With the recent advancements in technology, the
field of nursing informatics has been on the rise. Information management
systems such as the electronic medical record as well as technological
resources like Accuvein and bladder scanners are utilized by nurses to provide
safe, effective, quality care. Nursing students must be exposed to healthcare
informatics while they are in school in order to have comfort in accessing,
navigating, and utilizing technologies in healthcare. As an educator, acquiring and maintain competence
in nursing informatics is imperative in order provide students with the
necessary opportunities involving technology.
Overall, I would consider myself to be at the
modifier level in regards to nursing informatics competencies. I have a respect
for technology in healthcare and understand the role of informatics in nursing.
As a result, I incorporate the use of technological resources into my practice
by accessing information from multiple online sources and information
management systems and using this information to make well-informed clinical
decisions. In addition, I utilize technology to support evidence based practice
by locating relevant research articles on online databases. When researching
information from other internet sources, I assess the sources for quality and
reliability to ensure their safe usability to guide practice and inform nurses
and patients. As an eRecord Superuser on my unit, I have some participation in
the process of change to improve informatics for nursing practice. In order to
advance to the innovator level in nursing informatics, I would need to become
more involved in the design and development processes of these technologies.
After completing the self-assessment for nursing
informatics competencies, I was not surprised to see my results as indicating
that I have confidence in the use of computers, value in nursing information
technology, and a positive view of the application of technology in healthcare.
Before starting this course, I felt fairly comfortable with using computers to
access information and had a basic understanding of the importance of its
incorporation in nursing practice. However, as I near the end of this course, I
realize that I now have a greater understanding of the depth of its
significance in providing safe, quality care. Most importantly, this course has
given me resources, tools, and strategies for integrating healthcare
informatics into the nursing curriculum in order to support students in the development
of their technological competence. My role as a technologically savvy nurse
educator is to provide my students with opportunities to utilize technology
while they are in school so they are prepared and equipped with the knowledge,
skills, and attitudes related to informatics when they enter the nursing
profession. Since the field of informatics and technology is constantly
changing and growing, I challenge myself to stay dedicated to being up-to-date
with the latest healthcare technology and its impact on nursing workflow.
For more information, explore the following resources:
How do we integrate technology into nursing education? The Deep Dive Workshop describes ways to enhance informatics competencies for nursing students.
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