Significance of information technology to nursing

Nursing Informatics
By Yara Ilul BSN 2C

Increasingly, the world of nursing is being impacted by technological
change. As one commentator put it, "In today's Information Age, nurses are expected to keep pace with the rapidly advancing technology."
As health care organizations adopt information technology to improve quality and patient safety, reduce errors, increase efficiency, decrease time-consuming and redundant paperwork, and enhance communication, they’re finding that IT can significantly impact nursing workflow.
In discussing how nursing education is being influenced by "rapidly changing technologies and dramatically expanding knowledge," and how "students must learn to acquire, apply, and evaluate new knowledge. The importance of information skills, listing "information seeking, sorting and selection" as third among nine essential cognitive curricula areas.
Nurses are seen as being at "the hub of the information flow between patients and the health care system. Charting is being automated, as are patient care plans. Work is proceeding on developing a Nursing Minimum Data Set. While critical thinking is key to evidence-based nursing practice, it is also true that information access and information technology skills are also essential.
Nursing informatics is the term that is used to describe the cross-functional interrelationship between nursing concepts, and information resources and technology. Over the last 5 years or so, the term has evolved to have two basic meanings.
1. Refers to the broad needs that all nurses have to be information savvy -- to be able to use information access tools information technology resources and computerized systems on the job. This is the most common meaning. As with other occupational programs, nursing faculty is scrambling to incorporate nursing informatics into regular coursework.
2. It identifies content, flow, and the processing of patient information in the hospital. The context is the nursing process, and the role of the nurse as the gateway for patient information. Students see the ways in which information technology influences and facilitates collecting, processing and communicating information.

Internet is an ocean of information as they say. Using an Internet Web browser proficiently. It is also good to have a general notion as to how a network works...not the technical aspects, but a general familiarity with the concepts is very helpful. All modern healthcare computer systems are networked.

You take the knowledge explosion, the growth of the Internet, and the public's increased awareness of and participation in their own health decisions and you can see that nurses must stay current. It's becoming more and more the nurse's responsibility to know how to advise patients on how to access information that is credible and relevant for them.
If you're already a nurse, you have to have on-the-job training; and be sure to go to all those workshops and seminars that get offered in your area. Technology moves so fast that it is hard for older nurses who have been on the job for a while.
Nursing is affected greatly by the Information Age. Computers are at bedsides in many hospitals. A basic understanding of search tools is imperative. Much of nursing charting is now done electronically. If you're thinking of becoming a nurse, it's very important to take courses in Windows, Word, Excel, and Internet searching. These are now basic skills for nursing personnel.

In intensive care nursing nurses abroad couldn't live without computer charting (or computerized information management, as we prefer to call it) anymore! There is hardly any paperwork (decoding bad handwriting is history!). Of course, it takes time to use the pc, but as it is situated right next to the patient's bed, It seems that a nurse will be always there for her patient.

At a hospital, patients' rights are posted in the lobby. One of the rights is to receive information about your illness, course of treatment, and prospects for recovery in terms the patient can understand. As a nurse, that often comes down to being your responsibility. In today's world, you need to be comfortable doing Internet searches for information that patient can read and understand.

In an ideal nursing facility now, they use the Meditech system. In my opinion, not only would we be lost without it, but we would also become less efficient. These systems have helped our profession in caring for our patients. We would be able to do nursing care plans, nurse notes, get lab, X-rays and other test results returned much faster than if they were done manually like they used to be.

This is a COMPUTER WORLD we live in. Like other professions, nursing is using more and more technology. Oftentimes, it comes down to how good are you at finding the online information you need -- when you need it?
With the move toward paperless medical facilities, today's nurse simply must be computer-literate; and people around here talk about being information-literate, so that, too! So much communication among and between departments is done through hospital-wide networks. More often than you might think, there you are using a browser and a search tool on the Internet looking for information to help your patient understand their condition. (I think there's going to be more of this in the future, frankly.) If they're already on the job, nurses often have to educate themselves. That’s nursing informatics.

Steps of the Nursing Process

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Assessment. This is the first step of the nursing process. It involves the systematic and continuous collection, validation (evaluation) and selection of data. Data is collected from a variety of sources (clients, families, health records, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals). Data collection guidelines reflect the CSUB Department of Nursing Conceptual Model. Activities include: (1) establishing the database (nursing history, physical assessment, review of the patient/client’s record and nursing literature, and consultation with patient/client’s support persons and healthcare professionals); (2) continuously updating the database; (3) validating data; and (4) communicating data.

Nursing Diagnosis. From the assessment of functional health patterns human response patterns are identified and classified according to statements of actual, high risk and possible problems, and wellness diagnoses (Carpenito, 1993). It requires data analysis to identify the patient/client’s strengths and health problems that independent nursing interventions can resolve. Activities include: (1) interpreting and analyzing patient/client data; (2) identifying patient/client strengths and health problems; (3) formulating and validating nursing diagnoses; and (4) developing a prioritized list of nursing diagnoses.

Planning. Specification of client goals to promote health and/or prevent, reduce, or resolve the problems that are identified in the nursing diagnoses, and related nursing interventions. Implementation strategies address the patient/client’s health state and aim to facilitate attaining the desired outcomes. Implementation encompasses four levels of care: preventive, supportive, restorative and rehabilitative. Activities include: (1) establishing priorities; (2) writing goals and developing an evaluative strategy; (3) selecting nursing measures; (4) communicating the plan of nursing care.

Intervention. Implementing the plan of care. Activities include: (1) carrying out the plan of care; (2) continuing data collection and modifying the plan of care as needed; (3) documenting the care given.

