In the 21st century, nursing is going to rely heavily on technology, especially related to computer software and system engineering. Nursing informatics (NI), as defined by Murphy (2010), is the “combination of nursing, information, and computer sciences to manage and process data into information and knowledge to use in nursing practice” (p. 204). There are pros and cons to the increased use of technology. With technological advancements, such as automatic vital sign machines responsible for taking blood pressures and pulses, there are fewer objective findings by nurses that are acquired by the use of touch (Ansell, Meyer, & Thomas, 2015). For example, Ansell et al. (2015) state that with the nurse dependency on automatic vital signs, there …show more content…
One area of great advancement may be clinical decision systems (CDS). Clinical Decision Systems, as described by Berner (2009) are computerized programs that provide clinicians, staff, patients, and others with information specific to the patient’s trending health presented at the best time to the clinician or clinical staff. These systems will provide prompts or alerts for missed information, as well as compare trending data of the patient with possible patient outcomes to avoid medical errors (Berner, 2009). Piscotty, Kalisch, & Gracey-Thomas (2015) created a study that found the largest hindrance to the adoption of NI or CDS is the nurse’s attitudes and perceptions toward technology, such as a fear by nurses in learning new computer systems. This study and others is indicative of the possibility for faster adoption of nursing technology among a generation raised during the rapid development of computers and computer programs that may have a more favorable attitude towards nursing informatics in the workplace. This paper will look at the history of nursing informatics, how clinical decision systems work, as well as pros and cons of their …show more content…
With these findings, emerge the importance of nursing informatics as a way of preventing nursing errors resulting in poor patient outcomes. Although the focus of this paper is on nursing errors and the implementation of nursing informatics, it should be noted that poor patient outcomes can be attributed to a physician’s lack of proper identification, diagnosis, and treatment which also have the potential to be improved by the use of medical
Hebda, T. & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of Informatics for Nurses & Healthcare Professionals. (5th Edition). Upper Saddle River. : N.J: Pearson Education
Introduction “Health informatics is the science that underlies the academic investigation and practical application of computing and communications technology to healthcare, health education and biomedical research” (UofV, 2012). This broad area of inquiry incorporates the design and optimization of information systems that support clinical practice, public health and research; understanding and optimizing the way in which biomedical data and information systems are used for decision-making; and using communications and computing technology to better educate healthcare providers, researchers and consumers. Although there are many benefits of bringing in electronic health systems there are glaring issues that associate with these systems. The
... middle of paper ... ... Works Cited 1. Cooper, Paul, RN, MSN, Director of Nursing Informatics.
The software is currently on several Ipads and can also be accessed via a regular laptop or a desktop computer. My long term goal is to utilize this new software very frequently as it serves a snap shot of patients background , information on any updates, critical issues during the shift and any other important information staff would need at a glance is readily available. This software is only specific to my unit, hence apart from documenting in the regular organizations EPIC software I have to consistently update information on my patients in this new software being utilized on my unit. I will be able to achieve this if I make it a habit of utilizing it on a daily
Working as a professional registered nurse in the hospital, I realized how nurses struggle to find balance between devoting the time charting on the computer and spending time taking care of the patients. Moreover, I’ve seen nurses where they get discouraged trying to find this balance between patients and charting. As a bedside nurse, I would love nothing, but to tend to the needs of my patients. The length of time consume on electronic charting all day, take the very essence of bedside nursing away from nurses, which is caring. Reducing the time of nurses being occupied on charting by eliminating redundant tasks while conforming to their standard, are the changes I would like to make. These are a few of the reasons why I wanted to pursue a degree in informatics. I would advocate for nurses everywhere and to become an instrument in providing them a better electronic health system to work on. Pursuing the degree in nursing informatics will benefit me in
In the late 1960s, the first computer systems were installed in hospitals (Murphy,2010). The computer systems started in the basements of hospitals and now are in every nursing unit. Nursing informatics allows for a more efficient and faster delivery of health care. Nursing informatics is a way of keeping patient information properly organized and creating patient care plans.
According to the author, nursing practice needs to stay current with technological advances while keeping its identity as a patient focused profession. Nurses use technology to improve care from a patient?s perspective, both in quality of care and cost. At the same time, nurses must learn to balance technological knowledge with personal skills, thus providing optimum clinical care while maintaining a person-focused relationship with the patient.
