Nursing students learn in a variety of different contexts and draw upon a wide range of knowledge and skills to prepare and engage in clinical placements. The aim of this paper is to explore and reflect on my experiences as an Adult Nursing student of developing and implementing a quality improvement (QI) resource. This bridged the theory-practice gap (T-PG), to improve patient care and support my peers. Developed as an educational video it can be used to inform and orientate patients attending a day surgery unit. It could also be used to orientate new staff and students to common processes encountered. This paper focuses on leadership development, the challenges and opportunities in demonstrating innovation, courage and creativity. Reflecting on this experience has shown me that students can bridge the theory-practice gap and develop entrepreneurial leadership skills by creating innovative projects. I have learned that innovation in healthcare is not about complex systems and processes but can simply be about showing the way and making services easier to access and navigate, aided by the fresh perspective that student's bring. I conclude with insights for nursing students, nurse educators and nursing practice.