Information technology is now an integral element of our health-care sector, requiring healthcare workers to have fundamental computer skills as well as informatics capabilities in order to manage and deliver treatment using technology. The American Institute of Medicine recommended that hospitals adopt computerized technologies to improve the quality of care given to hospitalized patients in early 2000. Previous research into the consequences of using health information technology revealed that there were numerous positive effects on the health system. Nursing care may be made easier with the use of computer and telecommunications systems, as well as educational tools for nursing students. Furthermore, the use of information technologies in the workplace allows nurses to spend a little less time recording patient care and more time providing high-quality care.
Enhanced patient care safety and medical professional efficiency are two of the many advantages of employing ICT in nursing. Nursing informatics skills define the method for assessing a competent nurse’s ability to perform a certain position. Three competences from each area of knowledge, skills, and attitude will be discussed in this study. The competencies include understanding why information and technology skills are critical for providing safe patient care, using technology and information management tools to facilitate safe care processes, and appreciating the importance of all health professionals seeking life – long, continuous learning of technological skills.
Explain why information and technology skills are essential for safe patient care
In the realm of health information technology, automated disease databases, patient records, and consumer-facing apps are examples. IT can be used to quickly transmit patient data in a comprehensible manner, enhance patient care and safety by improving readability and reducing overall medication errors, and facilitate information retrieval, in addition to storing and retrieving data. Using information technology to improve nursing management outcomes is possible. By deploying data systems, it is feasible to enhance quality of patient care and promote evidence-based nursing. It may make it easier for patients to access evidence. In all medical professions, the usage of software applications has been shown to be quite helpful.
Because IT allows medical providers to record and maintain data related to a patient’s health records, I chose this competency. It also improves patient communication by providing a readable format that anyone may use. As a result, the likelihood of medication errors is reduced. It facilitates the retrieval of patient information from a database without the need for fresh health tests. All of the innovations mentioned above in health have one thing in common: they increase safety and quality of care.
(Konttila et al., 2019) conducted a study on the digital competency of healthcare personnel. Understanding of cell phone triage and telenursing; abilities in the use of health informatics; attitudes toward the intention to utilize health information technology; opinions about the benefits or limitations of technology; and ambition were used to determine the areas of expertise in digitalisation. Job position, working environment, organizational climate, and perspectives toward wireless communication devices were all factors in health providers’ digitalization competency (Konttila et al., 2019). Awareness of digital information and electronic skills required to provide good patient care, such as social interaction and communication, as well as the ability to make ethical decisions regarding the use of digital technology in patient safety. Healthcare personnel, according to reports, also require the drive and willingness to gain expertise with digitalization in their work environments. Furthermore, it is noted that collegial and organizational support are critical components in creating happy experiences for healthcare practitioners.
To assess my professional growth, I will track the number of electronic medical records without medical errors. It will help me gauge my proficiency un the use of the electronic health record. Also, I will track my communication skills with patients in telehealth. It will help me improve and build rapport with the patients and in turn improve patient safety (Konttila et al., 2019). I will train myself in this competence within a period of six months and then fully implement it in our clinic. Through this, I will help in reducing medical errors, improving patient care and safety and also the time spent with each patient. Technology increases the information flow amongst doctors, reduces the risk of medical errors, increases the safety of medicines, expands access to health knowledge, and promotes patient-centered care.
Apply technology and information management tools to support safe processes of care
The manner hospital care is conceived and provided is changing as a result of advances in patient care technologies. Nurses used their human senses of touch, smell, and hearing to continually monitor condition and help detect changes prior to the widespread use of technology. Over time, technologies aimed at detecting physical changes in patient circumstances gradually superseded the nurses’ untrained senses (Flott, Maguire & Phillips, 2021). Before the extensive use of pulse oximetry, nurses depended on minor changes in cognitive status and color of skin to identify early variations in oxygen levels, and they relied on artery gasses to substantiate their assumptions. Nurses can now utilize pulse oximetry to detect low oxygen levels before clinical symptoms develop, allowing them to diagnose and treat the underlying cause more quickly.
I chose this competency because nurses must be informed of the technology they utilize in patient care as well as the ethical guidelines that govern their use. Although technology has the ability to improve care, it also has the potential for harm. Technology has been regarded as both a component of the problem and a part of a solution for better health care, and some commentators have warned that the introduction of advanced technologies will result in the introduction of yet-to-be-discovered faults (Flott, Maguire & Phillips, 2021). Nurses and other health care personnel, for example, may be so focused on monitor data that they miss potentially significant minor changes in clinical condition.
My professional improvement will be measured by my capacity to detect or diagnose changes in patients utilizing both the tools available as well as my own self-assessment of the diagnosis to avoid misdiagnosis. To be competent in this area, I’ll need to familiarize myself with the diagnostic technology and take classes to expand my expertise. I plan to do so within a year in order to boost my confidence in doing safe procedures on patients.
Appreciate the necessity for all health professionals to seek lifelong, continuous learning of information technology skills
This competency was chosen because lifelong learning provides nurses with the critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities they need to overcome challenges that arise while caring for patients. Nurses who stay current on new techniques, rules, and procedures can have a positive impact on healthcare by fostering good constructive relationship with the patient and coworkers, improving patient outcomes, and reducing the risk of errors. Today’s patients and their families expect nothing less than the best. Despite the fact that many patients inform themselves about their illnesses, they want their nurses to understand more about diagnosis, treatments, and treatment options than they do (Sánchez-Polo et al., 2019). Nurses must have not only managerial and interpersonal skills, but also awareness of contemporary healthcare trends and technological innovation to be competent leaders.
Nurses keep learning throughout their employment in order to expand their expertise and meet their area of practice and care requirements. Some of what a nurse learnt in nursing education may become outdated as his or her profession evolves. While nurses gain experience on the job, it would not be sufficient to keep up with healthcare’s rapid changes (Sánchez-Polo et al., 2019). Nurses who are well-informed could be happier and more comfortable in their roles, which can help with quality of work life. Nurses may be able to develop their professions by continuing to learn.
I will continue to learn new things on a regular basis to improve my expertise. I’ll make sure I’m up to date on the latest health-care developments. I’ll also participate in panels that supervise emerging infectious disease issues including the COVID-19 pandemic. Because this is a long-term goal, I will evaluate my achievements every three months during my career. The integration of advanced IT into the health-care area can have a significant impact (Sánchez-Polo et al., 2019). Many academics have recognized the key advantages of using technology in the health sector.
References
Flott, K., Maguire, J., & Phillips, N. (2021). Digital safety: the next frontier for patient safety. Future Healthcare Journal, 8(3), e598.
Konttila, J., Siira, H., Kyngäs, H., Lahtinen, M., Elo, S., Kääriäinen, M., … & Mikkonen, K. (2019). Healthcare professionals’ competence in digitalisation: A systematic review. Journal of clinical nursing, 28(5-6), 745-761.
Sánchez-Polo, M. T., Cegarra-Navarro, J. G., Cillo, V., & Wensley, A. (2019). Overcoming knowledge barriers to health care through continuous learning. Journal of Knowledge Management.
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