How can nurses be more engaged in innovation?
And do they even want to be?
These were some of the questions explored at the Lääne-Tallinna Keskhaigla nursing conference: “Back to Basics – The Power of Thinking”, where Tehnopol Health Tech Project Manager Loora Salurand had the honour of speaking alongside Kristjan Port.
The conference focused on different ways of thinking. Starting with neuroscientist Jaan Aru, participants learned how the brain generates new and creative ideas, and that one of the key ingredients for creativity is, surprisingly, doing nothing.
But after the pause comes action. To truly foster innovation, we need to experiment, as biologist and Tallinn University professor Kristjan Port reminded us. That means tolerating failures and letting go of the need for perfection.
Gerli Liivet, former vice president of the Estonian Nurses Association, highlighted that nurses today have more rights and tools than ever before. Yet to use them effectively, critical thinking is essential. When we suppress critical thinking, it can lead to unethical behaviour, harm to patients, and slow down the development of the entire nursing profession. And who limits nurses’ thinking the most? Often — it’s the nurses themselves.
“Thinking is a form of love – a deep care for the world and for people.”
— Bell Hooks, quoted by Gerli Liivet
