WEEK 1 RN INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN HEALTHCARE POST DISCUSSION REPLY
AACN Essentials Informatics Self-Assessment
Hello class!
After using the AACN Essentials Self-Assessment, I realized that there are many areas of nursing informatics that I can improve on.
Despite the experience I have as a PCNA on a med-surge ortho floor, I still continue to find myself learning new things about technology and forms of communication with each shift.
One of my strengths as a healthcare provider is that I am able to integrate new technology and use it effectively. I believe that using new forms of technology not only helps with providing efficient care but also promotes safe, quality, and transparent care for our patients. Healthcare providers should be accepting and willing to work with new technology instead of working against it. I have seen resistance to using new technologies such as the “rover”, which is a charting system that is linked up to an iPhone, which allows for easy and quick access to bedside charting. I have noticed that nurses tend to stay over hours just to chart since they are only willing to use the computer to chart. In my opinion, this is a huge setback for the growth of HIT (health information technology) within hospitals. QSEN competencies focus on topics such as patient-centered care, which is difficult when you spend a lot of bedside practice facing the computer. With an iPhone rover and today’s popularity of iPhones, nurses can quickly and accurately chart on their patients. Just as adapting new technology is important, what we should also consider are safe practices like being aware of alarm fatigue. When constant call lights, bed alarms, and telemetry flood our consciousness, we can become numb to them. This causes a higher rate of injury and healthcare-acquired conditions like infections and incidences of falls/injuries. With new technology like bed alarms (stryker beds) and telemetry alarms, we should continue to remain cognizant by remembering to prioritize safety overall.
My current knowledge base in informatics is strong but has plenty of room for growth. I can improve my knowledge by participating in CE (continued education). Some facilities offer in-services right on the floor, which open nursing staff to integrate new practices in order to provide quality care to their patients. This not only allows nurses to continuously be educated on new nursing care, but it allows for questions to be asked and discussions to be had. The power of these in-services is strong enough to prevent a handful of incidences just by educating the nurses on how to properly use supplies or to be aware of new policies.
I can improve my knowledge by asking questions and practicing based on EBP (evidence-based practice), quality improvement, and most importantly, safety. Peers and colleagues are one of the best educators if teamwork and collaboration are properly integrated in the workplace.
I am eager to learn more about AACN essentials as I am passionate about fulfilling my role as a nurse for my patients. I will continue to practice my knowledge and wisdom yet staying open to learning about new information and technologies that come along the way.
( yvy)
Reference:
Wilson, M. L., Elias, B. L., & Moss, J. A. (2020). Education in Nursing Informatics. Informatics Education in Healthcare: Lessons Learned, 1, 9-13.
Hebda, T., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2018). Handbook of Informatics for Nurses & Healthcare Professionals (6th ed.). Pearson Learning
