Free course work on nursing informatics

The use of decision aids and decision support systems.

Decision aids form an important aspect of decision support systems in nursing informatics. They pertain to stored data from previous patient- client experiences, which can be applied to contemporary issues within the science. Also they detail procedures followed when storing information to avoid mistakes.

Stănescu and Filip (2011) highlighted a number of emergent frameworks that are extremely useful for decision support systems. In their study they focused on two concepts. They are social informatics and virtual communities. (Stănescu & Filip, 2011). From observation these terminologies are closely related to clinical information system (CIS). This system allows many disciplines to use the system at the same time. Consequently, when applied to the decision support mechanism important data necessary to make a nursing diagnosis is easily available in similar files.

Automation of clerical services is another decision aid device mentioned in nursing informatics. Essentially, it transmits billing codes; sends messages; notifies allied disciplines; transfers readings and waveforms; assembles data; transfers documents to risk management sources; sends alerts of critical values and eliminates irrelevant information (Stănescu & Filip, 2011).

Nursing informatics specialists advocated that hospitals develop their own decision support system, whether technologically programmed or manual devices. Essentially, they support CIS and automated clerical services because in order for any data to be applicable there must be an associating interpretive device to make sense of it (Stănescu & Filip, 2011).

It is also advisable that hospitals recruit a librarian with staffing resources to monitor changes or recommendations in evidence-based practice. Attempts of hiring clinical analysts, according to Stănescu and Filip (2011), directly as a decision support system to translate data into effective clinical practice is a valuable upgrade (Stănescu & Filip, 2011

The use of technology for patient and client management

The use of technology is gaining momentum within nursing science practice. Managers as well as registered nurses specialized in distinct service delivery areas rely heavily on the use of such devices for assistance in making the most appropriate decisions. They appear as desktop computers; lap tops, note books, or Personal Digital Assistants (PDA). Often, however, three basic questions are asked when considering their application.

Safran and others (2010) when evaluating technology for patient and client management, as twenty-first century interventions in evidence- based nursing practice, related their investigations towards the progress made in nursing science through the development and use of the art. They were interested in applicable research methods and theoretical models that are evidence-adaptive in clinical decision support systems. Also, the usefulness of informatics technology in addressing specific decision making challenges, faced by nurses related to evidence-based practice, is another concern they expressed. (Safran et. al, 2010).

They admitted that immense progress was made in designing essential tools, such as computers, equipped with data processing software to facilitate collection, storage, retrieval of data. Precisely, they emphasized that this integrated technology forms a magnificent decision support system because it combines clinical science with computer technology and information management (Safran et. al, 2010).

In terms of research techniques and informatics related to technology; the assumption is that nursing research may not be so advanced to incorporate every aspect of informatics technology in interpreting data, but with practice and scrutiny the process could be enhanced.

Certainly, even though computers cannot think, research has proven where their use is even more accurate than when nurses merely make personal judgments. Stored data encased within programs help make relevant decisions pertaining to evidence-based practice because the evidence is already stored as a support system (Safran et. al, 2010).

References

Safran C, Reti F, Marin M, Starmer J, Wright P, Lorenzi N.( 2010).
Informatics and Evidence-Based Medicine: Prescription for Success. Studies in Health Technology & Informatics: 160. 656-660
Stănescu, Ioana Andreea; Filip, Florin Gheorghe (2011) Emergent Frameworks for decision
Support Systems. Informatics Economica. 15 (1), 92-103