Also, these studies question those who are effected; in this case, those who are most effected, is everyone. Doctors and nurses spend the most time working within these systems, but the information that is put into these systems effects every individual in America, because it is their information. Because nurses are often considered “both coordinators and providers of patient care” and they “attend to the whole patient,” their opinion is highly regarded (Otieno, Toyama, Asonuma, Kanai-Pak, & Naitoh, 2007, p. 210). It is clear that the use of these new systems is much debated, and many people have their own, individualized opinion. This information suggests that when there is a problem in the medical field, those who address it attempt to gather opinions from everyone who is involved before proceeding. It has been proven by multiple studies that this system of record keeping does in fact have potential to significantly improve patient health through efficiency, and it is because of this that the majority of hospitals have already completed, or begun the transfer from paperless to electronic (Otieno, Toyama, Asonuma, Kanai-Pak, & Naitoh,
As technology continues to evolve so does the need for healthcare facilities to continually maintain a higher level of competence that runs parallel to electronic and scientific advancement. Comparatively, the structure of hi-tech facilities, such as medical centers and clinics prepared with new amenities has enhanced the industry scale of communities by working in the healthcare arena. Likewise, technological innovations which help diagnose a variety of infections and disorders has helped in assisting patients in receiving increased quality care. As a result, patient care as a whole has positively been affected within the last decade. Furthermore, it only make sense that more personalized and precise problem-solving methods and procedures will be devised in the future. Accordingly, the following paragraphs will analyze the significance of the Meaningful Use program for nurses, nursing, national health policy, patient outcomes, and population health associated with the collection and use of the programs core criteria.
Healthcare is constantly changing with the intention of improving patient care. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report introducing five core competencies for health professionals, in order to improve the Untied States healthcare system: provide patient-centered care, work in interdisciplinary teams, employ evidence-based practice, apply quality improvement, and utilize informatics (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2003). IOM proposes that if all five core competencies are utilized by health professionals, quality patient care can be achieved. The facility in which this nurse work, is in need of improving their charting system. The facility currently utilizes two different software systems for charting, in addition to
Technology is stated as the scientific method and material used to achieve a commercial or industrial objective. To go one step further, nursing technology is using a tool to advance nursing practice. “The Institute of medicine identified that technology as a viable method of enhancing patient care delivery and improving staff productivity” Sensmeier, Horowitz (2003 page). Because inadequate nursing staff causes shortcuts to be taken, there are mistakes made that could have possibly been prevented. Errors by nursing staff were variously reported as being responsible for between 44,000 and 98,000 hospital deaths per year. Sensmeier, Horowitz (2003). Technology can have a large impact on nursing. In the past 5 to 10 years, computerized patient records have increased less than 10%. This number shows us that we are still not embracing technology to its full potential. Today in most hospital systems computerized electronic charting is being used. Many hospitals have many different systems for...
Information Systems/Technology and patient care technology for the improvement and transformation of health care is an important part of the DNP. Technology has transformed every aspect of human life in positive ways. Technology brought efficiency and improved healthcare deliverance system. Healthcare technologies enabled practitioners to better understand disease process and how to implement best treatment plan. DNP programs across the country embrace information systems and technology in their nursing curriculum because, it prepares nursing students to be innovative and deliver best care (AACN, 2006). DNP graduates must have the ability to use technology to analyze and disseminate critical information to find solutions that
Medical errors can happen in the healthcare system such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, operating rooms, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, patients’ homes and anywhere in the healthcare system where patients are being treated. These errors consist of diagnostic, treatment, medicine, surgical, equipment calibration, and lab report error. Furthermore, communication problems between doctors and patients, miscommunication among healthcare staff and complex health care systems are playing important role in medical errors. We need to look for a solution which starts changes from physicians, nurses, pharmacists, patients, hospitals, and government agencies. In this paper I will discuss how does the problem of medical errors affect our healthcare delivery system? Also how can these medical errors be prevented and reduced?
Nursing informatics is a branch of nursing or area of specialty that concentrates on finding ways to improve data management and communication in nursing with the sole objective of improving efficiency, reduction of health costs and enhancement of the quality of patient care (Murphy, 2010). It is a growing area of nursing specialty that combines computer science, information technology and nursing science in the management and processing of nursing information, data and knowledge with the sole objective of supporting nursing practice and research. Various nursing theorists have formulated various theoretical frameworks or models related to nursing informatics (Wager, Lee, & Glaser, 2013). They are defined as a cluster of related concepts or ideas that establish actions that act as major guidelines in nursing informatics to issues related to the central concept of data, information and knowledge. Some of the theories that inform and assist in the framing of nursing informatics include Turley's nursing informatics model, Goossen’s framework for nursing informatics research and Staggers & Parks’ nurse-computer interaction framework (Elkind, 2009).
Informatics has become an essential part of the nursing profession and the industry of health care. It is integrated by similar fields that have overlapping areas of focus. The field of nursing informatics (NI) is still blossoming and with its scope continually evolving, it is in need of its own theory. The data, information, knowledge and wisdom (DIKW) framework is a concept of the transformation of data into wisdom through intellectual processes. In the DIKW model, NI is a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science and information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge and wisdom into nursing practice (ANA, 2015). It requires insight and talent from multiple fields to find solutions to the health problems