NURS 6051 Week 1 Discussion The Application of Data to Problem-Solving
NURS6051 Transforming Nursing and Healthcare through Technology
In the modern era, there are few professions that do not to some extent rely on data. Stockbrokers rely on market data to advise clients on financial matters. Meteorologists rely on weather data to forecast weather conditions, while realtors rely on data to
advise on the purchase and sale of property. In these and other cases, data not only helps solve problems, but adds to the practitioner’s and the discipline’s body of knowledge.
NURS 6051 Week 1 Discussion The Application of Data to Problem-Solving
Of course, the nursing profession also relies heavily on data. The field of nursing informatics aims to make sure nurses have access to the appropriate date to solve healthcare problems, make decisions in the interest of patients, and add to knowledge.
In this Discussion,you will consider a scenario that would benefit from access to data and how such access could facilitate both problem-solving and knowledge formation.
Evidence-based practice is an essential nurse competency that supports the provision of effective and efficient care. Through team projects and individual applications, students learn how to organize, evaluate, and use health information and knowledge to critically appraise and use information technology to enhance evidence-based practice. Students also apply evidence-based practice to improve advanced nursing practice and healthcare outcomes across organization, public-health, and consumer-health settings.
Technology continues to influence the nursing field and healthcare in some exciting ways. For example, increasing numbers of hospitals have integrated what used to be multiple forms of communication into one streamlined system. Nurses wear headsets or badges that allow them to communicate with their colleagues in real time. These systems provide alerts in emergency situations and upload patient health data to EMR systems automatically. Wearable technology allows nurses to scan barcodes on each patient’s bed to provide real-time data on vitals, medical history, medications, allergies, and test results. This allows for greater efficiency than the old method of filing, emailing, and charting patient information. Hospitals also can now incorporate sensors and chips into mattresses, bedding, and blankets so that nurses and physicians can monitor patients’ movement, weight, blood pressure, and other key data. With time, this information can paint a fuller picture of a patient’s condition and progress.