Nursing Informatics: Security of Health Information - Essay Example

? Nursing Informatics: Security of Health Information Nursing Informatics: Security of Health Information Introduction The emergence of modern technology in the field of healthcare had created a significant improvement and dilemma among nurses. The use of nursing informatics is widely increasing and is predicted to be at great contribution in improving patient care. However, studies have shown that nurses lack information and communication technology knowledge in the workplace as some of the nurses still adapt the paperwork system, lack confidence in using electronic health records, and demonstrate fear and anxiety while using the modern technology system (Bond, 2005, p. 2). Fear and resistance refers to feelings thus, conducting a qualitative research can address the issue comprehensively. In doing a qualitative research, factors that cause nurses to experience fear and resistance while using the electronic health record will be identified. Knowing exactly what causes them fear, the nurse manager can design an action plan that will resolve all the problems perceived by nurses. As the nurse manager in the hospital, it is of main concern that staffs are demonstrating fear and resistance from using the electronic health records. Innovation in healthcare involves the application of technology and a nurse cannot avoid the possibility of encountering technological products like electronic health records in the provision of care. Indeed, the era of computers and technology has brought nurses to immediate changes in healthcare. Electronic health record is the electronic form of the medical record of a patient that includes nursing care rendered, treatment and medications given, and physicians order (Cunningham, 2005, p. 2). Vital objectives for all nurses include adherence confidently and accurately to the implementation of electronic health record in the healthcare as a way to document all care rendered and to protect nurses from incrimination and legal risks (Timmons, 2003, p. 262). Concerns on the experience of fear and resistance must be addressed because a single fault could affect the delivery of healthcare. Likewise, it is the nurse manager’s responsibility to develop strategies and action plan with the staff and to the hospital administrator which will be addressed as we go through the text (Bond, 2005, p. 2). Strategies To address the issue of fear and resistance related with the use of electronic health record, three strategies are designed: conducting a qualitative research, opening the line of communication with the healthcare staff, and observing the staff while using the electronic health record (Timmons, 2003, p. 258). The simplest and the most time-bounded strategy is opening the line of communication between the nurse manager and the healthcare staff. By creating an open environment such as a conference meeting, the nurse manager can communicate the issue with the healthcare staff and in return, health care staff can voice out their concerns in using the electronic health record and the discomforts experienced while using it. It is a time-bounded strategy in a sense that the nurse manager can identify and resolve the problem in a short period of time, without spending more time, money, and effort in conducting a qualitative research. The last strategy is observing the staff while using the electronic health record. Observation is an objective strategy derived from a manager’s perspective. To accurately yield a significant observation, staffs should be unaware that they are being observed because not doing so will only make the staff behave in accordance to what is expected as staff know that the nurse managers is observing. Accurate observation must be obtained because it will determine the source of fear and resistance among staff nurses. Using this way, responses such as fear and resistance are observed realistically. Action Plan The strategies designed to address the fear and resistance demonstrated by staff nurses when using electronic medical record and has formulated three priority actions. These include interventions in terms of staff education, staff training, and removal of the paper-based system in the institution (Timmons, 2003, 258). Staff Education. Equipping staff nurses with knowledge about informatics is essential in the implementation of electronic health record. Anxiety often arises from lack of knowledge of the system or equipment, making nurses fear the new system and resistant to changes. Information about informatics and electronic health record, security, and legal and ethical issues must be provided to alleviate anxiety among staff nurses. If nurses are well-educated about the electronic health record, the possibility of engaging into the implemented electronic health record can be achieved (Bond, 2005, p. 20). In addition, nurses will demonstrate confidence in skills related to the integration of informatics in healthcare. Staff Training. After instilling needed knowledge in electronic health record, staff training through simulation program comes next. Some nurses feel fear because they think that they do not have the skill or the confidence to use the electronic health record system (Bond, 2005, 13). Training materials could provide an overview of the system and how it was used. In addition, simulation exercises enhance the knowledge of staff nurses in terms of application. Removal of the Paper-based System. One of the biggest barriers in the adoption of informatics in healthcare, as in the case of electronic health record, is the co-existence of the paper-based system (Bond, 2005, p. 18). Paper-based systems include the use of traditional documentation “pen and paper” in recording the medical data of patients. In this case, nurses were given the option not to use the electronic health record and engage in computerized system. Nurses perceived that it is easy to use the paper-based system than the electronic health record and using the computerized or electronic system is like doing the work of a clerk, taking nurses away from patient care (Bond, 2005, p. 12). Some nurses, particularly the old ones, also believe that electronic health record is too complex and will put nurses at risk for more medical errors. The removal of the paper-based system in the healthcare institution will force nurses to use the electronic health record. Leaving nurses with no choice will lead them to the utilization learning, and adoption of informatics in the field of healthcare, particularly the electronic health record. Critical Analysis and Synthesis of Resource Paper The paper presented by Bond explores nursing informatics in different nursing schools to identify preparation rendered by nursing schools. The topic of utilizing electronic health record is crucial to the healthcare system and to yield an unbiased result, Bond collected information from nursing lecturers, qualified nurses, and nursing informatics experts. The study also sought the perspective of nurses internationally and how would they behave with the adoption of information and communication technology, particularly electronic medical record in the workplace. The study has provided evidences, through literatures, of nurses’ perception in nursing informatics in the workplace. A clear description of the whole system – nurse, system, equipment, and skills were analyzed to identify the effect of integrating informatics, such as electronic medical record, in the field of health care. Solutions to the fear, anxiety and resistance demonstrated by staff nurses when using information and communication technology such as electronic health record were addressed. Recommendations presented in the study were widely presented as it covers those in the workforce arena, students, and information technology experts. Despite evidences presented in the background study and the qualitative nature of study, statistical analysis must be included and presented in the paper. This is to illustrate the most significant barriers in the adoption of electronic health record system. The study of Bond could be much stronger with statistical figures rather than interpretation alone. The last part of the study, the conclusion, reflects the opinion of Bond in the utilization of informatics in healthcare. Bond reiterated that despite technological advancements, patients expect nurses to use the current technology ethically and legally. Moreover, Bond encourage staff nurses that despite feelings of fear and discomforts, nurses should not resist on the advancement made in healthcare for it provides less medical errors and updated information. Summary When using current technology in the field of health care, particularly the electronic medical record, nurses often experience fear and resistance from using modern-technology products and applications. Strategies designed to eliminate the fear and resistance encountered by nurses when using electronic medical records includes staff education, staff training, and removal of the paper-based system. The resource paper by Bond has provided significant information on the current technological problems faced by nurses today. Further studies of Bond’s work offers improvement in terms of statistical analysis of nurses having fear, anxiety, and resistance when using electronic health records. References Bond, C.S. (2005). Nurses and Computers: An international perspective on how nurses are, and how they would like to be, using ICT in the workplace, and the support they consider that they need (p. 1-24). Poole: Bournemouth University. Cunningham, S. (2005). An Investigation of Electronic Health Records. Retrieved on October 26, 2011 from http://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:F8LdtBbeIc4J:scholar.google.com/+An+Investigation+of+Electronic+Health+Records&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&as_vis=1 Timmons, S. (2003). Nurses Resisting Information Technology. Nursing Inquiry, 10(4): 257-269. Read More