Nursing Informatics

According to McGonigle and Mastrian (2015), “The goals of informatics need to include the use of technologies to empower citizens to manage their own health and wellness more effectively” (p. 133). Medical information and treatment plans can easily overwhelm a patient, especially when they are dealing with comorbidities. It is important to understand the results from tests or diagnoses. Nurses must collect that data, interpret the information, expand the patient’s knowledge about the condition through education, and finally apply the skills in a healthcare setting. Technology is improving quickly. Pen and paper documentation is transitioning into a computer system. In order to deliver quality, patient centered care, a nurse must take

A beginning nurse has little experience in the nursing field and still requires guidance. This level of practice uses basic computer skills to manage patient information. Traveling from room to room, there is a great deal of patient information acquired. This includes a head to toe assessment, vital sounds, safety checks, etc. All of this information must be documented to prove that the task was performed. Online documentation is also a vital aspect of communication. Any member of the interdisciplinary team can log on to the online system and access that patient information if needed. It is very important that a nurse charts this data correctly to avoid errors or miscommunication. Nursing informatics includes competencies for each level of practicing nurses. McGonigle and Mastrian (2015) state that a beginning nurse must be able to “Start the computer and log on securely to access select applications/software, access and send email, collect and enter patient data into the information system” (p. 118). Practice and experience will help to advance the nurse through each level of

If technology is improving, so is it’s accuracy. One way to fix the problem of computer and machine malfunction is keeping the system up to date. By constantly updating the online programs and security systems. There are several reasons why technology may shut down, but one of the main explanations is outdated software. Outdated software will cause a computer to run slowly and become more prone to getting viruses. When this happens, confidentiality is in jeopardy. For this reason, it is important to change passwords every ninety days and update the computer systems. Another solution to help reach the goal of nursing informatics is education. Nurses may second guess the new documentation systems, but most of the time they do not know how much it can benefit them. “As we transform the healthcare industry to this IT-enabled age, it’s vital to incorporate basic computer skills and NI competencies into all levels of professional nursing education programs” (Jarzembak, 2015. p. 41). There are many educational programs to help familiarize the nurses with the new technology. In the end, the benefits of technology improve nursing in healthcare facilities