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Nursing informatics is defined as area of expertise, which integrates nursing science, information science, and computer science in order to manage, communicate data and knowledge required in nursing practice (Ball, 2000). It was officially recognized in 1992 by American Nurses Association. Nursing informatics entails conducting research in order to expand nursing knowledge. The use of nursing informatics helps nurses in their roles and decision-making that is accomplished by use of information technology. Ball argues that, nursing being a healthcare professional, it requires an individual to have health information system. Therefore, it is important for health care professional to use nursing informatics. There are number of benefits for using nursing informatics, which include the following.
Nursing informative tend to assist management and processing of nursing data. Nurses who uses computerized software identifies various complications in patient condition thus choosing appropriate action in evaluating patient care. It ensures data collected by nurses and clinical knowledge is planned in acceptable and accessible areas of healthcare. This enhances the quality of professional practice in knowledge, which assists nurses to make suitable decisions that enhance patient care. This implies that, this knowledge assists nurses in areas of treatment and operations. Education of nursing practices assists in nature of preparation for this role thereby expanding knowledge on emerging issues in this professional practice. This increases occupational competence in that its implication will make increase knowledge along with skills within nursing staff presented.
It encourages nursing staff, patients along with their families to propose ideas for developing patient satisfaction. For instance, the access of computers helps patients that have extended hospital stays to interact with their families, friends and loved ones through emailing that enhances patient satisfaction. When patients interact with their friends and loved ones, it enables nurses to have an easy time dealing with the patient in that there is satisfaction that emerge from interaction thus improving employee task in treating the patient. According to Gerdin, Wainwright and Tallberg (1997), in nursing department, the use of computers has also enhanced effective communication between employee and patient. In some states, patient use advanced technology to communicate to the physicians along with nursing staffs what they require from them. The result improves interaction between staffs and patients thus setting high standard in knowing what the patient requires.
A nursing informatics specialist is a well position with better salary. Studies have shown that, he or she trains in new technology and offers upkeep along with maintenance for computer system. An individual specialist in this area is so much marketable because a part from implementing these plans he assess whether a safer environment is enhanced for patient through suitable treatment. While the salary for these specialist increases, there other benefits obtained in job security of being registered nurse.
Its relevant use in the emergency room
Other vital aspects of nursing informatics include being used in emergency room. Emergency room nurses tend to deal with severe conditions on a daily basis. Therefore, they should be able to make decision quickly in addition to making rapid assessments. Nurses are advised to come up with wide range of care together with advanced knowledge of treating patient. Nursing informatics assists them to treat wide range of injuries as well as injuries. These preparations include topics like helmet use and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, which occurs by using proper measures to handle the patient for instance wearing gloves.
The use of computer has become an important tool in emergency room for the past years (Gerdin, Wainwright & Tallberg 1997). It allows nurses to gather the suitable information on health care information that contributes to enhance the quality of patient care in emergency room, which eventually save patient life. It is also important noting that, nurses are required to be prepared of foreseeable emergencies because of many tasks they may have in the hospital. For instance, as the nurse cares for sudden emergency she may also be required to take care of other patients who require urgent medical care.
Nursing informatics provides high degree of skill and knowledge in decision-making that is urgently needed in emergency rooms. Additionally, it provides urgent care of those injuries and provides psychosocial evaluation that is required in patient treatment. It develops skilled conditions in discerning the patient need and the suitable care needed.
This system offers the suitable patient specific drug based on the health problem. It estimates treatment benefits based on each drug used. Therefore, nurses are in better position offering urgent medication required in treating patient and improving his or her condition. The use of computer automatically generates the suitable medication required by physician, nurse or doctor in the emergency room.
An example of an instance where a better outcome may have been obtained had there been nursing informaticists involved
Nursing informaticists have been known to have positive role in improving the patient condition and reducing errors regarding patient conditions and relevant information. There are a number of incidences in various set up where a better outcome could have been accomplished were there nursing informaticists involved.
A study was done by Ball (2000) in 1990s that showed a patient who had heart problem. When he went to the hospital, nurses could not exactly recognize what the problem was. He was attended by many doctors but there was no improvement. The patients was given drugs that instead of improving his health, they worsened the conditions. The patient was later discharged from the hospital in addition to being given some drugs that were to improve his health. After three years of using drugs, his health became worse and died after one year.
Ball argues that, if nurse informaticist was involved, he would use every technology facility to provide based care of the patient care. Instead of just giving the patient drugs, he would have used computer science and informatics wisdom in heart treatment practices. Nursing informaticists would have assessed whether a safer environment was enhanced for this patient together with giving suitable treatment. He would have used computer system to keep the patient information, his genetic history along with monitoring the patient vital symptoms which would have helped in coming up with the recommended treatment progress.
Instead of discharging the patient, he would come up with excellent skills that would improve the patients through use advanced technology. He would manage feedback from other hospital staffs that had treated the patient thus coming up with the best approach to improve the condition along with finding the best time to discharge the patient. The patient condition would have improved instead of dying.
Reference
Ball, M. J. (2000). Nursing informatics: where caring and technology meet. New York : Springer
Gerdin, U., Wainwright. P.,& Tallberg. M. (1997). Nursing informatics: the impact of nursing knowledge on health care informatics. California: IOS Press
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