Innovative Behavior in Nursing Context: A Concept Analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to understand the concept of innovative behavior and its theoretical and practical implications for nursing.

METHODS: Walker and Avant's (2005) eight step modification of Wilson's (1963) classic concept analysis procedure was used to explore the antecedents, attributes, and consequences of innovative behavior in the literature. Electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, OVID Medline, Science Direct, and ERIC databases using "innovative behavior" or "innovative work behavior", "innovativeness", "innovation", "leadership", "healthcare", and "nursing" as keywords with no limitation on publication date.

RESULTS: Organizing the framework on Walker and Avant's method of concept analysis; defining attributes to innovative behavior were opportunity exploration, idea generation, idea search, idea communication, promotion of idea, idea championing, application, and overcoming obstacles. Antecedents to innovative behavior categorized into three groups; organizational characteristics, work environmental characteristics, and individual characteristics. Consequences of innovative behavior included job productivity, lower levels of job burnout, job satisfaction, solving the organizational problems, organizational commitment, organizational efficiency, and effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS: Eight dimensions including opportunity exploration, idea generation, idea search, idea communication, idea promotion, championing, application, and overcoming obstacles were analyzed. We suggest promoting innovative behavior through leadership and management in nursing. Future research should focus on developing instruments and conducting empirical studies on innovative behavior in nursing research and practice.