Information and technology skills are essential for all nurses to have, but especially for nurse informaticists. This assignment requires you to consider how information and technology connect to patient care outcomes and a safe care environment.
Explain why information and technology skills are essential for safe patient care.
Identify the baccalaureate nurse’s role in championing the use of information and technology to improve safety and patient outcomes.
Provide examples of how nurses use technology to make health care-related decisions.
Analyze relationship between the quality and integrity of data entered into a database and the resulting effect on the quality of patient care.
Format your assignment as one of the following:
- 18- to 20-slide presentation
- 3- to 4-minute podcast
- 15- to 20-minute oral presentation
- 875-word paper
- another format approved by your instructor
Include a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources, and develop an APA-formatted reference page.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Information and technology skills have become an integral part of safe patient care and improved patient outcomes. As a medical professor, it is crucial to explain the significance of information and technology skills in nursing to promote better care quality among nursing students. This assignment requires explaining the role of nurses in championing the use of technology, providing examples of how nurses use technology to make health care-related decisions, and analyzing the relationship between data integrity and the quality of patient care.
1. Explain why information and technology skills are essential for safe patient care.
Information and technology skills are essential for safe patient care as they promote efficient, effective, timely, and accurate patient care. Nurses rely on technology to access, manage, and share patient information, which saves time and improves communication among the healthcare team, leading to better decision-making. EHRs, telemedicine, mHealth, and POC devices allow nurses to track patient data routinely and accurately, leading to the prevention of medication errors, reducing adverse events, and improving patient outcomes. In addition, information and technology skills enable nurses to comply with HIPAA regulations, maintain patient privacy, and protect patient data from cyber-attacks.
2. Identify the baccalaureate nurse’s role in championing the use of information and technology to improve safety and patient outcomes.
Baccalaureate nurses play a crucial role in championing the use of information and technology to improve safety and patient outcomes. These nurses should understand how technology works, be knowledgeable about EHRs and their functions, and support the use of technology in the clinical setting. Baccalaureate nurses also help develop policies and procedures to ensure the effective use of technology while complying with regulations and standards. They collaborate with healthcare teams to identify how technology can be used to improve patient care quality, safety, and outcomes. Additionally, these nurses take responsibility for ensuring that they integrate technology into their practice effectively and efficiently to promote better outcomes.
3. Provide examples of how nurses use technology to make health care-related decisions.
Nurses use technology to make healthcare-related decisions in several ways, such as:
• EHRs: Nurses use EHRs to access patient data such as medical history, lab reports, radiology, etc. to make evidence-based decisions about patient care.
• Telemedicine: Nurses use telemedicine to access remote healthcare services to diagnose and treat patients, especially during the pandemic.
• mHealth: Nurses use mHealth technologies like apps and wearables to track patient data such as heart rate, blood pressure, etc. to monitor patients’ health and wellness.
• POC devices: Nurses use POC devices to monitor patients’ vital signs, glucose, and other health parameters at the bedside, allowing for early detection of complications.
4. Analyze the relationship between the quality and integrity of data entered into a database and the resulting effect on the quality of patient care.
The quality and integrity of data entered into a database play a crucial role in the quality of patient care. Accurate, reliable, complete, and timely data entry in a database ensures that nurses and other healthcare providers have access to pertinent patient information, leading to informed decisions about care delivery. Poor data integrity leads to medical errors, such as medication errors, misdiagnosis, or delayed treatment, and can jeopardize patient safety. Inaccurate data can result in clinical inaccuracies, including mismatched patient identification, incorrect medication dosages, or documented allergies. Therefore, data integrity is critical in ensuring patient safety, continuity of care, and improved outcomes.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, technology has transformed nursing practice, promoting safer, efficient, and more patient-centered care. Baccalaureate nurses play a crucial role in championing the use of technology to improve safety and patient outcomes. They must understand how to use technology effectively and efficiently, including understanding data integrity and the relationship between data integrity and patient care outcomes. Ultimately, nursing education must emphasize the significance of technology, ensuring that graduates can use technology effectively and safely in nursing practice.
