Introduction
In a modern healthcare environment that is changing very quickly, the implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) emerges as one of the crucial advances, improving efficiency and promoting better health outcomes. Even though the application of EHR in the ICU setting raises the question of how EHR affects nurses’ practice, knowledge, and well-being, nurses in general have benefited from the introduction of EHR systems. Through the coordination of recent studies and clinical guidelines, we intend to disinter the controversies involved in the connection between these two entities and reveal key influencing elements determining RNs’ wellness and their position during the implementation of EHR. Using this exploration, we intend to supplement the ongoing research in the domain of empowerment of nurses, organizational assistance, and improvements in the healthcare system.
Primary Research Article
Khairat’s et al. (2020) research work was a very significant study aiming to determine the complex relationship between Electronic Medical Record (EMR) satisfaction and nurses’ welfare with an emphasis on ICU nurses in one of the biggest medical centers in Southeast America. Employing a survey method, the researcher aimed to sift through the intricacies gripping the interplay of information technology systems and the functioning of nurses’ mental health. Study findings significantly contributed to the understanding of the connection between EHR well-being and nurse satisfaction. Nurses with 5 stars expressed a higher sense of satisfaction with their ICU EHR systems and consequently found themselves better off. The relationship between people and the comfort level from EHR (electronic health records) and the more positive psychosocial states along with the percentage of nurses means that this relationship is probably what maintains peace after the jobs ordinary are plagued by stress due to the nature of the work. For the nurses who were fully frustrated with time wasted on EHR-related activities, no other feelings were stronger than the level of stress and isolation they felt. These observations emphasize the massive influence of nursing EHR utilization on the psychosocial well-being of workers, who usually work in extreme environmental conditions like the ICU. It demonstrated the need to shift the focus towards a user-centered approach to the EHR (electronic health record) design and implementation. This piece of writing underlines the problems nurses find in making EHR systems work for them, such as efficient time management and dealing with changing tasks. Researchers bring up that EHR systems should be tailored according to the unique needs and preferences of frontline health workers. With this kind of celebration, healthcare enterprises can build a nurturing work climate where creating nurses’ satisfaction is inevitable. Additionally, the incorporation of EHR systems into nurses’ usual workflows has the possibility of increasing their total work satisfaction and also allows for the optimization and improvement of clinical procedures that positively impact patient outcomes.
Discipline Research-Based Article
Nguyen et al. (2021) carried out a systematic review that explored several factors underlining nurse well-being concerning EHR usage. This implies that the study was conducted with a focus on the nurses who were the biggest category of healthcare professionals who formally interacted with EHR. However, there was a shortage of information on the effects of EHR utilization on nurses’ well-being. The researchers conducted an extremely thorough exhaustive search through multiple databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ProQuest, and Web of Science, and selected 4583 articles in all. The results of the inclusion criterion continued to the selection of only 12 articles from all studied articles. The majority of these studies applied to nurses and Information Technology (IT) problem resolution with minor reference to organizational issues. It was observed in the systematic review study that the following points were highlighted. On the contrary, EHRs and paper systems led to the well-being of nurses differently. The correlation between well-being and EHR was negatively different compared to paper charts which suggest that the use of EHR may lead to a negative impact on nurse psychosocial health. To this effect, the sold findings posited personal digital literacy among nurses as something modifiable which if provided the appropriate education then could enhance nurse wellbeing by equipping them with the skill of using EHR systems. Separately, high-quality and user-friendly EHRs that incorporate accessible displays are revealed to have a positive effect on well-being, underscoring the fact that good user interface designs can significantly improve patients’ lives. A recommendation scheme for making a healthcare institution system more effective includes ICT, organization, and policy solutions, the last demonstrating that alleviation approaches should be controllable, and comprehensive to overcome the complex nature of the EHR related to nurse well-being (Nguyen et al. 2021). Lastly, the integration of information collected across organizations and synthesis of findings demonstrated the centrality of tools that more effectively visualize data to help clinicians make evidence-based decisions and decrease the burden associated with EHRs
