Reflection on learning

3

Week 1: Informatics Competencies and Advanced Nursing Practice

Leonard Einstein

Chamberlain University

Healthcare Informatics Information NR706

Shannon Hawkins

10/24/2021

Week 1: Informatics Competencies and Advanced Nursing Practice

Q1: My initial thoughts on reading the AACN Information Systems/Technology Essentials for the DNP graduate were that technology is significantly transforming the way healthcare services are conveyed to the public. By going through the essentials, I was able to acknowledge the central role played by technology in facilitating healthcare services that are patient-centered, efficient, and safe. As a DNP, this essential is crucial in preparing me on how to utilize various technologies to support clinical decision making and practice leadership. By reading the essentials, I now understand that a comprehensive understanding of technology places one at a strategic place in healthcare delivery since one gets the relevant skills and knowledge required to “participate in technological innovation, evaluate the appropriateness of healthcare consumer information, and participate in resulting legal and ethical issues” (Wang et al., 2021, p. 118).

Q2: I did not find any of the essentials surprising. The rapid growth of technology have impacted all aspects of life, both professionally and socially. Therefore, I was not surprised at the importance of the role played by technology in how healthcare services are delivered. I believe that as a DNP, I have an important role to play not only in using the various technologies that are currently available to me but to also help in the design and innovation of new technologies that can help make improve healthcare services in the future. I am strategically placed to offer my expertise as a DNP to inform new practices in the healthcare industry to make work easier for healthcare practitioners and to ensure patients receive the best care possible.

Q3: There are several changes that I have seen in my practice setting of over the past five years, which have been brought about by the use of technology and evidence-based practice. For starters, I have seen our health records being digitized. In the past, we used to rely on paper files. They were bulky and required a lot of storage space. Also, retrieving them was a tedious task. However, records have now been digitized. Therefore, inputting new data and retrieving old ones can be done easily and remotely as well. Additionally, we now utilize Electronic Health Records, which facilitate effective collaboration between various healthcare practitioners when caring for a patient. for example, surgeons, primary care physicians, nurses, lab techs, and pharmacists can all access a patient’s information in real time to know the status of the client and the necessary steps to take to enhance his/her recovery. Another change that I have seen is the use of tele-health, which has ensured that patients can receive medical care from remote locations while healthcare practitioners can monitor their vital signs remotely as well. This has reduced healthcare costs for both the institution I work for and our clients.

Q4: There are two changes that I expect to see in my practice setting over the next five years based on technology. First, I expect better cloud integration with the existing technologies that we use. Selvaraj and Sundaravaradhan (2020) note that to cut on hardware costs, healthcare institutions are rapidly turning to the cloud for their computing solutions. Second, I expect the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in promoting positive healthcare outcomes. Based on a patient’s history current lifestyle, and vital signs, AI can be used to predict a his/her future healthcare outcomes and allow preventive measure to be taken to achieve positive outcomes.

Q5: The changes brought about by technology have significantly affected nursing practice in my setting. For example, portable monitors allow nurses to check on patients remotely. Thus, when a nurse is juggling between different patients, he/she can still monitor all of them effectively. Also, automated IV pumps have made the work of nurses easier. Hayhurst (2018) reveals that automated IV pumps have revolutionized healthcare delivery as medication and nutritional needs are controlled automatically without the intervention of nurses. Finally, the use f EHRs has made it easier for nurses to access patient information and act accordingly.

References

Hayhurst, C. (2018). Seek and you shall find? Tracking medical devices in healthcare facilities. Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology, 52(6), 412-420.

Selvaraj, S., & Sundaravaradhan, S. (2020). Challenges and opportunities in IoT healthcare systems: a systematic review. SN Applied Sciences, 2(1), 1-8.

Wang, B., Roe, E., Chen, W., & Ruland, J. (2021). Enlightenment for future nursing education from evaluating perception of competencies of Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. American Journal of Nursing, 10(2), 118-123.