Name
Capella University
NURS_FPX6030
Instructor’s Name
October 7th, 2024
Practicum and Scholarly Article
The practicum experience provides a connection between the learners’ coursework and practice, as well as an opportunity for the nursing students to practice what they learn. Combined with articles where findings of empirical research related to evidence-based practices are discussed, this practical training becomes the basis for enhancing the quality of nurses’ work and patients’ outcomes (Reid et al., 2021). These two elements combined that of applying the theoretical knowledge acquired and that of the clinician’s experience to nursing the patients improve both the practice of nursing and the proficiency of the clinician. The purpose of this work is to review bodies of literature and provide self-reflection about practicum experiences to analyze the factors that affected nurse competency and quality of patient care.
Summary of a Nursing Informatics Journal Article
Various technologies and systems that support nursing processes and patient care as well as nursing informatics journal articles. Many of these articles discuss EHR as a tool for handling patients’ information and possessing real-time information that enhances continuity of care (Kleib et al., 2021). Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) also garner much interest as they increase the effectiveness of the stock of information available to healthcare providers.
Furthermore, the application of telemedicine technologies has been more significant in recent years, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic for remote consultation and patient follow-up. These technologies guarantee patient care while at the same time protecting the security and privacy of the patient’s data. This paper emphasizes the main responsibilities that nursing informatics facilitates the implementation of such technologies in health systems to make care delivery fulfilling, safe, and patient-oriented (Von et al., 2022). Such subjects as big data analysis, where tendencies in certain patterns of patients can help predict the outcomes and perspectives in treatment and resources appear widely in these journals.
Furthermore, nurse informatics plays a role in the development of the interface with the system understandable to common users, training of new systems, and adherence to healthcare rules and policies such as HIPAA (Von et al., 2022). They essentially act as intermediaries between clinical practice and technology innovation.
Historical Development and Evolution
Nursing informatics has its origins some forty years back, the time when computers were adopted in health occupations for billing and admittance. With technology improving over the years, computers were able to assume a place in clinical care. Nursing informatics as a specialty area of practice was slowly taking shape by the 1980s through the unrelenting efforts of some pioneer scholars: Drs (Nes et al., 2021). Several authors: especially, Patricia Schwirian and Virginia Saba supported the viewpoint of the usage of information science in nursing.
During the 1990s, there was the expansion of EHR systems, which changed the keeping of health records in healthcare facilities. There was progress in clinical decision support tools, data analytics, and telehealth which firmly intertwined technology into the nursing practice (Cleary et al., 2019). Modern technologies including big data machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have become major tools in health and these technologies are fusing to assist nursing professionals in providing effective efficient and patient-centered care to the healthcare consumer.
Health IT Implementation and Challenges
Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Telemedicine, and Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS). EHRs have integrated patient data through the following effects; easy access to patient record information, enhanced sharing of patient information amongst clinicians, and consistent care to patients. Telemedicine has broken barriers of distance and can offer consultations and patient follow-up, especially in rural areas (Shakhman et al., 2020). On the other hand, CDSS helps the healthcare provider in decision-making by using patient data and providing suggestions according to the recommended guidelines which in turn advance patient safety and decrease errors.
However, there are some difficulties with the adoption of Health IT. Another challenge that comes with the adoption of new technologies is the issue of the prohibitively expensive costs of implementing the technologies. This includes the acquisition of software and hardware, recurrent maintenance, as well as updating of existing systems to accommodate newer technologies; a factor that may be moderately costly for small health facilities (Shakhman et al., 2020). However, change resistance from healthcare staff can reduce the rate of change in the adoption of the solutions. Employees may be resistant to change because of the different systems that they may be unable to master through training and this may incline them to make mistakes or slow in their tasks.
Another issue has to do with data protection and Data Privacy Act or HIPAA compliance. Electronic health records contain Health IT systems or Health Information Technology that involve patients ‘sensitive data making them easy targets of hackers. It is now mandatory for health institutions to protect the data of their patients and also adhere to set legal requirements, failure to which leads to compromises and the infringement of the rights of patients (Trotter, 2022). Unfavorable conditions can be answered by Health IT plans that should involve leadership, training, user-centered systems, and data protection as the components that would help Healthcare organizations meet goals and properly integrate technology.
