This semester I’m excited to be diving into critical care. This is a class I have been looking forward to for a long time. Now, what am I disliking so far? The glitches involved with the technology aspect of this class. It’s not the technology itself, I actually am happy to learn and utilize different tech. It’s the occasional system glitches that arise and delay projects. But once again, looking forward to this semester.
I think that Nurses will be using technology more and more in the coming years. There are a lot of recent advances in technology that will be used in Nursing. For example the EHR-MU makes it easier to transfer patient records form one facility to another. Also it makes patient medical data more accessible even within the same facility. The federal health mandate around electronic health records have also begun to require that patients have access to their own health information (Linck, 2014).
CPOE is a clinical software application designed specifically for providers to write patient orders electronically rather than on paper. With CPOE, providers produce clearly typed orders, reducing medication errors based on inaccurate transcription (Nursing World, 2014).
There are also ear buds that can measure your heart rate, speed and calories burned per workout while you are listening to music and an iPhone case that turns your phone into an EKG monitor (Linck, 2014).
I think that for me as a nurse it would be beneficial to constantly educate myself about new technology and see if it is something that can help me have better access to information or help my patients. I think that mobile technology can help patients to monitor themselves but it should be recommended with caution as patients may try to self diagnose rather than seek the help of a health care professional.
The pros are that technology help nurses to have better access to information whether it is the EHR, or the internet or looking up medication information. Also with the CPOE this helps to stop medication errors by ensuring accurate transcriptions.
The cons are that new technology can be time consuming to learn and may distract from patient care.
The way that I have seen technology being used for patient education in the hospital is when the nurses can bring up handouts related to patient education that are linked to the patient record based in their current diagnosis. There were many that could be printed out and discussed with the patient like diet suggestions, or warning signs and when to call the doctor.
Reference:
Huston, C., (May 31, 2013) “The Impact of Emerging Technology on Nursing Care: Warp Speed Ahead” OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 18, No. 2, Manuscript 1.
Linck, R (2014). , Digital Trends in Nursing : http://digitaltrendsinnursing.blogspot.com
Digital technology in healthcare is a very exciting idea. Two years ago I had read an article about doctors using cell phones to monitor their cardiac patients. The information was downloaded to the application and transmitted to the doctor in real time to monitor the patient’s heart health. Remote monitoring coupled with Electronic Health Records will provide the health professionals the ability to collaborate with ease and over distance. Nurses and health professionals will half to be computer literate, trained, and kept up to date as changes are made to the platform that the facility is using.
In a journal article written by Sheila M. Gephart, PhD, RN & Judith A. Effken, PhD, RN, FACMI, FAAN, it is indicated that is allows the clinicians to follow their patient when they return home and is cost effective as well. However, they do indicate that as they track and follow their patient’s chronic disease, if the information is not inputted it triggers the need for the clinician to intervene which in most cases in a phone call to remind them to input the data, such as the latest blood sugar. There are concerns about the security of the Electronic Health Records (EHR) as indicated in an article by Seth Foldy (Et al). While they have great things to say about the advancement of information tech as it relates to health care, it also approaches it with the need for serious protections and certification of the protection being used by the facility. They further explain that there are many applications used on cell phones that can give bad information and possibly cause people to delay seeking medical attention when it is needed, as well as making the information that you enter into the app accessible to other third party individuals.
Healthcare technology is growing exponentially and I as well as other nurses will be using and accessing more as time progresses. In many places health assessments done by nurses are a series of questions with check boxes and in some cases you can free-write information. In many respects this is good as it prevents areas from being missed or overlooked, however that being said it is also easy to not elaborate or be as thorough in parts of the assessment. It is up to the nurse to be as thorough as she can and if unable to elaborate in the assessment program she will need to mindful to make a narrative note so that information is not missed. While I am optimistic and excited for the future possibilities that this technology brings, it needs to be approached with caution to insure the protection of the clients information.
References:
Gephart, S. M. (2013). Using Health Information Technology to Engage Patients in their Care. Online Journal Of Nursing Informatics, 17(3), 1-6.
Foldy, S., Grannis, S., Ross, D., & Smith, T. (2014). A Ride in the Time Machine: Information Management Capabilities Health Departments Will Need. American Journal Of Public Health, 104(9), 1592-1600. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.301956
Technology has definitely brought a change in healthcare and nursing. A cell phone case with the capacity of an EKG monitor, ear buds monitoring your heart beat and the amount of calories you burn are all incredible interventions (Linck, 2014). In 2000 the Food and Drug Administration approved the robotic surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System where more complex and delicate procedures can be performed. It also increase surgery’s to be minimal invasive with the results of a decrease in complications such as infections of the surgical site, decrease in blood loss, faster recovery, and smaller scars (Mayo clinic, 2015). In nursing electronic charting, electronic MAR, and Krames are just a few of the important electronic programs in daily nursing. In nursing school and as a new graduate flexibility in learning different charting programs throughout the different hospitals was essential. Next year at my workplace we will be trained on a new charting program named Epic.
There are pros and cons towards technology and healthcare. The internet is a quick resource for patients to find out regarding their condition in using websites such as WebMD; however self diagnosis is not the best option. Follow up care with the primary care physician or specialist needs to be established. A critical care nurse tried to catch up with the morning medications after the patient had a change in condition and required different procedures. The nurse in a hurry crushed the medication and administered the medications through the NG tube including the “Do not crush” medication warning listed on the electronic medication administration record. A crushed extended-release calcium channel blocker was administered to the patient resulting in the patient’s death (Anderson and Townsend, 2013). Technology is an asset to healthcare and nursing, however it can not replace the human brain.
