Module 5-Decision Support: Nursing data

From learning about decision support systems (I researched Iliad), have found that in order for them to work properly, the correct data need to be entered into them. They are used in many cases by physicians or nurse practitioners, who are responsible for making vital decisions about patient care. Because the data are gathered and entered into electronic records by nurses, we have a great responsibility to enter quality data, so that accurate data can be entered into the systems, whatever they are. It is only with correct data that the decision support systems can actually help the care providers reach appropriate decisions.

Module 5-Decision Support: heuristics

The readings for this section (especially those by Thompson) rang true with me. I have found that the more time that I have been a nurse, the more I naturally depend on past experiences to make clinical decisions. I remember being a new RN on my orthopedic med-surg floor, stuggling with every decision I made because everything was so new to me. I was overwhelmed with all of the new information about procedures and policies. Now that I have been in this role for a couple of years, a lot of what I do and a lot of what I tell patients comes from mental shortcuts that I have made. It is almost as though I go on autopilot sometimes. Reading these articles, I understand why this way of doing things maks me vulnrable to biases. For example, if a patient's condition reminds me of another patient I once had, I may fall into the trap of thinking that the two patients have the same needs. I may also feel that I know the patient's condition better than I actually do (overconfidence). Two total hip patients may actually have medical issues that make thm very different. Relying too much on mental shortcuts (heuristics) can be dangerous.
However, I am also sure that experience makes us better nurses. If we are aware of the biases that we bring to the patient rooms, we may be able to keep ourselves from falling into them. While the natural way for humans to use information is to create shortcuts, we can make the extra effort to use evidence-based practice. If we continually try to learn about new and better ways of doing a procedure, for example, we can prevent overconfidence. We will realize that medicine is always changing and we will poise ourselves to change with it.

Module 6- Healthcare Information Systems and Devices

If the University Hospital were to start using a new IS component, I think that my primary responsibility as an RN would be to learn how to use it (if it applied to my practice). There would probably be instructional inservices available, and I could attend them and encourage other staff members to go with me. This would help the new system to catch on more quickly and be used to our advantage. Another responsibiliy would be for me to use the new techology after I have been taught. The hospital administrators and information systems specialists would have probably decided to adopt the program because it would help with my job, and I should accept this fact.

Technology Evaluation

For my technology evaluation activity, I analyzed online learning, distance learning (oncluding Web CT), and power point. I selected these three technologies because I have used all of them in various learning situations. I personally learn best from online learning because it is available in varying situations, whereas Web CT is only available to students enrolled in a formal class (as far as I know), and power point is most helpful in my learning when there is an instructor to explain the power point slides to me.
However, all three of the technologies would be helpful in different situations, and would be helpful for a variety of types of adult learners. Because of the multi-media that is available in all three of these learning resources, the learning possibilities are expanding from what they have been in the past. I think that for adult learners who are enrolled in a formal class and are seeking a degree, distance learning would be helpful for a busy schedule and would help the learner learn and do assignments to meet a deadline. For those more interested in learning in general, online learning would be helpful. It is available at all times, to anyone with access to the internet. There is a lot of information available online, and it is important to evaluate the sources of this information.

Theory and patient education

Learning is defined as a “persisting change in human performance or performance potential” (Driscoll, 2000, p. 11). I think that by using teaching methods that build on the intelligence strengths, I (or anyone else) can better process and remember information. Bruner states that as people learn, we process information and understand our world through action, imagery (visual), and logic/reason (Driscoll, 2000). These are three of Gardner’s types of intelligence. Therefore, as we incorporate data into these areas, it will become a part of me and my patients, and we will become more independent thinkers. In my work as an RN on an orthopedics floor, I have multiple patient interactions and many opportunities to teach them. Patients are inundated with massive amounts of information during their hospital stay. I should understand that different people use different forms of intelligence, and these should be utilized in order to help them remember the information they need to.

Multiple Intelligence Test

By taking the multiple intelligences test, I found that my intelligence strengths are musical, logical-mathematical, and intrapersonal. The descriptions of these areas show that my preferred learning styles would involve logic or numbers and musical sounds or rhythms. Therefore, one technology that could help me to learn would be listening to books on tape with music in the background, or anything that sets a set of information/words to music. Multimedia presentations or CD-ROMs would be an example of this. Also, any book or other technology that uses logic to teach would help me because I logic is another one of my strengths.