Nursing Informatics and Technology Integration

Technology in Nursing Communication

  • Technology aids cognitive impaired clients by allowing communication through pictures.

Informatics in Nursing Practice

  • Informatics enhances client safety via:
    • A. Medication alerts in health records
    • B. Access to digital x-rays
    • C. Direct phone connections to nurses
    • D. Telehealth for remote follow-ups.
  • A nurse must respond to clinical support alerts to effectively use electronic health records (EHRs).

Standardized Tools in Nursing Care

  • Critical pathways are standardized tools outlining daily nursing care for specific conditions.

Goals of Nursing Informatics

  • Primary goal: Improve health through optimized information management and communication.

Roles of Informatics Nurse Specialist

  • Expected to liaise between staff and IT while promoting effective information systems and revising them as needed.

Risks of Information Technology in Nursing

  • Information loss due to glitches is a significant risk.

Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS)

  • Used for best practice decisions based on evidence and clinical guidelines.

Importance of Critical Pathways

  • Aim to improve client outcomes through timely interventions.

Medication Administration Safeguards

  • Best practice to reduce errors: Visually verify medications and use two client identifiers.

Breaches in Confidential Information

  • Most often occur via unauthorized disclosure by authorized users.

Health Literacy

  • Health literacy: Ability to comprehend and use health information effectively.

Factors Affecting Electronic Information Utility

  • Lack of regulation for health care resources limits usability.

Selecting Reliable Online Resources

  • Consumer understanding is indicated by seeking credible terminology in sources.

Sharing Evidence-Based Practice Information

  • Joining journal clubs is effective for disseminating evidence-based practices.

Nurse’s Evaluation of Electronic Resources

  • Important for improving client outcomes by using accurate information.

Nursing Practice Changes from Online Sources

  • Links to peer-reviewed information bolster practice change recommendations.

Social Networking Ethics in Nursing

  • Nurses should not connect with former clients on social media until the professional relationship has ended.
  • Report inappropriate posts related to client care on social media to preserve confidentiality and professionalism.

Consequences of Inappropriate Social Media Use

  • Potential disciplinary actions include fines, loss of license, or reprimand.