Impact of new technologies on nursing staff, patients and families.

Outlines :  The definition of information technology.  The purpose of using ( IT ).  The benefits of information technology in Health Care.  The promise of ( IT ) to community.  The Organizational factors that influence the use of information technology.

Outlines :  The Nursing Informatics team also evaluates technical and clinical outcomes criteria.  The Nursing Informatics benefits for nurses.  What the nurse leader do to make sure that the staff and clients use IT.  The seven strategies for managing technological change.  The summary.

Using information technology:

:Introduction Technology has transformed clinical practice and has changed organizational communication itself. Clinical information systems allow nurses to chart at the bedside, eliminating duplicate documentation. Wireless technology allows nurses, for example, to access patient records, answer call lights from remote locations, and access databases for clinical Organizational Communication practice. Technology also allows caregivers to have access to data when needed.

The definition of information technology: It is the use of computerized system to assist nurses and other healthcare workers to make good decisions and deliver safe care. The nursing informatics: Combines computer science, information science and nursing science to assist nurses in their practice.

The purpose of using ( IT ):  To improve patient care.  To address the nursing shortage.  To improve the work experience of nurses.  To support nursing staff.  To identify staff schedule preferences.  To improve communication.  To find procedures, standards of care, protocols, educational materials and announcement in easy way.

:The purpose of using ( IT )  To decrease nursing demand.  To enhance client care.  To enhance relationship between evidence-based practice and information.  To prevent the medication and treatment errors with handheld technology.  To manage technological changes.

The benefits of information technology in Health Care:  Improved quality of health care.  Prevention of medical errors.  Reduction in the health care costs.  Increase in the administrative efficiencies.  Decrease in the amount of paperwork.  Increased access to affordable health care options.

The promise of ( IT ): The IT shows promise for nursing because of its ability to achieve:  Safety.  Effectiveness.  Client/family-centeredness  Timeliness.  Efficiency.  Equity.  Global connectedness.

IT and safety:  It enhance client safety by continuously monitoring healthcare setting and sharing the information that occurs when clinicians make decision.  Some nurses, such as those working in intensive care, have become accustomed to monitors that sound an alarm when clients vital sings signify danger.

IT and effectiveness: It improves effectiveness by disseminating standards and policies and making benchmarking possible and it can allow quality improvement committees to track best practices by using a range of quality indicators.

IT and client/family-centeredness: It provides information and education for clients and their families. It can monitors changes in a clients activities of daily life without going to the clinics.

IT and timelines: It makes possible continuous communication between clients and providers, eliminating routine clinic visits and clients are seen only at the time they need the care.

IT and efficiency:  It can prevent people from asking the same questions or repeating unneeded lab tests.  The healthcare organization can customize out reach by zip code based on layering individual information over geographic information system..

IT and equity:  It can facilitate access to health information.  For example: telehospice can be especially helpful in underserved rural and urban sites and for those limited caregiver support.  Another example: hospice care including help with the dying progress is delivered directly in to a clients home via videophone..

IT and global connectedness:  It permits a no-borders approach to health.  Nurse practitioners handle emergencies at a distance and clients are able to ask a nurse their questions about their condition and its treatment across geographic borders. .

The Organizational factors that influence the use of information technology :  Policies.  Resources.  Culture.  Social norms.  Management commitment.  Training programs.  Employee empowerment.

The Nursing Informatics team also evaluates technical and clinical outcomes criteria including: How devices withstand normal wear and tear. How easily information is gathered and recorded. User friendliness. Clinician satisfaction. Time efficiency versus existing methods. Impact on patient safety. Impact on patient satisfaction. Impact on caregiver satisfaction.

The Nursing Informatics benefits for nurses: Challenge. Professional and Personal Growth. Flexibility and Creativity. A Supportive Team Environment. Reward and Recognition. Educational Support. A Professional Informatics Career Ladder. An Informatics Development Program.

What the nurse leader do to make sure that the staff and clients use IT:  Function as a role model and information champion and ask staff or clients to consider how they can use IT more efficiently and more often.  Take staff or clients aside and ask how can help them to improve their search and evaluation skills and apply evidence to practice.

What the nurse leader do to make sure that the staff and clients use IT:  Make journals, reviews and internet resources available to staff and clients.  Demonstrates ways to search for evidence about a practice by using the search box on internet explorer and typing in a few relevant words.

Seven strategies for managing technological change:  Warm up the staff/client to the idea of new system.  Make sure that middle managers get a new system going.  Pretest the system before using it.  Decide on the best time to pull the plug on the old system.  Avoid expecting perfection during the transition phase.  Provide sufficient training with the new system.  Offer sufficient follow-up opportunities after training.

The summary: Technological research and development introduces new products and services to society, some capable of affecting the way almost all of us lead our lives. Many innovations come about as a response to society's changing needs. But technologies also have the power to shape the values held by a society inculcating a wish for more convenience or durability, for example, or for something smaller, safer, and easier-to-use.

The references: Clark, C.C.(2008)Creative Nursing Leadership and Management.(1 st ed.) New York Jones & Bartlett.