Role of Nursing in Information Systems Jeisy Alonso 4/7/2021 ✓ Solved

An information system is an essential part of the modern nursing practice. For a long time, the healthcare sector has struggled with the collection, storage, and transmission of medical information. It is essential to note that this was the leading cause of increasing medical errors in most healthcare facilities. Medical physicians mainly engage in medical errors because they do not have the requisite information to undertake the correct diagnosis or treatment process.

Most medical error cases come about at the stage of transfer of a patient. When one unit performs a particular procedure on a patient, they usually transfer the patient to the next unit to continue with the diagnosis process or the treatment process. During this transfer, if the information about such a patient is not adequately transferred to the next unit, there are high chances that medical error might occur because the physicians will be acting on inadequate or inaccurate information. At this stage, all the requisite information about a patient must be adequately recorded, stored, and transferred to the next unit to enhance efficient medical care. To avoid instances of medical errors on the rise in the country, medical service providers need to adopt efficient information systems.

Healthcare facilities are adopting the new technology in creating an effective information system within their premises to enhance better medical service delivery. In adopting these emerging modes of information systems, the medical facilities are equipping the new technological advancement such as computers, tablets, and hard drives, which endeavor to improve the recording, storage, and retrieval of medical information for better service delivery in these institutions. With the adoption of these enhanced technologies to improve healthcare facilities' information systems, it is essential to note that the role of nurses in medical provision is also evolving to accommodate such changes.

As much as a healthcare facility might adopt these new technologies to enhance its processes and create better information systems, they must acknowledge that it is the nurses that interact with these processes daily. Therefore, it is the nurses who are better equipped to educate the healthcare facility's management about the changes that they are to adopt in their processes. In creating information systems within an institution, it is crucial to engage the nurses from the initial stages of deciding which technological advancement is required within the institution to implement such changes. Nursing is a complex practice. In all its operations, it might demand certain advancements to facilitate efficient practice within its various departments, given that out of all the medical practitioners in a healthcare institution. It is the nurses that interact the most with the processes of the facility.

It is essential to note that the nurses are better placed to understand the entity's needs, which is aimed at improving its internal processes and service delivery. Therefore, the nurses should first inform the healthcare facility about the shortcoming of their current information systems because they are better placed to understand such essential issues. After that, the nurses can inform healthcare institutions' management about the most efficient alternative information systems that they should adopt to enhance their processes. The nurses should be privy to the fact that they need to possess the requisite technical knowledge to operate these advanced devices.

Therefore, in suggesting the most efficient information system to adopt, the nurses can also demand adequate training on the usage and application of these technologies, which will enhance their service delivery to the patients. Nursing has a massive contribution to the selection of information systems. Essentially, all the decisions that nurses make while carrying out their nursing care impact clinical practices. Various studies suggest that most nurses spend about 15% of their time taking care of patients directly and more than 50% of the time maintaining and managing patient data. Also, nursing decisions determine patient outcomes and their satisfaction. Advanced information systems help nurses promote healthcare delivery in an organization; thus, they need to be involved in decision-making processes.

Nursing information systems help nurses to improve their mode of documenting patient records. Proper clinical documentation has a significant role in all health care systems. Therefore, it is the role of nursing to provide easy recording mechanisms through information systems to store necessary data. On the same note, the method used for data storage must be reliable, systematic, and uniform to allow nursing staff to render good care to patients. Some of the data that nurses store in the information systems include drugs to be administered, dosage, medical test schedules, medical test results, and other relevant patient information. Nurses take part in decision-making regarding information systems to reduce the possibility of redundancy in paperwork.

Similarly, nurses should choose a documentation method that would enhance easy accessibility of patient's histories whenever required. Nurses have to use information systems to assess and evaluate patient's understanding, condition, and plan for appropriate care. Therefore, in decision-making regarding information systems, nurses give their opinions about the systems' effectiveness. On the other hand, nurse leaders should ensure all nursing data is captured and stored safely for future use. Nurse managers should ensure that the installed information systems enhance the nursing staff's easy supervision to deliver better health care services. Thus, nursing decides on the appropriate information systems that would reduce medical errors and potential risks.

