Exploring the Relationship Between Psychological Safety and Innovation in Nursing Practice Environments
Posted: Oct 06, 2003
Abstract
The contemporary healthcare landscape demands continuous innovation in nursing practice to address evolving patient needs, technological advancements, and systemic challenges. While substantial research has examined innovation adoption in healthcare organizations, the specific psychological mechanisms that enable or constrain innovation within nursing practice environments remain inadequately understood. Psychological safety, defined as the shared belief that one can take interpersonal risks without fear of negative consequences, has emerged as a critical factor in team performance and learning behaviors. However, the precise relationship between psychological safety and innovation in nursing contexts presents theoretical and practical complexities that merit deeper investigation. This research addresses a significant gap in the literature by examining how psychological safety functions as both an enabler and potential constraint of innovation in nursing practice. Traditional perspectives often assume a linear positive relationship between psychological safety and innovation, positing that safer environments naturally foster more creative and innovative behaviors. Our preliminary observations, however, suggest a more nuanced reality where excessive psychological safety may inadvertently suppress certain types of innovation by reducing the perceived necessity for change or the urgency to challenge existing practices.
Downloads: 42
Abstract Views: 1452
Rank: 462442