Insight and discovery in clinical nursing practice

SummaryCentral to health care is clinical practice and its ongoing improvement is essential. Within clinical practice are embedded opportunities for nurses to engage and discover new ways to deliver care. Clinicians can position themselves at the forefront of professional practice development and through insight and discovery transform healthcare delivery. To date the position of clinical insight and discovery in nursing practice has been subtle and not strongly addressed. A greater understanding of insight and discovery by nurses has the potential to bring a new awareness to clinicians and thereby progress practice. This paper explores the current position of insight in nursing practice, perspectives on insight and past clinical contributions it has made to healthcare. Implications for nurses and organisations contemplating insight and discovery for improving practice include sensitising experienced clinical nurses to the process of reflection, insight and discovery; creating a clinical culture for practice advancement through insight and encouraging clinical nursing leaders to foster clinical discovery.