Transforming final replies
Response to the four colleagues by expanding upon their responses or sharing additional or alternative perspectives. Include 2 references each
Mom doris:
Nursing informatics (NI) plays a valuable role in healthcare by integrating nursing science, computer science, and information science. NI enables nurses timely and efficient access to accurate health information through innovations such as the electronic health records (EHR), promoting informed decision-making and improvements in patient health outcomes. With a foundation in evidence-based practice, NI supports patient-centered care, improving patient safety and satisfaction. Following the nursing process, NI emphasizes proficiency in completing assessments to identify gaps and trends in healthcare and developing an improvement plan (Al Najjar & Shafie, 2022).
Nursing informatics affects clinical practice in many ways, both positive and challenging. The ultimate goal of nursing informatics in healthcare is the improvement of healthcare outcomes. Technological innovations in nursing informatics have made it possible to have access to real-time healthcare records and research, which, in turn, reduces the probability of medical errors. However, the interoperability issue may hinder this process and interfere with communication between various systems. Some medical staff may lack competence and resist change; therefore, continuous education and training are required to build proficiency and confidence. Careful budgeting and planning are critical due to the cost of implementing and updating various systems and the potential for cyber-attacks and data breaches (Booth et al., 2021).
Informatics competencies enable nurses to deliver safe, efficient, patient-centered care using evidence-based practices. I want to gain more experience in the application of informatics practices to become a better leader in the future. Machine learning uses algorithms for disease predictions, identification of patterns, reduction of medication errors, robotic surgical assistance, and various other methods to improve patient care outcomes (Kwon et al., 2019). Personalized treatment using clinical decision support systems (CDSS) has been instrumental in improvements in making better health decisions with patients and families. CDSS aims to identify, predict, and recommend treatment for patients in the treatment process. CDSS is a bonus in acknowledging provider expertise while incorporating the system’s information for better outcomes (Sutton et al., 2020). Competence in the various informatics domains will provide a foundation for the emergence of leadership qualities essential for quality patient care delivery.
Mom Francoise:
The course “Transforming Nursing and Healthcare through Technology” has provided me with a deep understanding of nursing informatics and its practical applications in my field to enhance patient care. Various topics covered in the course, including professional role development, the crucial role of informatics competencies in improving care quality and safety, informatics frameworks applicable to nursing practice, digital health and wearables, cyber-ethics, and informatic tools, are all interconnected (Kinnunen et al., 2022).
The discussion on “Professional role development” highlighted the importance of nurses being proficient in informatics tools and concepts to fulfill their roles effectively. Understanding key terms in nursing informatics is essential for effective communication and can enhance collaboration and decision-making in my primary care setting.
Reflecting on the course topics, it’s evident that nursing informatics significantly contributes to enhancing care quality and safety. It provides a framework for managing and communicating data, information, and knowledge, thereby improving decision-making, communication, and supporting evidence-based practice (Kolla et al., 2021). In my professional practice and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project, I intend to apply the knowledge gained to improve patient care and health outcomes. For instance, I plan to utilize digital health wearables to enhance patient monitoring and self-management (Smuck et al., 2021).
Two new informatics competencies I acquired are information and knowledge management and Information Technology (IT) project management. Information and Knowledge Management competency involve effectively gathering, managing, and utilizing information to promote health (Peltonen et al., 2023). In my primary care practice, this could entail organizing patient data for easy access and interpretation, facilitating informed decision-making about patient care.
Health (IT) Project Management competency involves planning, executing, and overseeing health IT projects (Sipes, 2020). This includes tasks like implementing a remote patient monitoring (RPM) glucometer system or overseeing a telehealth program. In a primary care setting, this competency ensures that health IT projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet practice and patient needs.
In my primary care outpatient practice, I plan to integrate these competencies to enhance patient care. I will recommend adopting an RPM glucometer for patients to transmit real-time glucose readings to providers. This will enhance patient engagement in their care and enable timely interventions, ultimately improving patient health outcomes.
