during one of the most critical periods of their professional journey: the transition from nursing school into clinical practice. Through a collaboration between ANA Innovation and accredited transition-to-practice programs, they helped bring the ANA Innovation Accelerator into the learning experience of new graduate nurses and their preceptors. 

What began as a simple idea evolved into an innovation-focused educational experience that challenges nurses to think differently about their work, their leadership potential, and their ability to influence healthcare systems.  

Karen Ofafa shared “Having led Transition to Practice programs for more than a decade, one gap I have consistently observed is that while we do an excellent job teaching clinical competence, leadership, and professional development, we rarely teach innovation in a purposeful way. That is why I was so excited to explore this opportunity with ANA Innovation. It represents a chance to equip nurses not only to adapt to change, but to actively create it.” 

Rather than viewing innovation as something reserved for inventors or executives, new graduate nurses and their preceptors learn to recognize innovation as a daily nursing practice rooted in problem-solving, empathy, creativity, and human-centered thinking.  

The Need 

Traditional transition-to-practice programs focus heavily on clinical competence and skill development. While those elements are essential, Karen recognized a gap in helping nurses develop the mindset and practical tools needed to identify challenges, think creatively, and improve systems within their organizations.  

"Anytime there's a process gap, organizations often think, 'Let's provide education,'" Karen explained. "This innovation piece has been the practical component. How do I make these things come alive?"  

“For many new graduate nurses, innovation felt like a distant concept” Larisa Explained. Participants often struggled to see themselves as innovators while navigating the demands of learning a new role and caring for patients. Helping nurses recognize that innovation already exists within their decision-making and care delivery became a key objective of the program.  

Support from ANA 

The partnership with ANA Innovation provided a framework to introduce innovation concepts in a way that was accessible, practical, and immediately relevant to nursing practice. Through monthly sessions, participants explored topics including human-centered design, empathy, systems thinking, creativity, and leadership.  

For Karen, one of the most powerful aspects of the Accelerator has been the collaborative relationship with ANA's innovation team. 

"It has been exciting working with a true innovation team because they're always thinking about the next step. Publishing, scaling, and applying it to other organizations. I'm just super excited to be part of it."  

The program intentionally included both new graduates and preceptors, creating opportunities for shared learning and mutual growth. Experienced nurses contributed valuable practical insights, while newer nurses brought fresh perspectives and questions that challenged existing assumptions.  

Impact 

Nurse leaders observed meaningful changes throughout the program. Participants became more confident discussing challenges, identifying opportunities for improvement, and understanding their role in shaping healthcare environments.  

Larisa described watching new nurses evolve over time. 

"Earlier in the program they're a little more timid. As they gain experience and move through the sessions, they're able to speak to examples and make those innovation connections themselves."  

One of the most significant outcomes has helped new nurses recognize that innovation is already part of their everyday work. Whether adapting communication with a patient, improving teamwork on a unit, or developing a more effective workflow, nurses began to see themselves as contributors to change rather than simply participants in existing systems.  

The impact extends beyond individual participants' success. Leaders believe these small shifts in thinking create ripple effects throughout healthcare organizations. 

"I'm a big believer in the butterfly effect," Larisa shared. "Those small steps over time grow into bigger steps. When nurses are empowered to share what they're seeing and suggest improvements, those ideas can spread from one unit to an entire organization."  

The program also created a supportive community where nurses felt safe discussing challenges and learning from one another. For many participants, simply having a space where they felt seen, heard, and understood became one of the most valuable aspects of the experience.  

What's Next? 

As the program continues to evolve, Karen believes sharing outcomes and publishing lessons learned will help demonstrate the value of innovation education in nursing. Program leaders see significant opportunities to expand innovation capacity-building by helping nurses recognize their ability to influence systems, improve care, and lead change. The Innovation Accelerator is helping create a future where innovation is not viewed as an exception within nursing practice, but as an essential part of it.  

Are you a nurse leader interested in building innovation capacity within your workforce? 

ANA Innovation partners with nurses and healthcare organizations to equip clinicians with the mindsets, skills, and tools needed to drive meaningful change. 

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