Abstract
Background: According to Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory (1971), the process of adoption occurs gradually over time and usually begins with Innovators and Early Adopters, the key enablers of innovation success. As the largest healthcare workforce, it is imperative for nurses to advance their knowledge of innovation adoption, yet there are a limited number of nursing programs or healthcare systems that offer innovation-related education. In 2023, the American Nurses Association Innovation department created the first ever national Innovation Accelerator (IA) outside of academia in the United States. The nine-month IA consisted of monthly virtual meetings, multi-modal learning modules, small group networking sessions, and a final innovation project pitch. The IA was designed to prepare nurses as early adopters equipped with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to drive positive change across healthcare.
Method: The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to evaluate changes in IA participants’ perceptions of organizational (Perceived Organizational Innovativeness Scale) and individual innovativeness (Individual Innovativeness Scale) through a pre/post survey based on Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Paired t-test was used to examine any changes between pre-and post-test scores. A follow up IA feedback survey was used to identify participant experiences and lessons learned.
Results: Although the mean scores from the (n=27) individual and (n=23) organizational innovativeness surveys were not statistically significant, there was a 15% increase of individual innovativeness, and a 17% increase in organizational innovativeness in the pre/post survey for the Early Adopter category. Feedback from the IA survey (n=26) revealed that 100% would recommend the IA to their nursing colleagues, 92% of participants strongly agreed or agreed they used the information to lead in their professional roles, and 100% felt more prepared to advance or lead positive change across nursing and healthcare.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the importance of promoting nurses as early adopters through Innovation Accelerators. As an increasing number of nurses incorporate innovation into their daily practice, the support from early adopters will be critical to ensure the sustainability needed to advance cultures of change. A seismic shift in our healthcare ecosystem might occur if the innovative ideas brought forward by nurses are more readily adopted.
Notes
References:
Beaudet, O., Pesut, D., Lemberger, O. (2023). The ANA Innovation Engine: Activating Innovation Through Education and Communities of Practice. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 28(2) Manuscript 3.
Sigma Membership
Beta Omega
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quasi-Experimental Study, Other
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Curriculum Development, Implementation Science, Global Leadership, Nursing Education, Advances in Education, Education Innovation Adoption
Recommended Citation
Lemberger, Olivia, "An Innovation Accelerator’s Effect on Early Adopters: Advancing Cultures of Change" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 176.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/176
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-03
An Innovation Accelerator’s Effect on Early Adopters: Advancing Cultures of Change
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Background: According to Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory (1971), the process of adoption occurs gradually over time and usually begins with Innovators and Early Adopters, the key enablers of innovation success. As the largest healthcare workforce, it is imperative for nurses to advance their knowledge of innovation adoption, yet there are a limited number of nursing programs or healthcare systems that offer innovation-related education. In 2023, the American Nurses Association Innovation department created the first ever national Innovation Accelerator (IA) outside of academia in the United States. The nine-month IA consisted of monthly virtual meetings, multi-modal learning modules, small group networking sessions, and a final innovation project pitch. The IA was designed to prepare nurses as early adopters equipped with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to drive positive change across healthcare.
Method: The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to evaluate changes in IA participants’ perceptions of organizational (Perceived Organizational Innovativeness Scale) and individual innovativeness (Individual Innovativeness Scale) through a pre/post survey based on Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Paired t-test was used to examine any changes between pre-and post-test scores. A follow up IA feedback survey was used to identify participant experiences and lessons learned.
Results: Although the mean scores from the (n=27) individual and (n=23) organizational innovativeness surveys were not statistically significant, there was a 15% increase of individual innovativeness, and a 17% increase in organizational innovativeness in the pre/post survey for the Early Adopter category. Feedback from the IA survey (n=26) revealed that 100% would recommend the IA to their nursing colleagues, 92% of participants strongly agreed or agreed they used the information to lead in their professional roles, and 100% felt more prepared to advance or lead positive change across nursing and healthcare.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the importance of promoting nurses as early adopters through Innovation Accelerators. As an increasing number of nurses incorporate innovation into their daily practice, the support from early adopters will be critical to ensure the sustainability needed to advance cultures of change. A seismic shift in our healthcare ecosystem might occur if the innovative ideas brought forward by nurses are more readily adopted.
Description
In 2023, the American Nurses Association Innovation Department created the first-ever national Innovation Accelerator (IA) outside of academia in the United States. The IA was designed to prepare nurses as early adopters equipped with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to advance cultures of change. Findings reveal a pre-post study increase in early adopter individual and organizational innovativeness, positioning nurses as key enablers of innovation success.