I wanted to recap 2024 by listing out what I accomplished in the journey of achieving my nurse innovator goals. To summarize, I created a nursing tool to help improve documentation and patient outcome results in nursing. By the end of 2023, I met with several unit managers and key stakeholders at my organization to present my project. In 2024, this is what took place:
Thank you for reading this post, don’t forget to subscribe!1. Rolled out the project to 5 units, reaching a total of 160 pt beds and care of those patients (total) at any given point.
2. Had a strategy and system to roll out and maintain the project goals from the beginning and throughout the year.
3. Over-delivered. When asked for help on a topic that surrounded anything my project touched base on, I tried to help above and beyond. This keeps your relationships positive, and you want to have this.
4. Remained consistent in doing the things I said I would do. Shared monthly results on time with all units, gave insightful feedback, and kept communication positive and open for questions.
5. After 10 months of solid data collections, I obtained a statistical analysis to solidify my project results and my hypothesis. I paid for this out of pocket (cost close to 4K).
6. I stayed in touch with the office at my academic facility that was guiding me with my project (they work with ‘inventors’ and innovators, commercialization, etc.) and provided frequent updates. I remained polite, courteous, and patient. I do not become anxious when people don’t answer an email as quickly as I would want them to but I do allow plenty of time if a follow-up is needed on my behalf.
7. I presented at this business office and then again with a 2nd group that included the attorneys that help my organization with trademarking, patenting, and copyrighting.
8. As of today, there is a patent application pending (in progress) and a trademark one as well for my work.
9. I continue to study and grow my nursing tool. I continue studying data, analyzing it, working with an analyst, and maintaining positive relationships. I don’t think one can stay stagnant and win. It seems like we do have to stay updated, keep grinding, and keep studying ‘the thing’ you are working on. Wins seem to come with continued work.
In hindsight, a lot of work was done in 2024. Consistency is the key in a lot of what we do, not just professionally. I hope everyone is also keeping their goals alive. Cheers to 2025!