Healthcare and Digital Technology

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