Interaction Between Nurse Informaticists and Other Specialists Discussion Essay
The Electronic Health Record (EHR) has proven to be beneficial in communicating interprofessionally and in reducing medical errors. One of the problems with technology, however, is that professionals spend more time dealing with the complexities that come with the use of electronic platforms. A common issue that healthcare professionals encounter in working with machines and technology is the time it takes, time that could have been used giving direct and indirect patient care performed by nursing duties at the bedside (Cheevakasemsook, Chapman, Francis, & Davies, 2006). At my place of employment, I have witnessed and also offered to help agency nurses who come to the facility to help curve the nursing shortage struggle with the software program used by EHR to document patient care. At my place of employment, improvement is needed for agency nurses who are unfamiliar with the hospital current EMR software. For example, the agency nurse may be more familiar with Epic software rather than Medhost or Meditech software which is used at my place of employment. They feel pressured to complete their documentation, which often results in incomplete or inaccurate charting where they are not efficiently communicating the continuity of care to other healthcare professionals who have access to the EHR.
There are many factors that encompass navigating through an electronic health record. It is important for the nurse to have the knowledge and an understanding of the nursing process as it pertains to their patients who require individualized care. Having a base knowledge as well as critical thinking and decision-making skills from nursing judgement can develop optimal individualized patient treatments. Nursing theorist, Faye Abdellah, developed a human needs theory that identifies nursing as “doing something to or for a patient” in order to help patients reach an optimal level of their health (Petiprin, 2016). A study on nursing informatics discusses how the majority of a nurse’s work involves working with technology and information management (Monsen et al., 2019). The continued evolution of nursing informatics could have a positive outcome if nurses are able to advance practice through the appropriate use of technology.
References
Cheevakasemsook, A., Chapman, Y., Francis, K., & Davies, C. (2006). The Study of Nursing Documentation Complexities, 366-374. From International Journal of Nursing Practice: https://doi-org.dominican.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2006.00596.x
Monsen, K., Bush, R., Jones, J., Manos, E., Skiba, D., & Johnson, S. (2019). Alignment of American Association of Colleges of Nursing Graduate-Level Nursing Informatics Competencies with American Medical Informatics Association Health Informatics Core Competencies, 37(8), 396–404. From CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing: doi:10.1097/CIN.0000000000000537
Petiprin, A. (2016). Faye Abdellah – Nursing Theorist. From Nursing Theory: https://nursing- theory.org/nursing-theorists/Faye-Abdellah.php
Discussion: Interaction Between Nurse Informaticists and Other Specialists
Nature offers many examples of specialization and collaboration. Ant colonies and bee hives are but two examples of nature’s sophisticated organizations. Each thrives because their members specialize by tasks, divide labor, and collaborate to ensure food, safety, and general well-being of the colony or hive.
Of course, humans don’t fare too badly in this regard either. And healthcare is a great example. As specialists in the collection, access, and application of data, nurse informaticists collaborate with specialists on a regular basis to ensure that appropriate data is available to make decisions and take actions to ensure the general well-being of patients.
In this Discussion, you will reflect on your own observations of and/or experiences with informaticist collaboration. You will also propose strategies for how these collaborative experiences might be improved.
To Prepare:
- Review the Resources and reflect on the evolution of nursing informatics from a science to a nursing specialty.
- Consider your experiences with nurse Informaticists or technology specialists within your healthcare organization.
By Day 3 of Week 3
Post a description of experiences or observations about how nurse informaticists and/or data or technology specialists interact with other professionals within your healthcare organization. Suggest at least one strategy on how these interactions might be improved. Be specific and provide examples. Then, explain the impact you believe the continued evolution of nursing informatics as a specialty and/or the continued emergence of new technologies might have on professional interactions.
By Day 6 of Week 3
Respond to at least two of your colleagues* on two different days, offering one or more additional interaction strategies in support of the examples/observations shared or by offering further insight to the thoughts shared about the future of these interactions.
Response post
I agree 100 % with your post. Technology can be viewed as a positive and negative. “Health information technology (HIT) systems, such as computerized physician order entry (CPOE), computerized decision support and integrated Electronic Health Records (EHR), are increasingly being introduced in health care organizations internationally to help improve care efficiency, quality and safety” (Dowding, 2015 p.1).I love being able to communicate with patients and providers in different ways however it can be difficult at times. With the advancement in technology things are constantly changing in healthcare. I agree when you mention the amount of time taken away from direct patient care. When I worked at the bedside it was bothersome to spend so much time charting when I could be attending to the needs of my patients. Since I stepped away from bedside nursing, I’ve noticed EHR charting is slowly improving. “Standardization and widespread distribution of EHR systems improve the work of medical personnel in the interdisciplinary care of patients, enable better medical and insurance-allowance supervision, increase patient safety, and serve as financially beneficial solutions for the healthcare systems”(Bujnowska, & Wysoczański, 2020 p.2). Thank you for your post.
