Patient Care Technology and Safety Essay

In the contemporary setting, patient care is exceedingly complex leading to the inevitable transformation of the conceptualization and the subsequent delivery of nursing care. The advancement of healthcare technology and systems portends great benefits coupled with a given degree of risks. Various elements determine the choice of technology and the healthcare information systems. First, organizational factors influence the choice and use of technology within the healthcare setting. The organizational factors include resources, social norms, policies, culture, employee empowerment, training programs, and the commitment of the management. the result of the implementation of technology vary deeply based on eh setting, arguably due to the variance in the social-organizational environment that entails the people, the workflow, the processes, and the tasks found therein (Thomas, 2015). It is worth noting that policy provides the ultimate framework for implementing change. For example, when handling programs and implementing patient safety movements, it is imperative for the nurse to establish management and leadership support, training, equipment, coordination, and the relevant training to ensure adherence to the pre-set policies.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Secondly, social factors also influence the selection and the use of technology and healthcare systems. The nurses are both the facilitators for the gaining of the patients' trust concerning the use of technology as well as the users of technology (Powell-Cope, Nelson & Patterson, 2008). The characteristics of the nurses have the propensity of influencing the adoption of particular technology. Under normal circumstances, the nurses are often willing to handle technologies that are perceived as easy to use, convenient, are consistent with the unit or organization's goals, have the ability to improve time spent or the efficiency of the tasks, or are consistent with the prevailing work patterns. Notably, the nurse features that determine the choice of technology depend immensely on the type of technology in question. Therefore, the adoption of technology depend on the attributes of the nurses that include the dedication towards, written documentation and planned care, the degree of acceptance of technology or computers, the mastery of computer skills, the levels of motivation, professional experience, and the support within the working environment.

The physical environment plays an important role in the determination of the choice and the use of technology in that fitting computers or systems into the building makes it easier for people to accept technology (Thomas, 2015). However, in a situation when the buildings are old and it is impossible for the design to accommodate technology it is difficult to adopt technology since the design is a constraining factor. It means that an ergonomic approach aimed at promoting safety by using equipment often reduces injuries in nurses. The design of the physical environment either impedes or promotes the use of technology. The nurses will readily use technology when the design promotes easy accessibility. Keeping the equipment away from the workstation makes the nurses reluctant to use them. There is need to store the equipment in an open, accessible place.

Conclusion

The above information is quite relevant to the DNP nurse leader in that it is imperative to understand that social, cultural factors affect the choice and the use of technology. However, the use of technology will never replace the human capital or input (Burkart-Jayez, 2010). In this regard, the nurse leader should combine the use of technology with the mastery of psychosocial skills such as the creation of a therapeutic relationship and communication to create a relationship with the diverse patient pool. The combination of technology with the relevant therapeutic and communication skills will definitely improve the care outcomes in a diverse environment.

References

Burkart-Jayez, S. (2010). Information systems/technology and patient care technology for the improvement and transformation of health care. The Doctor of Nursing Practice Essentials, 137. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Tf5o3lrwIL4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA137&dq=DNP+Essential+IV-Information+Systems/Technology+and+Patient+Care+Technology+for+the+Improvement+and+Transformation+of+Health+Care&ots=7f2LLA07o5&sig=sgDsY2bVwr8qsWvF2j66iGH8Gok&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=DNP%20Essential%20IV-Information%20Systems%2FTechnology%20and%20Patient%20Care%20Technology%20for%20the%20Improvement%20and%20Transformation%20of%20Health%20Care&f=false

Powell-Cope, G., Nelson, A. L., & Patterson, E. S. (2008). Patient Care Technology and Safety. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2686/

Thomas, R., C (2015). Integrating AACN Essentials for Information Management and Patient Care Technologies across the Continuum. University of Minnesota. Retrieved from https://www.nursing.umn.edu/sites/nursing.umn.edu/files/integrative-aacn-essentials-for-information-management.pdf