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Analysis of Technology in Nursing Practice

Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems are used to store patient’s health information, including laboratory results and all other medical histories, medication data, and treatment plans. EHRs contribute largely to clinical decision-making (DM) as they allow the information retrieved in the patient database to be in direct demand, helping in a streamlined workflow and promoting inter-professional communication.

This technology enhances nursing skills because it allows for accurate documentation, reduces Medication Errors (MEs), and improves care coordination. Evidence-based Practice (EBP) relies on reliable and valid data from EHRs as they inform quality improvements, clinical decisions, and research (Li et al., 2022). This assessment will elaborate on how these impacts of EHRs in nursing practice are communicated and applied with strategies that lead to improved patient outcomes through EBP.

How Patient Care Technology Affects Patient Care and Nursing Practice

EHRs have a massive influence on patient care and the nursing practice. It enables centralized, easily accessed, computerized patient information. EHRs simplify documentation, improve communication among the care teams, and ensure continuity of care. Access to real-time medical histories, lab results, and medication lists allows nurses to make prompt, evidence-based decisions (Li et al., 2022). An example of how EHRs improve care is the automatic medication alerts, which alert the nurse to alert them of possible drug interactions and lower the possibility of MEs.

However, EHRs also come with their own set of challenges. Downtime or time-consuming documentation requirements can slow down the workflow, frustrate nursing, and potentially reduce time spent interacting with patients, possibly contributing to burnout. Accuracy can depend on proper training and input from staff, which can lead to human error (Li et al., 2022).

NURS FPX 5005 Assessment 4 Patient Care Technology

EHRs generate different kinds of data, including nominal variables, like gender and diagnoses; ordinal data, like pain levels on a scale; and ratio data, such as heart rate and blood pressure. Such data provide improved clinical decisions by establishing trends in patient outcomes, monitoring patient results, and informing treatments (Upadhyay & Hu, 2022). For instance, EHRs enable nurses to track the trend of blood glucose for diabetic patients so as to alter the treatment plan timely.

Assuming that the data used are accurate and complete, reflecting thereby the condition of the patient in question, is a consideration wherein the use of EHRs finds its basis. Assuming that healthcare providers will use the system consistently will allow the smooth sharing of information between disciplines. EHRs foster evidence-based care by converting patient data into actionable insights for guidance in clinical decisions to reflect improved patient safety and overall quality of care (Subbe et al., 2021).

Data Generated by the Technology

With EHRs, the data created by healthcare providers in their practice of clinical work has been invaluable in guiding their decisions. EHRs bring all patient data, such as laboratory results, vital signs, medicines, and medical histories, into one platform, making it possible for healthcare providers to make timely and evidence-based decisions. For example, if an EHR shows the fluctuation of blood pressure in a patient, clinicians can modify medicine or advise lifestyle modifications to avoid the negative sequelae of such fluctuations. Moreover, decision-support tools that are part of EHRs offer alerts and reminders, including drug interaction warnings or missed preventive screenings (Upadhyay & Hu, 2022). In addition, this impacts care guidance.

Effective data communication is essential to provide information and always be aligned with other members of the interdisciplinary team in regard to the delivery of patient care. Through the use of EHRs, the nurse, physician, pharmacist, and other clinicians involved in the care process communicate fluidly based on the real-time availability of patient information. The importance of documentation and review by each team member ensures that continuity of care is maintained. Thus, when a doctor orders a new medication, the nurse can input and access the same information directly without delay in giving treatment to the patient (Khairat et al., 2021).

NURS FPX 5005 Assessment 4 Patient Care Technology

EHRs also allow the sharing of data across departments through the generation of automated reports, summaries, and secure messaging. For instance, critical data such as lab results or diagnostic imaging automatically flags and routes