Transforming Nursing and Healthcare through Technology (NURS - 6051N - 37)

DISCUSSION- 1 The Effects of "To Err Is Human" in Nursing Practice

The 1999 landmark study titled "To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System" highlighted the unacceptably high incidence of U.S. medical errors and put forth recommendations to improve patient safety. Since its publication, the recommendations in "To Err Is Human' have guided significant changes in nursing practice in the United States.

In this Discussion, you will review these recommendations and consider the role of health information technology in helping address concerns presented in the report.

To prepare:

Review the summary of "To Err Is Human" presented in the Plawecki and Amrhein article found in this week's Learning Resources.

Consider the following statement:

"The most significant barrier to improving patient safety identified in "To Err Is Human" is a "lack of awareness of the extent to which errors occur daily in all health care settings and organizations (Wakefield, 2008)."

Review "The Quality Chasm Series: Implications for Nursing" focusing on Table 3: "Simple Rules for the 21st Century Health Care System."

Consider your current organization or one with which you are familiar. Reflect on one of the rules where the "current rule" is still in operation in the organization and consider another instance in which the organization has effectively transitioned to the new rule.

DISCUSSION-2 Nursing Informatics Competencies

Today's fast-paced health care environment demands nurses to be skilled not only in their clinical practice or specialty area but in the use of technology tools that improve practice and lead to better patient care.

Basic and advanced technology competencies are required and expected as technology increasingly touches and changes the job of every nurse.

Numerous organizations, including the American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), and Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), have developed nurse-specific technology competencies. The challenge for nurses is to identify both needs and training opportunities.

In this Discussion, you identify the role informatics plays in your professional responsibilities. You pinpoint personal gaps in skills and knowledge and then develop a plan for self-improvement.

To prepare:

Review Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice in this week's Learning Resources, focusing on the different functional areas it describes.

Consider which areas relate to your current nursing responsibilities or to a position you held in the past. For this Discussion, identify one or two of the most relevant functional areas.

Review the list of competencies recommended by the TIGER Initiative. Identify at least one skill in each of the main areas (basic computer competencies, information literacy competencies, and information management competencies) that is pertinent to your functional area(s) and in which you need to strengthen your abilities.

Consider how you could improve your skills in these areas and the resources within your organization that might provide training and support.

Please Provide References.

DISCUSSION-3 Standardized Coding Systems

As a result of the fragmented nature of the health care system, professionals in various specialty areas of medicine have developed their own unique sets of terminology to communicate within that specialty. In the past, limited attention has been given to codifying practices in order for them to be understood and utilized across disciplines or through different information technology systems.

The implementation of a federally mandated electronic medical records system, therefore, poses a challenge to nursing professionals and others who must be prepared to utilize standardized codes for the new system. Why are coding standards important for promoting consistent, high-quality care?

According to Rutherford (2008, para. 15), "Improved communication with other nurses, health care professionals, and administrators of the institution in which nurses work is a key benefit of using a standardized nursing language." In this Discussion you consider the reasoning behind and the value of standardized codification.

To prepare

Review the information in Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice. Determine which set of terminologies are appropriate for your specialty or area of expertise.

Reflect on the importance of continuity in terminology and coding systems.

In the article, "Standardized Nursing Language: What Does It Mean for Nursing Practice?" the author recounts a visit to a local hospital to view its implementation of a new coding system.

One of the nurses commented to her, "We document our care using standardized nursing languages but we don't fully understand why we do" (Rutherford, 2008, para. 1). Consider how you would inform this nurse (and others like her) of the importance of standardized nursing terminologies.

Reflect on the value of using a standard language in nursing practice. Consider if standardization can be limited to a specialty area or if one standard language is needed across all nursing practice. Then, identify examples of standardization in your own specialty or area of expertise. Conduct additional research using the Walden Library that supports your thoughts on standardization of nursing terminology.

Discussion:-4 Current Information and Communication Technologies

With so much attention focused on health care reform, it is important that nurses be given the opportunity to use high-quality technology tools.

These tools can increase access to vital medical information, promote effective communication among health care professionals, and improve the patient experience. By actively seeking out and adopting these tools, nurses can greatly enhance the quality and safety of care that they provide.

This Discussion focuses on identifying quality technology tools that increase the ability of nurses to provide safe, effective care.

To prepare:

Review the various technology tools described in this week's Learning Resources.

Identify a recently adopted information, education, or communication technology tool in your specialty area. Reflect on how it is used and how its use impacts the quality of care.

Consider how your identified technology tool might impact nursing practice if it were more widely used. What are some barriers preventing increased usage? How could wider implementation be facilitated?