As We Have So Readily Seen, the Use of Technology Will Not Go Away; Consequently, It Will

Chapter 6

Nursing and Health Care Informatics

As we have so readily seen, the use of technology will not go away; consequently, it will only manage to seep its way into all aspects of life, from banking, purchasing, and yes, even to medical record management.Technology via the Internet and computers has changed the way we live, communicate, obtain information, work, entertain, and make crucial decisions.Because over 21 million Americans rely on the Internet for various reasons, it is imperative that we not only have the ability to market ourselves as an organization, but also we are able to discern the difference between relevant information and inaccurate information.

Computers have become prevalent not only in the home and business, but in the health care setting as well.Nurses adapt well to the introduction of new technology because they are accustomed to change and have developedboth flexibility and excellent coping mechanisms.Health care professionals must be comfortable and competent with regard to nursing informatics in order to change with the organization and move forward.Some common elements of nursing informatics include computerized order entry, electronic health records, barcoding of medications,and reporting of laboratory and x-ray results.

Nursing informatics is the integration of information science, computer science, and nursing.Consequently, information obtained by nursing through data collection, historical trending, and benchmarking is then taken and manipulated in order to meet the required objective.Formal and informal opportunities for education in nursing informatics exist as do professional organizations.Certification occurs through several accrediting services, including the AmericanNursesCredentialingCenter.The informatics nurse specialist has a master’s degree in nursing informatics and functions in the role of project manager, consultant, educator, researcher, policy developer, or entrepreneur.

Clinical information systems (CIS) are crucial to the effectiveness and success of an organization’s ability to provide care through a continuum.CIS offer health care providers history on demand, trending, quick recall, and the ability to follow patients from an acute care setting to an arena within the community, and even to their home.These computer applications can provide order entry, results reporting, clinical documentation, care planning, and clinical pathways.Computerized patient records contain information about an individual’s lifetime health status and the health care services they have received.

Theuse of technology is not only being seen in the business arena by professionals.Many nursing students are using personal digital assistants (PDAs) in the clinical setting to retrieve information that is relevant to the care of their patients. Such devices have also been instrumental in rural settings in providing instant patient education regarding medications, lab values, and diagnosis, as well as standard of practice regimes.