Evaluation. Measures the extent to which the patient/client has achieved the goals specified in the plan of care, and identifies the factors that positively or negatively influenced goal achievement. The plan of care is revised as necessary. Activities include: (1) measuring how well the client has achieved the desired goals; (2) identifying factors that contributed to the client’s success or failure; (3) modifying the plan of care (if indicated).

Bad Girl

Hey! Everybody seems to be staring at me..

You! You! All of you!

How dare you to stare at me?

Why? Is it because I'm a bad girl?

A bad girl I am, A good for nothing teen ager, a problem child?

That's what you call me!

I smoke. I drink. I gamble at my young tender age.

I lie. I cheat, and I could even kill, If I have too.

Yes, I'm a bad girl, but where are my parents?

You! You! You are my good parents?

My good elder brother and sister in this society where I live?

Look...look at me...What have you done to me?

You have pampered and spoiled me, neglected me when I needed you most!

Entrusted me to a yaya, whose intelligence was much lower than mine!

While you go about your parties, your meetings and gambling session...

Thus... I drifted away from you!

Longing for a father's love, yearning for a mother's care!

As I grew up, everything changed!

You too have changed!

You spent more time in your poker, majong tables, bars and night clubs.

You even landed on the headlines of the newspaper as crooks, pedlars and racketeers.

Now, you call me names, accuse me of everything I do to myself?

Tell me! How good are you?

If you really wish to ensure my future...

Then hurry....hurry back home! Where I await you, because I need you...

Protect me from all evil influences that will threathen at my very own understanding...

But if I am bad, really bad...then, you've got to help me!

Help me! Oh please...Help me!

STUDY TIPS!!!! FOR FINAL SHOT..

Preparing Time Management Scheduling and setting goals Creating a to-do list Organizing tasks Motivating yourself Managing stress Prioritizing tasks Avoiding procrastination Developing self-discipline Problem solving Suceeding in high education	Learning Learning to learn Visual learner Learning as a student-athlete or student-performer Learning as an adult Learning with ADHD Thinking critically Thinking like a genius Concept or mind mapping Thinking aloud/private speech
Studying Effective study habits Concentrating Memorizing A.S.P.I.R.E. - a study system Index - a study system Action learning Create, & study with, flashcards Studying with multiple sources	Learning with others Collaborative/cooperative learning Action learning Problem based learning Studying in groups Active Listening Conflict resolution Peer mediation Tutoring guidelines Using feedback and working with tutors	Online learning/ communicating Online learning Webtruth: Evaluating website content Netiquette E-guides on social interaction Developing your website Basics of webdesign and accessbility Making your website popular Web design bibliography - outside links
Classroom participation Preparing for the classroom Paying attention Classroom discussions Taking notes in lectures Influencing teachers Guided notes Interviewing for class projects Consent form	Project management Completing a class assignment Organizing projects Managing by exception Developing case studies Public speaking Presenting projects/speeches Spreadsheets and budgets Setting your (school) budget	Research Writing research papers Researching on the Internet Organizing research with computers & avoiding plagiarism Organizing research Creating note cards Citing websites
Reading skills Reading critically Prereading strategies SQ3R reading method KWL reading method Reading difficult material Taking notes from a text book Reading essays Reading fiction Fiction: narrator & character types Speed & comprehension Marking & underlining	Preparing for Tests General test preparation Anticipating test content Review tools for tests Overcoming test anxiety Organizing for test taking Cramming Emergency test preparation Testing bibliography	Taking Tests Ten tips for terrific test taking Taking online tests True/false tests Multiple choice tests Short answer tests Open book exams Oral exams Essay Exams

It’s all I can do…I’m aching for you

It’s all I can do… I tried and I try I’m still aching for you! Ever since I met you- (You landed in my eye!) - It’s all I can do… Like a sweet taboo, That life should contrive, I’m just aching for you! I can’t talk to you! So this piece I write. It’s all I can do… No matter what I do, I barely survive, I’m sooo aching for you! God will strike me if I lie! And with this I’ll summarize: Baby, It’s all I can do… I’m really, r e a l l y, aching for...

Failure Poems Guest Author - Danielle Holliste

LESSONS OF FAILURE

Failure does not mean I'm a failure;
It does mean I have not yet succeeded.

Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing;
It does mean I have learned something.

Failure does not mean I have been a fool;
It does mean I had enough faith to experiment.

Failure does not mean I have disgraced;
It does mean I have dared to try.

Failure does not mean I don't have it;
It does mean I have something to do in a different way.

Failure does not mean I am inferior;
It does mean I am not perfect.

Failure does not mean I have wasted my life;
It does mean that I have an excuse to start over.

Failure does not mean that I should give up;
It does mean that I should try harder.

Failure does not mean that I will never make it;
It does mean that I need more practice.

Failure does not mean that you have abandoned me;
It does mean that you must have a better idea

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Black and White

you gave me shade
when the sun was too bright
you carried the umbrella
when the rain poured at night
you held my hand
when we crossed the street
you'd laugh at my habits
and our love was discreet
you were the wind
that played with my hair
you were the thoughts
that got me to care
you were the truth
when I couldnt bear lies
you were the lips that told me to try
you were the love
that stole all my fears
you were the hand
that wiped away tears
something had happened
silence broke free
my fairytale ended
and you left me alone, never to see
the roads they are silent
walking unknown
no umbrella in hand
and so very alone
and when i cross the street
people keep driving
never to stop
for someone just arriving
careless words
muttered slow
things a blur
with no control
you'd say one word
and all was right
but now your gone
plain black and white