Nursing Informatics: Online Access to Health Information - Essay Example

Nursing Informatics & DNP Nursing Informatics & DNP Question One Introduction The success of the healthcare services usually relies much on information for the correct analysis of situations. Each activity carried out by nurses often depends on the knowledge from = information gathered or read. The process of nursing starts with acquisition and communicating information in the current and proceeding assessment. Nursing informatics is the management of wisdom, knowledge, information and data which is significant to nursing. Nursing informatics has been a crucial aspect of modern day nursing as it blends well with the era of electronic health record (EHR) usage (Hudges, 2015). The right and mere description of nursing informatics can be the use of information technology in the nursing field. It contributes by connecting the art of nursing to the nursing science. Nursing informatics aims at providing better and high standard patient care. Information knowledge skills usually help a nurse to access, find and assess data. Access involves the capability of performing bibliographic retrievals using Internet means and library means. Information systems contribute to shaping the advanced practice environment through computerized documentation, online access to health information, ensuring privacy and confidentiality of patient’s information as discussed below. Computerized documentation The use of nurse specific software for instance computerized documentation is also crucial at the beginning stages of the nursing practice. Because of the use of informatics, there has been growth in the number of established colleges’ schools to increase knowledge in the field and ensure safe practice and better delivery of quality services. Entirely all the nurses require to be competent in their different capacities from the beginner nurses to the professional ones (Hebda and czar, 2009). At the beginning levels, a nurse in practice should have computer literacy and have the necessary information on management skills. The computer knowledge should include email, presentation software, spread sheet applications, word processing and healthcare database. Online access to health information Nurses should receive proper training on the search engines such as Google, electronic databases and correct websites for the acquisition of quality information on the health care field. They should be well updated with the current issues and know how to get the current as opposed to old information since human health is a matter of current discoveries not purely depending on the old information. Nurses are also to be accountable to the public by aiding them in assessing the health information on the web and promote health education to them. Privacy and confidentiality A crucial aspect that is so necessary for the nursing practice is the maintenance of confidentiality and concealment of information given to them by the clients. Protecting security of the information provided becomes so vital because unapproved access to the information system will put into jeopardy the personal records. Protection of the necessary information is possible by use of a login procedure that confirms the user of the program. The use of passwords should be encouraged and changed regularly to avoid a break in security. Passwords should be secure to ensure confidentiality and never disclosed to unauthorized persons. Question Two Introduction Use of information systems has become significant to the nursing workflow for electronic medical records, order entry, online training, and communication within the nursing institution like the use of emails. Information systems improve the quality of DNP healthcare delivery by automation of clinical information or data. In addition, information systemsimprove communications between nurses within the institution and even with patients. Finally, information systems assist in reducing clinical errors and bringing evidence to the point of care.Further discussion of the contributions is as follows, Automation of clinical information Use of technology is the key tool available to transform and to innovate the delivery of nursing care. Today there exist solutions that can help eliminate repetitive and mundane tasks. The solutions assist in accomplishing of regulatory work, provide more efficient use of space and improve the healthcare environment. Besides, the solutions provide secure access to resources and, therefore, improve safety and efficiency. Process-transforming systems improve the efficiency by saving nurses from unnecessary tasks and waste reduction. The systems offer them more time to provide safe care directly to the patients. Competent, wireless monitoring devices that integrate with the nurse call systems and use of electronic records assists in time-savingand in providing alerts when problems are imminent Improving communication Improved communications systems route and prioritize messages and requests to ensure immediate responses to patients and other caregivers help in improving safety. In addition, availability of Systems that allow timely tracking, awareness of the acquisition of equipment supplies reduces delays in healthcare. Finally, a technology that organizes and manages workflow helps in improving the flow of patients. The presence of embedded clinical knowledge and decision support at the point of care improves safety (Mitchell, 2011). Reducing clinical errors Medication errors can happen in any health care setting. Medication administration is a complex multistep process that can encompass prescribing, transcribing dispensing and administering drugs and monitoring patient’s response. Errors can happen at any stage. However, most of the errors occur at the prescribing stage where nurses intercept some of these errors, pharmacists or any medical staff. Recent technological advances have focused on reducing the errors during administration. Barcode scanning of the patient’s armband is a technology that can reduce medication errors pertaining to patient’s information. Availability of computerized drug information systems, medical administration records and electronic patient’s profile help in providing theaccurate drug to the patients thus, reducing errors. Other systems such as drug dispensing robots and automated dispensing cabinets can minimize dispensing errors and using barcodes to recognize medications.A number of systems, such as drug-dispensing robots and computerized dispensing cabinets, moderate dispensing faults by dispensing, packaging, and identifyingdrugs using bar codes (Agrawal, 2009). Improved diagnostics When health care providers have access to complete and accurate information, patients receive better medical care. Use of electronic health systems can help improve the ability to diagnose diseases, and this helps in errors reduction and thus improved health care of the patients. Electronic health systems ensure that nurses have access to full information about the patient. Electronic health helps in errors reduction, improves patients safety and supports better patient outcomes (Murphy, 2010) References Agrawal, A. (2009). Medication Errors: Prevention Using Information Systems. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 67(6): 681–686. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2009.03427.x Hebda, T., & Czar, P. (2009). Handbook of Informatics for Nurses and Health Care Professionals (4th Ed.). Uppers Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Hudges, C. (2015). Informatics and Technology in Professional Nursing Practice. Web. March 31, 2015. Retrieved from http://samples.jbpub.com/9781449691509/81982_CH14_Pass1.pdf Mitchell, J. K. (2011). Nursing informatics 101. Using technology to improve patient care. ONS connect, 26(4), 8. Murphy, J. (2010). Nursing Informatics. The Journey to Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records.Nursing Economic$, 28(4), 283-286. Read More