References
Linck, R. (2014, October 8). Digital trends in nursing. Retrieved September 6, 2015, from http://digitaltrendsinnursing.blogspot.com/
Anderson, P., & Townsend, T. (2013, March). Medication error: Don’t let them happen to you. Retrieved September 6, 2015, from http://www.americannursetoday.com/medication-errors-dont-let-them- happen-to-you.
Mayo Clinic. (2015, July 2). Robotic Surgery. Retrieved September 6, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/robotic- surgery/basics/definition/prc-20013988
I really enjoyed the articles this week especially “Children as Consumers.” I had heard many times that the media targets children differently than it does adults but this article gave me a more in depth view to that. When I was in high school one of my teachers told us about an article she had read that said grocery stores put junk food and toys on the lower shelves so that the children are in direct eye level with them. This would then cause the children to beg their parents to buy them the junk food and the toys and for the most part the parents would cave. So having heard that information I was really interested on what other ways media is targeting children.
In the article it told of different ways that media tries to convince parents to buy more products for their children by explaining that it will allow them to create their own identity. “The [U.S.] federal government played a major role in defining childhood. In 1929, Herbert Hoover sponsored a White House Conference on Child Health and Protection. The conference report, The Home and the Child, concluded that children were independent beings with particular concerns of their own.… The report advised parents to give their children their own [furniture, toys, playrooms etc]. “‘Generally a sleeping room for each person is desirable”‘ it noted.… Take them shopping for their own “‘things and let them pick them out for themselves.Through such experiences personality develops… [These] experiences have the advantage of also creating in the child a sense of personal as well as family pride in ownership, and eventually teaching him that his personality can be expressed through things( Children as Consumers).” While I do believe that this can add to helping a child discover their own individuality, I think that it is mainly convincing them that the definition of who the are as unique individual is solely dependent upon the material objects they possess. This was the quote from the article that really caught my attention because it definitely makes me realize how prevalent media is not just in my life but in the life of all these children.
Digital technology is fast becoming ‘the norm’ in all aspects of our society, and healthcare is no exception. From having access to healthcare records with a few key strokes to simple things, such as new hands-free and wireless telephones for healthcare staff, technology is making most healthcare professionals’ jobs easier. It’s great to have a smart device or computer unhand to look up any desired information at a moments notice. I am by no means ‘a techie’, but I fully embrace the technological advances and am willing to learn the newest things that come out.
I think that the new EHR’s and healthcare documentation software are making assessment documentation somewhat easier for nursing staff. With an increasing number of RN’s coming into the workforce that are tech savvy, it is a time saver. However, in regards to the older nurse population, is has made documentation more difficult, as some are not comfortable with computers in general. EHR’s also require a multitude of man hours for education in order to teach staff how to use the new systems.
Another downside to mobile technology is that it has driven people to seek healthcare advice from internet resources which may, or may not be reliable sources. People need to realize that digital media is a decent starting point, but if they have questions or concerns about health, their primary care physician is the best source.
I see technology used frequently within the hospital setting for patient education. The hospital uses printed sources from Krames and other similar sites for medications, patient safety, exercise programs, and disease process education.
Hi my name is Lisa Acquisto and I am a native of Ventura. I have three great kids. Ashlynn is 28 years old, lives in North Carolina, and is a successful beautician. She has recently returned to school to be a dietician. Anicia is 24 years old, has begun classes this fall at CSUCI as a junior studying Business. She works as a waitress at Brophy’s in Ventura and is soon to begin her second job at Farmer Boy’s in Santa Barbara. My youngest, Ben is 22 years old, and is in his final year at USC studying Public Relations in sports. He is interning with USC Athletic Marketing and Pollack PR Marketing Firm, and works for Annenberg Facilities. I also have two little dogs, which are big dogs at heart. Daphne is 8 year old, Chihuahua/Dachshund mix, and Peewee is a three year old Chihuahua/Terrier mix.
Technology is constantly growing and changing the way we do things as nurses for the purpose of improving patient care and outcomes. I think technology advances are wonderful in the healthcare setting and something all healthcare providers need to embrace for the benefits of our patients. For me as a nurse this means I need to stay educated and engaged in what’s going on and to not be afraid of accepting change in the workplace. My hospital recently began scanning patients’ wrist bands and medications to minimize medication errors and this has proven to be beneficial. As far as technology relating to assessment, once these applications become more mainstream our patient’s will address their health issues with us and most likely refer to their mobile devices to give us history on their health status and conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the $200 iPhone case that turns your phone into an EKG monitor to prevent incidences of stroke which shows technology aiding in managing care at home. A Canadian randomized clinical trial found that AF was diagnosed five more times in patients that wore special monitors for 30 days than for those who underwent 24 hour testing, the American Heart Association also supports the prolonged EKG monitoring. The pros to technology are advances in patient outcomes, the cons are protecting patient privacy with all of the data that’s collected. So far I’ve seen technology for patient education being provided through the television sets in each room that provide videos on a diagnosis specific to each patient. I’ve also seen technology used such as iPods providing translation services. As nurses we need to make sure that we utilize and practice the best research out there and that means embracing technology for improving patient outcomes.
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