References
Dowding, D. W., Turley, M., & Garrido, T. (2015). Nurses’ use of an integrated electronic health record: results of a case site analysis. Informatics for Health & Social Care, 40(4), 345–361. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.3109/17538157.2014.948169
Bujnowska-Fedak, M. M., & Wysoczański, Ł. (2020). Access to an Electronic Health Record: A Polish National Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17). https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.3390/ijerph17176165
response 2
Thanks for your post. It was very informative. Nursing informaticists play an integral role in health care facilities and interact with other health care professionals through informatics tools that improve best practice and patient outcomes (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). One way to improve this interaction is to create EHR processes to ensure inter-professional communication and collaboration. All health professionals must be able to easily access pertinent patient information in the electronic health record (EHR) and use this information to ensure continuity of care (Sweeney, 2017).
I agree that the ability to critically think and make informed decisions are vital to providing individualized patient care. The transformation of data to information further converted into knowledge helps health care professionals make knowledge-based decisions (Ball, 2005). Additionally, information systems with integrated decision support systems (DSSs) contain accurate, analyzed data that can be used to enhance decision-making for improved outcomes (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017).
References
Ball, M. J. (2005). Nursing Informatics of tomorrow. Healthcare Informatics Online, 2(5). Retrieved from http://www.providersedge.com/ehdocs/ehr_articles/Nursing_Informatics_of_Tomorrow.pdf
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2017). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning
Sweeney, J. (2017). Healthcare Informatics. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 21(1), 4-1
Discussion Week 3: Interaction Between Nurse Informaticists and Other Specialists
In today’s world of health systems, technology plays a vital role in nursing practice. Nurses rely on information and communication technologies. “Computers, hand held devices, monitors, and other healthcare technologies are essential tools for nurses” (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018, p 534). Nurses must work together with the nursing informatics and technology specialists to ensure a smooth flow in the delivery of service to ensure patient safety and quality of care.
In my healthcare organization professionals including myself must interact with data technology specialists regularly to ensure all of the technology systems are working properly. We use nursing informatics to identify, capture, manage, and share health care data for each of our patients. We must learn and know how to use computers, portable devices, electronic health records, software, and applications. We must interact with the technology specialist to make sure that everything is working properly and is up to date so that the data can be transferred smoothly and safely.
One strategy on how interactions with nurse informaticists, and technology specialists may improve is by incorporating appropriate information technology educational programs for all nurses at every level. It is essential for nurses to be involved in the initial design of systems to improve the quality of health care and change their evolving culture(Darvish et al., 2014). Gaining technical skills in the health systems that we use in nursing practice today will ensure better results and improve our professional interactions.
The continued evolution of nursing informatics as a specialty looks very promising to the future of nursing. The new technologies with enhanced functionalities enhance clinical collaboration, and provide brighter insights to help healthcare organizations meet patients’ needs quicker, and thus improve quality of care and financial performance (Wang et al., 2018).
References
Darvish, A., Bahramnezhad, F., Keyhanian, S., & Navidhamidi, M. (2014). The role of nursing informatics on promoting quality of health care and the need for appropriate education. Global Journal of Health Science, 6(6). https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v6n6p11
Mcgonigle, & Mastrian. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Wang, Y., Kung, L., & Byrd, T. A. (2018). Big data analytics: Understanding its capabilities and potential benefits for healthcare organizations. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 126, 3-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.12.019
sample response
Thank you for providing your insight and thoughts regarding the interactions between the nurse informaticist and the other healthcare professionals. The field of nursing informatics is quite interesting as it includes interpretation of information flow within the organization, the preparation of process information flow charts for all aspects of clinical systems, the development of standards and database structures to facilitate clinical care, education, administration, or research (Darvish et al., 2014). With such a diverse background, I couldn’t help but agree with your statement regarding the incorporation of information technology education programs for all levels. With such a vital role in the nursing field, it important to provide an adequate education for all staff to prevent any types of miscommunication or misunderstanding. With the continuing growth of the technological field, we’ll likely see the development and renewal of this field to greater heights and possibilities.
Reference
Darvish, A., Bahramnezhad, F., Keyhanian, S., & Navidhamidi, M. (2014, June 25). The role of nursing informatics on promoting quality of health care and the need for appropriate education. Global journal of health science. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4825491/.
Sipes, C. (2016). Project management: Essential skill of nurse informaticists. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 225, 252-256.
sample response 2
Hey there xxx!. This is absolutely true pertaining to the education workers need when involving informatics. Furthermore, there should be strides from all disciplines to ensure that health information technology is understood. According to an article, comprehensive efforts to reduce technological errors must start with clear definitions and an origin-focused understanding of health information technology errors that addresses important socio-technical aspects of HIT use and implementation (Sittig & Singh, 2011). This alone let us know that we should incorporate more education of the matter.
I found it interesting that you also expressed that nurses should be involved in the entire process including the initial design. That is honestly one of the most profound things I have heard this year. I have expressed consistently that all things that involves nursing should include nurses. Staffing, budgets, and even care involving technology should also involve nurses. According to an article, nurse leaders need to be actively involved in the development and debate over appropriate technology and resources (Hamer & Cipriano, 2013).
References:
Hamer, S., & Cipriano, P. (2013). Involving nurses in developing new technology. Nursing times, 109(47), 18–19.
Sittig, D. F., & Singh, H. (2011). Defining health information technology-related errors: new developments since to err is human. Archives of internal medicine, 171(14), 1281–1284. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.327
