Project 1

APEX: Redefining the Future of Nursing at ECU Health

Project Description

The Advancing Nursing Practice and Excellence (APEX) Initiative was designed to bridge the gap between frontline nursing experiences and executive strategy at ECU Health. Through a mixed-methods research approach, including focus groups, observational studies, and AI-driven thematic analysis, this project uncovered key challenges in nursing practice, resource constraints, leadership instability, workflow inefficiencies, and emotional burden, while also highlighting opportunities for innovation, professional development, and systemic transformation.

With insights from 230 nurses across 8 hospitals and ambulatory clinics, the findings informed the creation of a sustainable, future-ready nursing strategy, ensuring that ECU Health is positioned as a national model for nursing excellence. By embedding participatory research and co-design methodologies, the APEX initiative exemplifies how healthcare systems can leverage human-centered insights and strategic foresight to drive long-term impact.

Key Takeaways:

• Innovative Research Approach: Integration of qualitative methods, AI-driven sentiment analysis, and large-scale engagement.

• Actionable Insights: Identified core themes influencing nursing practice, such as emotional well-being, burnout, workflow efficiency, and leadership.

• Tangible Impact: Informed strategic recommendations that led to the implementation of system-wide improvements in resource allocation, professional development, and workforce sustainability.