Dem Chidinma:
This course “Transforming Nursing and Healthcare through Technology gave me an understanding of the concept of nursing informatics and how it can be applied in my practice area to improve patient care. The different topics discussed throughout the course, such as professional role development, pivotal role of informatics competencies in enhancing the quality of care and safety in nursing practice, informatics frameworks and models applicable to nursing practice, digital health and wearables, cyber-ethics, and informatic tools in nursing practice are all interconnected (Kinnunen et al., 2022). The discussion on “Professional role development” showed that as nurses, we need to be competent in informatics tools and understanding informatics concepts to fulfill our roles effectively. The course also helped in understanding the important terms in nursing informatics which are crucial for effective communication and can enhance collaboration and decision-making in my primary care setting.
Reflecting on the topics discussed throughout the course, it’s clear that nursing informatics plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of care and safety in nursing practice. It provides a framework for managing and communicating data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice, thereby improving decision-making, enhancing communication, and supporting evidence based practice (Kolla et al., 2021). In my professional practice and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project, I plan to leverage what I have learned from these topics to improve patient care and health outcomes in practice area. For example, I plan to use digital health wearables to enhance patient monitoring and self- management (Smuck et al., 2021).
The two new informatics competencies that I have learned are information and knowledge management and Information technology (IT) project management. Information and Knowledge Management competency involves the ability to gather, manage, and use information effectively to promote health (Peltonen et al., 2023). In my primary care practice, this could involve organizing patient data in a way that it can be easily accessed and interpreted. This could help in making informed decisions about patient care and ensuring that all relevant information is considered. Health (IT) Project Management competency involves the ability to plan, execute, and oversee health IT projects (Sipes, 2020). This could include anything from implementing a remote patient monitoring (RPM) glucometer system to overseeing a telehealth program. In a primary care practice, this competency could be used to ensure that health IT projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet the needs of the practice and its patients.
In my practice in the primary care outpatient setting, I plan to incorporate these competencies to improve patient care. I will recommend adopting an RPM glucometer for our patients so that their self monitored glucose readings can be transmitted in real time to providers. This will not only enhance patients engagement in their care but will lead to timely intervention which will ultimately improving patients’ health outcomes.
Dem Sylvia:
The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing informatics as the integration of nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. This data approach to patient care enhances the clinical experience for health care providers and patients. Nursing informatics is a fast-growing field that plays a vital role in leveraging technology and data to transform health care delivery, enhance patient outcomes, and advance the nursing profession (
What Is Nursing Informatics and Why Is It so Important? | ANA, 2024)This nursing role bridges a health care organization’s systems, nursing staff, and providers, including nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives. Incorporating informatics in nursing offers valuable input into how technological systems should be designed and implemented from a nursing perspective (
What Is Nursing Informatics and Why Is It so Important? | ANA, 2024).The contribution of nursing informaticists has helped shape nursing informatics by creating desirable changes in the quality of healthcare through the proper decision-making and promotion of equity through meeting the needs of populations by meeting the needs of the targeted population (Kalsy et al., 2018).
one area where I see nursing informatic very prominent is in nursing education. I remember when covid hit in 2020 and all nursing schools had to be virtual and some schools have remain 50% in person and. 50% in class. studies were done online as well as labs. Nursing informatics is enabling post graduate studies to done successfully online.
Telemedicine is the practice of caring for patients over distance. Its use can be traced as far back as 500 BCE, using human messengers to transfer medical advice and medicine. Over the past few centuries, the sharing of medical information and telemedicine has advanced through innovations such as the printing press, telegraph, telephone, and Internet (Jin et al. 2020) . Health care providers are now able to use technology to deliver healthcare directly to a patient in the comfort of their homes using “live-chats” and video callingRecent technological advances and external pressures have driven telemedicine to the forefront of medical reality (Jin et al. 2020). During an emergency declaration made March 17, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stated the need for providers to use telemedicine to provide patients care in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other settings across the states. Additionally, new policies have been implemented to better facilitate patient care, safety, and privacy (Jin et al. 2020). The convenience provided by this low resource modality facilitates the intercommunication between physicians and offers a suitable alternative for patients who are medically or socially unable to see providers in person.The most significant and obvious limitations to telemedicine are the lack of vital sign assessment and limited physical exams. Identifying patients who have tools such as a weight scale, blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, and thermometer is helpful. These tools are relatively affordable, sometimes covered by insurance companies, and are often already in the home.
