THE VALUE OF NURSING INFORMATICS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR NURSING PRACTICE
Transforming Nursing-Spring
THE VALUE OF NURSING INFORMATICS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR NURSING PRACTICE
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to two of your colleagues by expanding upon their responses or sharing additional or alternative perspectives.
PEER #1
TuesdayMay 7 at 10:51am
Main Post
As a doctorate-pursuing nurse, the requirement to learn how to do a project to affect patients in the future seemed far off. The struggle to narrow down all the information was very real. Using health information technology (HIT) and informatic techniques is recognized as an essential foundation of data collection, developing new information, and putting the information into action to address an issue that can improve patient outcomes. The first step was to gain skills to seek relevant health information surrounding the identified problems of medication and mental health regimen literacy to bridge the gap for mental health patients to decrease the need for patients to return to the hospital. The skill or competency to utilize a computer to collect and store the information was painstaking and rewarding at the same time. The challenge to narrow down the information was a process of elimination to identify what others have done and continue to do to address the issue. For example, Hutchinson et al. addressed the concern by providing care management to support the transition of inpatient patients to outpatient support by identifying and addressing social determinant barriers (Hutchison, 2022). The study made an impact on readmissions. By finding other studies similar to the previous study, the project became more evident to start on the other end by educating patients about medication and mental health regimens before they are discharged to support the process of transitioning.
Secondly, the struggle to stick to evidence-based and patient-centered care through HIT and informatics was a challenge. However, the study by Farokhzadian et al. discussed how evidence-based practice (EBP) is utilized in research and putting the evidence and clinical expertise and improve patient outcomes through the use of informatics to complete tasks needed to manage the information, prevent errors, and support education needs of staff and patients (Farokhzadian, 2024). The information supported the why and how of informatics for EPB and patient-centered care.
Thirdly, the totality of digital devices and informatics techniques to address mental health concerns was eye-opening. For example, the study by Alenezi et al. examined the effects of new technology of wearable devices, telehealth, and mobile phone apps in providing support to patients diagnosed with mental health (Alenezi, 2022). The study confirmed that the use of devices and their future use could be beneficial in providing access to treatment for mental health. Initially, the thought of possibly using apps or wearable devices to monitor mental health was an afterthought due to privacy concerns from patients. While working as a care manager, patients would express concerns regarding the privacy of their information if they seek mental health support. By understanding informatics, mobile devices can be used in future practice endeavors. In the future, using mobile phones to send texts or do telehealth sessions with secure access is possible. Currently, patients will be informed about the apps available to send updates about appointments through MyUPMC or RX Well to manage symptoms until they get connected to outpatient services (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2024).
Lastly, informatic techniques can assist in monitoring outcomes through EHR, mobile devices, and telehealth. Smartphones can be used to follow-up with patients through survey monitoring to get the patients’ opinions regarding their treatment while inpatient. Telehealth resources through outpatient can support patients until a face-to-face session can be accomplished, bridging the gap for follow-up. The review of EHR can track ED visits or readmissions to assess the reason for the patient’s readmission (i.e., lack of medication adherence, financial or housing issues, lack of timely follow-up). By reviewing the data, interventions can be reviewed to assess effectiveness or address gaps in care.
At the start of the informatics course, understanding how and why nurses must understand the techniques and required competency could have been clearer. Fast forward to now, informatics is essential in using data, improving care through evidence-based information, implementing the best practice principles, and providing professional ways to affect patient outcomes. The informatic course has improved the skills needed to start, formulate, develop, and implement a project that will improve patients’ health.
References
Alenezi, A. A. (2022). Progress of nursing informatics for mental health initiatives.
In 2022 Second International Conference on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (ICPS), pp. 152-158. IEEE.
American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing informatics: Scope and standards of practice.
American Nurses Association, (2nd ed.).
Farokhzadian, J. J.-M. (2024). Necessary prerequisites for evidence-based practice: results of investigating nurses’ informatics competency and information literacy skills.
Frontiers of Nursing, 11(1)., DOI: 10.2478/FON-2024-0007.
Hutchison, S. H. (2022). Care management intervention to address determinants of health for individuals with multiple behavioral health readmission.
Professional Case Management, 27(2) 47-57 DOI:10.1097/NCM.0000000000000531.
Moyo, N. J. (2022). What are the core competencies of a mental health nurse? A concept mapping study involving five stakeholders.
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 933-951. .
Sipes, C. (2020).
Project management for the Advanced Practice Nurse. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. (2024).
MyUPMC: Connect to your UPMC care online. Retrieved from MyUPMC.upmc.com:
White, K. D.-B. (2021).
Translation of evidence into nursing and healthcare. New York: Springer Publishing Company, LLC.
Ye, J. W. (2022). Social networking service, patient-generated health data, and population informatics: National cross-sectional study of patterns and implications of leveraging digital technologies to support mental health and well-being.
Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(4), e30898.
PEER #2
MAIN POST
Reflecting on the course content about the value of nursing informatics, it becomes clear that this field empowers healthcare professionals by enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery. Nursing informatics, a fusion of nursing, information, and computer science, equips us to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. This integration supports clinical practice by improving information access, enhancing healthcare providers’ communication, and facilitating data-driven decision-making but it also instills confidence in our ability to navigate the complex healthcare landscape (Iuppa, 2023).
In professional practice, the insights gained from this course are directly applicable to improving patient care outcomes and streamlining workflows. For instance, knowledge about electronic health records (EHRs) can help develop more effective documentation practices that ensure the accuracy and completeness of patient information, which is critical for effective patient care and interprofessional communication.
Applying nursing informatics can be particularly transformative for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project or dissertation. One could use informatics tools to analyze patient data to identify trends or patterns in health outcomes. It could lead to developing targeted interventions that address specific health issues. Using informatics to evaluate the outcomes of these interventions can provide evidence-based insights that contribute to the broader body of nursing knowledge.
Two new informatics competencies I have acquired from this course, data management and system design and analysis, are invaluable tools in our professional arsenal. Data management skills enable us to handle large volumes of healthcare data responsibly and efficiently, ensuring privacy, security, and compliance with regulations. In practice, this can lead to improved patient data management systems that are more user-friendly and secure, facilitating more accessible access to patient information for timely decision-making. These competencies, once mastered, can make a significant difference in our ability to provide quality care.
System design and analysis involve understanding and optimizing how to configure system features to meet end-users needs, including nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers. Applying this competency can contribute to designing or refining clinical applications and tools that support better health outcomes and user satisfaction.
In practice, these competencies can be used to lead projects implementing new technologies or improving existing systems. For example, they spearhead the adoption of a new documentation tool that uses natural language processing to help nurses enter patient information more efficiently and accurately. Changing how data is recorded and used can enhance the quality of care and the operational aspects of healthcare delivery, leading to better health outcomes and more efficient care processes.
Reference
Iuppa, N. (2023). Computing the value of nursing informatics.
Nursing Management, 54(7), 10–13.
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