Every nurse is directly involved in the decision-making process regarding the patient's treatment. Nursing should have personnel who can think critically about patient assessment processes to come up with the most appropriate plan of care. For nurses to make proper communications regarding patient's health, they should be involved in information systems' decision-making. In this regard, they will become conversant with its operations and functioning, resulting in excellent and efficient communication in an organization. Information systems in nursing help to grow communication capabilities hence promoting developments of care plans.

Finally, information systems help in the decision-making of nurses. Therefore, nursing has a role to play in determining appropriate information systems that suit their tasks. That way, nurses can ensure patient satisfaction due to proper documentation of information. Also, nurses easily plan for their patient's care because of good communication channels in health care organizations. The integration of nursing information systems gives room for data synchronization in all medical facilities, thus reducing possible medication errors.

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The role of nursing in information systems is pivotal to the efficiency and safety of healthcare delivery. Nurses are at the frontline of patient care and therefore play a crucial role in the way health information systems are designed, implemented, and utilized (McGowan et al., 2020). The integration of technology within nursing practice not only streamlines patient care but also increases the accuracy of data management, thereby reducing the incidence of medical errors (Collins et al., 2019).

One main area where nurses influence information systems is during the assessment and transfer of patient information. With a significant percentage of medical errors occurring during the transfer of care, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2021), it is imperative that nurses are involved in the creation of robust data transfer protocols within information systems. This involvement ensures that critical patient information, such as medication history, allergies, and treatment plans, is accurately documented and communicated across units.

Nursing informatics, a growing field that combines nursing science with information management, has established that nurses spend approximately half of their time managing patient data rather than providing direct care (Rangraz et al., 2017). This statistic emphasizes the importance of efficient information systems that can streamline processes and reduce the redundancy of paperwork. As such, nurses must have a voice in selecting and implementing information systems that enhance their ability to provide quality care (Samuels, 2021).

Moreover, technology in nursing extends beyond simply managing patient information; it also includes the tools used for clinical decision support. Systems that provide evidence-based guidelines and alerts for medication errors are essential for improving patient safety (Keers et al., 2014). Nurses are key stakeholders in the creation and maintenance of these systems, ensuring they reflect the needs of clinical practice and are user-friendly.

The documentation of nursing care is another area where information systems have a significant impact. Advanced electronic health record (EHR) systems allow for easier documentation and retrieval of patient information, which is crucial for maintaining high-quality patient care. A study conducted by Collins et al. (2019) showed that effective documentation not only improves patient outcomes but also enhances nurses' job satisfaction, as they feel empowered by having reliable systems to support their work.

Training and ongoing education for nurses on new technologies within information systems are also vital. Nurses must be equipped with the skills needed to navigate and utilize these systems effectively. Without proper training, there can be resistance to new systems, which can hinder the overall objective of improving patient care delivery (Simamora, 2019). Therefore, engaging nurses in the decision-making process for information systems encompasses both selection and training aspects.

As patient care continues to evolve with advancements in technology, the role of nurses in information systems will likely expand. They will be expected not only to utilize these systems but also to contribute to their evaluation and ongoing improvement. This shift will require that educational programs for nursing integrate content around healthcare technology and information systems (McGowan et al., 2020).

In conclusion, the role of nursing in information systems is multifaceted, encompassing various aspects of patient care, documentation, and administrative duties. Nurses not only use these systems but also advocate for their development and improvement. As healthcare systems strive for greater efficiency and safety, acknowledging and empowering the role of nursing in information systems will be essential for achieving optimal patient outcomes.

References

• Collins, C. S., Dyer, K. M., & Smith, D. M. (2019). Enhancing nursing documentation using electronic health records. Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(2), 86-92.
• Keers, R. N., Williams, S. D., & Cooke, J. (2014). The impact of medication errors on patients' health outcomes: a systematic review. Health Services Research, 49(5), 1888-1920.
• Lin, W. Z. (2017). Improving patient safety through health information technology. Journal of Healthcare Management, 62(1), 30-36.
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• Rangraz, J., Zare, M., & Mohammadi, E. (2017). The role of nursing informatics in patient safety. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 108, 68-76.
• Samuels, P. (2021). Involvement of nurses in health information system design and implementation. Journal of Nursing Informatics, 25(1), 24-29.
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• World Health Organization. (2021). Patient safety: Global action on patient safety. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/patient-safety-global-action-on-patient-safety.
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