Clinical Practice Guideline
According to the ANA Clinical Practice Guideline (2021), nurses are recommended to optimize the utilization of EHR that reflects an evidence-based approach, which ultimately focuses on their health and well-being. Meeting these propositions is based on healthcare providers integrating user-friendly EHR systems that file down documentation processes and decrease cognitive work for nurses. By providing a simple and convenient design, organizations can take a share in diminishing the burden arising from EHR use, and nurses, in turn, can be left with more time to treat patients. Not only that, but these guidelines also stress the need to create a fitting work culture that nurtures the nurses’ sense of well-being. It is going to be the setup of the EHR training facilities where other skills like IT-related will be taught, the nurses would be equipped with enough training regarding this technology. Alongside clinical practice, registered nurses can benefit from ongoing education or additional professional development options to further enhance their ability to use and understand EHR technology. Moreover, these activities may empower nurses to evolve alongside technological advancements within healthcare delivery. These guidelines keep healthcare facilities safe from nurse burnout in their work with patients. EHR users’ satisfaction with the deployment of these systems and the formation of the culture supporting them will ensure that nurses have a better work experience, and be less stressed. Thus, meeting nurses’ social and psychological needs will not only improve their conditions but also help ensure that patients receive good care and hospitals provide relative healthcare. Because the healthcare sector keeps evolving, the ANA Clinical Practice Guideline plays an indispensable role in guiding organizations in utilizing EHR properly while the main objective is the well-being of nurses and patient-centered care.
Discussion
Electronic Health Record utilization and nursing wellness is a complex matter, in which different perspectives and voices need to be explored. Khairat et al. (2020) article provides a succinct analysis of the immediate implications of EHRs for nurses’ well-being: the greater the degree of satisfaction with EHRs, the better the overall well-being. In this regard, frustration with computerization-related assignments is seen to be causing stress and feelings of loneliness among nurses, especially in the fast-paced ICU still work-in-progress environments. The investigation executed by Nguyen et al (2021) beyond more confirms the intricate dynamics that determine nurse well-being in the hour of EHR usage. This review emphasizes the need for a user-centric design and implementation of EHR in the system, focusing on the organizational, nurses´, and IT-level related factors to enhance the nurse-EHR interactions. The ANA Clinical Practice Guideline gives healthcare settings suggestions they can practice for improving ergonomics and making the systems friendlier to the nurses while focusing on EHR utilization. Such organizations can achieve better clinical outcomes by implementing easy-to-use EHR systems, creating a supportive atmosphere for nurses, and supplying education and training opportunities for EHR training and EHR skill development.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the synthesis of information that had been gathered from the main research article, systematic review, and clinical practice guideline clearly shows that focus must be put more on nurse wellbeing while embracing digital healthcare solutions, especially Electronic Health Records (EHR). From all facets driving nurse contentment and strain levels, healthcare organizations can create strategies that enhance nurse electronic health records experience while at the same time looking to get a relatively improved healthcare outcome. Following that course in the future is necessary to embrace occupancy-centered methods, secure staff instruction, and support, as well as create peaceful labor environments to improve nurse wellness in the age of electronic healthcare transformation.
References
APRN (2021) Nursing: Scope and standards of Practice, 4th edition. ANA. Available at: https://www.nursingworld.org/nurses-books/nursing-scope-and-standards-of-practice-4th-edit/ (Accessed: 15 March 2024).
Khairat, S., Xi, L., Liu, S., Shrestha, S., & Austin, C. (2020). Understanding the association between electronic health record satisfaction and the well-being of nurses: survey study. JMIR nursing, 3(1), e13996. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13996
Nguyen, O. T., Shah, S., Gartland, A. J., Parekh, A., Turner, K., Feldman, S. S., & Merlo, L. J. (2021). Factors associated with nurse well-being about electronic health record use: a systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(6), 1288-1297.https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocaa289
write