Nursing Informatics Career Opportunities
Nursing informatics is a rapidly expanding field due to the increasing reliance on technology in healthcare. As healthcare systems continue to integrate digital tools to enhance patient care and streamline clinical processes, the demand for nurse informaticists has grown significantly (Groom et al., 2021). These professionals are essential in developing, implementing, and optimizing healthcare technologies like Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), and telemedicine platforms. Their role is to ensure that these systems not only support clinical workflows but also improve patient safety, quality of care, and overall efficiency in healthcare delivery (Groom et al., 2021).
Existing roles within this domain include clinical informatics specialists and systems that integrate with clinical care organizations by designing technologies to be used by teams within the clinical context. They explain how technology can be adopted also in the routine running of healthcare delivery systems (Buchanan et al., 2021). Another one of the roles is that of the healthcare data analyst, in which one is concerned with the processes of organizing and interpreting large amounts of patient data to make predictions about possible outcomes and to shape treatment decisions. An EHR implementation consultant is an individual who is tasked with the testing, setting up and training of the healthcare facilities personnel on EHR systems meant for use in any healthcare setting.
Apart from these technical positions, they can also be promoted to management positions including director of health informatics or informatics nurse manager. As such, they are required to lead on the more expansive health IT initiatives across the health-care institutions (Clark et al., 2020).y trends, predict outcomes, and inform clinical decision-making. An EHR implementation consultant is responsible for overseeing the installation, configuration, and training related to EHR systems, ensuring that the system meets the specific needs of healthcare facilities and their staff.
Integration of Nursing and Technology
Technology use within the focus of nursing has greatly enhanced the ways through which patients are treated. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have replaced manual ways of data input and output for nurses, thereby minimizing common medical mistakes and enhancing physician coordination among professional carers (Miles & Quinlan, 2023). This technology makes it possible for the health care team to receive updated information about the patient hence facilitating effective coordination of the patient. Also, Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) assist nurses with theoretical support in decision-making regarding patients’ interventions that will explain higher time efficiency and quality of care.
Telehealth enables nurses to monitor patients remotely, conduct virtual consultations, and manage chronic conditions without the need for in-person visits (Heinen et al., 2019). This is particularly valuable in rural or remote areas where healthcare access is limited. Furthermore, advancements in wearable technologies and remote monitoring devices provide nurses with real-time data on patient’s health, allowing them to deliver personalized care and respond promptly to any changes in a patient’s condition. These innovations not only improve patient outcomes but also make nursing care more efficient by enabling nurses to focus on critical, hands-on tasks.
Furthermore, technology is expected to become more relevant for managing future requirements in the healthcare system (Heinen et al., 2019). It is therefore apparent that nursing professionals need to remain versatile or in other ways update themselves to learn how to integrate new technologies into their practice. The integration of nursing and technology continues including patient experience, care, and progressive identification of technology solutions for empowering and preparing nurses so they can meet modern healthcare needs by providing safe, effective patient-centered care.
NURS FPX 6025 Assessment 3 Conclusion
In conclusion, the impact of technology in nursing has enhanced the care of patients and the overall process in the health sector. Techniques such as computerized clinical support systems and electronic health records have enhanced the collection of data information and facilitation of data decisions. There is no doubt that these technologies provide a better way to deliver care even though there are hindrances like high implementation costs and issues with data security (Kerr et al., 2021). The nursing informatics field grows, providing diverse employment opportunities and providing essential contributions toward the future of healthcare. This is important to advance the technology embedded in the profession to meet future healthcare needs.
NURS FPX 6025 Assessment 3 References
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Clark, A., Wolgast, K. A., Mazur, N., & Mekis, A. (2020). Leading change in nurse bedside shift report. The Nursing Clinics of North America, 55(1), 21–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2019.10.002
Cleary, M., RN, PhD, West, S., RN, PhD, Arthur, D., RN, PhD, & Kornhaber, R., RN, PhD (2019). Change management in health care and mental health nursing. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 40(11), 966–972. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2019.1609633
Groom, L. L., McCarthy, M. M., Stimpfel, A. W., & Brody, A. A. (2021). Telemedicine and telehealth in nursing homes: An integrative review. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 22(9), 1784–1801.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2021.02.037
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