Growing a Network: The Experiences of InspireNet BC’s Nursing Health Services Research Network Networks Leadership Symposium 2011 Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC November 14, 2011

Presenting on behalf of Management TeamCo-leaders: Noreen Frisch, PhD, RN Grace Mickelson, MA, RN Manager: Pat Atherton, BCom, MPA

A program of the BC Nursing Research Initiative (BCNRI) Funded by Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR)

Overarching BCNRI Goals To expand nursing health services research activity To address complex and recurring health system and policy issues

BCNRI Complementary Programs 5 Nursing Research Facilitators InspireNet Commissioned Research Research Projects Investigative Team Partnered Research Nursing Research Advisory Council MSFHR Board MSFHR

Network Planning & Launch 2008 Sept – MSFHR Board Approval for Network 2009 Jan – Community Input Complete 2009 Nov – Network Grant Awarded 2010 Jan – Manager Hired 2010 Feb – Leadership Council meets 2010 May – Website launched 1year of network-specific consultation & planning prior to launch 9 member proposal development group supported by a consultant Network and tech-savvy Manager!

InspireNet’s Vision: 2009 InspireNet’s Vision: 2009 Vibrant and interactive network of individuals and organizations Working collaboratively to advance and use research and knowledge to improve nursing health services in BC 2011 – reconfirmed by leaders

Mission: 2009 To foster optimal creation, sharing and use of nursing health services knowledge and research expertise 2011 – leaders say more focus needed

Goals: 2009 Goals: 2009 Increased research capacity Coordinated approach to planning / priority setting Strategic nursing / interprofessional partnerships Care delivery innovation leaders say… “Redefine role in coordinated planning and priority setting ” “Add sustainability goal”

Dedicated Resources InspireNet funded 2009 – 2013 by MSFHR Years 1 & 2 = $200K/yr Years 3 & 4 = $250K/yr Co-leaders supported by UVic & PHSA Host institution: UVic Staffing: Pat Atherton, Network Manager, 0.8 FTE Sarah Titcomb, Admin. Support, 0.2 FTE Lorilee Scott, Database Coordinator, 0.1 FTE

Key Strategies & Tactics Full use of Internet capabilities All teams supported by e-Community of Practice (e-CoP) Active member involvement Leadership Council & all teams Partnerships Academic- health services collaboration Leadership Council, Management Team, 8 Action Teams, 5 Coordinating Teams, Nursing Research Facilitators Distributed & shared leadership

Critical Success Factor: Web 2.0 & e-CoP Platform Critical Success Factor: Web 2.0 & e-CoP Platform Development software Drupal (Content Management System) Anyone can add content to website Easy to make website design changes E-CoPs = free online password protected groups Wiki Event calendar Shared document library Members’ profiles Fully integrated into website and members’ database Notifications Automated notifications to team members when new content added

Participation Model: Learning Active Leadership Participation Model: Learning Active Leadership All Members: Learning Receive e-news every 2 wks. Access website Some members join Action Teams & participate via eCoP Core Teams: Learning, Leading & Planning Use, build database Action Teams: Topic-specific Learning Some members take on leadership roles for Action & Coordinating Teams Connect via Webex meetings & eCoP Supported by Management Team Attend events

Top 10 Hits - Website & Social Media 1.My Teams 2.Database 3.What InspireNet can do for You 4.Events Calendar 5.Research Skills 6.Resources 7.Guest Blogs 8.Existing Action Teams 9.Funding 10.About InspireNet 20. Scholarly Articles Social Media: 270 Twitter followers 31 Facebook ‘likes’

Action Teams: Co-leaders, Core Team & Members Action Teams: Co-leaders, Core Team & Members Work of our Action Teams is to facilitate: Knowledge sharing Capture of ‘tacit’ knowledge Use of evidence in practice Development of researchable questions Research proposals & projects

Action Teams  First Nations Health n = 6  Practice-based Research Challenge x2 n = 61  eHealth, eTechnolgies & Informatics n = 54  Healthy Workplace Climates n = 57  Nurse Educators’ Scholarship n = 59  Optimal Utilization of Advanced Practice Nursing Roles n = 62  Nursing Education & Research Rounds n = 322

Coordinating Teams Provide infrastructure, coordination and support for the ‘actions’ & ‘activities’ Identify barriers to full participation Make the website & eCoPs user- friendly Promote linkages across teams Facilitate knowledge translation Develop effective communication tools Evaluate our progress

Coordinating Teams  Annual Conference Planning Group n = 6  Communications n = 3  Database n = 2  Evaluation n = 6  Knowledge to Action n = 10 core + 29 learning

Profile at 2 Years 3 key organizations supporting network operations MSFHR, UVic, PHSA 13 active teams – connected ‘in kind’ support for leaders 1484 individual members – connected 68% health sector 21% academic sector 11% NGOs, private care

Successes at 2 years Collaborative, engaged leaders # and diversity of members Website is a ‘go to’ source Many members engaged in priority areas of HSR Progress tracked monthly for public reporting

‘Virtual’ & Other Lessons Learned Web tools must be user-friendly and intuitive Team leaders must be committed & willing to learn eCoP use Many members require training on technology Support needs to be available daily All participants require clarification on copyright laws & sharing of information Action Team leaders need start-up support

Challenges/Opportunities Sustaining InspireNet after 2013 Demonstrating value to policy and decision makers Linking with other health services research networks Leveraging our strengths in supporting knowledge translation

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