Using the DIKW Continuum - Essay Example

By properly changing the collected data into useable information, nurses are able to meet the unique needs of the patients in different care settings. The purpose of this treatise is to explore the progression of the four phases of data, informing, knowledge and wisdom scale by using research information to be able to answer a pertinent clinical question in the acute care setting. With the design and application of electronic health record in the acute care setting, physicians are now able to make decision without relying too much on manually recorded data.

Such changes, coupled with the available decision support systems have reduced the transcription errors in the processes while at the same time enhancing the overall quality of care offered (Carrington & Effken, 2011). In order to explore how the DIKW continuum is used in the acute care setting, this paper will rely on the research question shown below: According to Moreland, Gallagher, Bena, Morrison & Albert (2012), some hospitals are yet to incorporate eMAR in their processes.

Errors during the medicine administration process are very common in hospitals and are considered to be among the main inhibitors to quality care. To reduce the errors that occur in the drug administration process, some hospitals rely on technology to improve the quality of the decisions made by the physicians. Stevenson & Nilsson (2012) state that the importance of electronic drug administration and drug issuance has not been well understood. Some care givers are not are not well versed with the benefits of eMAR.

The commonly identified benefits of the process include reduced workload, ease of documentation, promotion of evidence based decisions and enhanced team work. Working with the DIKW continuum to answer the question on the application of electronic medication process in the acute care setting begins with the collection of relevant data on the issue.