NI – Activity (FINALS)

1. Research three smart phones and tablet PCs which can be used in the nursing
field. (You can present pictures, images for the research).

Three smartphones

RIM BlackBerry Bold Apple Iphone 3G

T- mobile G1

Three tablet Pcs

 Ipad 2010 Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Lenovo Tab M10

2. State or cite the capabilities, functions and specifications which could helpful in the
application of nursing informatics in the hospitals and other field of nursing.

Nurses has been working in the field of informatics near four decades, the term
“nursing informatics” has been considered a specialization in nursing resources since
1984. Many aspects such as data recovery, ethics, patient care, decision support
systems, human-computer interaction, information systems, imaging informatics,
computer science, information science, security, electronic patient records, intelligent
systems, e-learning and telenursing have been added to the field. Hana has defined
Nursing Informatics as the application of IT in the nursing duties including education,
management & practice in 1985. Integration of information science, computer science
and nursing science to support nursing practice and knowledge management was the
definition offered in 1989 by Graves and Corcoran. The American Nurses Association
(ANA) published its aim and standards in 1994-1995 and presented the Nursing
Informatics as a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer and information
science to provide data communication management, knowledge and nursing work in
2001. Now most of nursing professionals believe that it is defined as the integration of
information technology and all aspects of nursing such as clinical nursing, management,
research or education.

The competency of nursing informatics specialists was determined through

studying three categories including computer skills, informatics knowledge and
informatics skills. It investigates four levels of nursing practice: beginning nurse,
experienced nurse, informatics specialist, and informatics innovator. The following
competencies were rejected: diagnostic coding, desktop publishing, managing central
facilities to enable data sharing and writing an original computer program (Staggers et
al., 2002). Some components of accepted competencies are shown below in brief.

 Computer Skills
Selected computer skill competencies contain computerized searches and retrieving
patient demographics data, the use of telecommunication devices, the documentation of
patient care, the use of information technologies for improving nursing care, and the use
of networks and computer technology safely.

 Informatics Knowledge
Selected informatics knowledge competencies are the recognition of the use or
importance of nursing data for improving practice, and the recognition of the fact that the
computer can only facilitate nursing care and that there are human functions that cannot
be performed by computers, the formulation of ethical decisions in computing, the
recognition of the value of clinicians’ involvement in the design, selection,
implementation, and evaluation of systems in health care, the description of the present
manual systems, the definition of the impact of computerized information management
on the role of the nurse and the determination of the limitations and the reliability of
computerized patient monitoring systems.
  Informatics Skills
Informatics skills competencies includes the interpretation of information flow within the
organization, the preparation of process information flow charts for all aspects of clinical
systems, the development of standards and database structures to facilitate clinical care,
education, administration or research. It also includes the development of innovative and
analytic techniques for scientific inquiry in nursing informatics and new data organizing
methods and research designs with the aim of examining the impacts of computer
technology on nursing, and the conducting of basic science research to support the
theoretical development of informatics. Information literacy skills, competencies, and
knowledge are investigated among educators, administrators and clinicians of nursing
groups nationally.

The Importance of Nursing Informatics

The history, definition and competencies of nursing informatics indicate the importance
of this field. It shows nurses are integrated into the field of IT automatically. So, they
should be able to deal with it successfully to improve quality of care outcome. In this
regard it is required to study the influence of nursing informatics on health care and
make bold the appropriate information technology educational needs for nurses.

3. What could be the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies.

Advantages of Technology in Nursing

It’s no secret that technology is meant to make our lives easier, so it stands
to reason that technology in nursing should make nursing easier as well.
With this in mind, we’ll run through some of the benefits and advantages of
technology in nursing:

 Improved Communication Leading to Improved Patient Care: One

of the biggest advantages of technology in nursing is that tech makes
it easier for nurses to communicate with patients. For example, if a
patient has a minor health concern like a rash or a bruise, they can
use technology to either video chat with their nurse or doctor and
speak face to face without having to be together in person. This
element allows the nurse and patient to speak freely with one another
so that any concerns may be voiced and all advice and directions can
be given.
 Better Education: Technology is transforming how  nursing is taught.
With the help of technology, teachers are able to connect with their
students in new ways while also providing them with professional
content, resources, and personalized learning exercises. Whether
taking nursing education online or in person, technology revolutionizes
the classroom by making communications, research, and resources
easier to handle. What’s more, nursing students now have access to
cool new tools like live and online-based simulations, applications,
 reference guides, textbooks, virtual classrooms, electronic training
mannequins, and more.
 Improved Treatment: Over the decades, there have been tons of
technological advancements that have changed the face of nursing
care and patient treatment. Not only can nurses communicate with
their patients better, but technology has made treatment better than
ever before. In a list of technologies that changed nursing forever ,
some tools like electronic IV monitors, the portable defibrillator,
hands-free communication options, and drug management
technologies are just some of the new tech tools that have
transformed the efficiency and treatment and nursing care.
 Better Kept Records: One of the most dangerous things about
healthcare without technology is keeping records manually. Whether
the stats and health data of patients were written out manually and
stored in simplistic ways like in folder and filing cabinets or online
spreadsheets, the risk is always the same: data can be lost, damaged,
stolen, or vulnerable to issues of time like yellowing paper, smudged
or fading handwriting, stains, rips, and more.  Electronic health records
(EHR) allow healthcare professionals to keep track of patient stats and
data in a simple and accurate way, leading to fewer medical error and
better-quality patient care. Information is saved securely and easily
accessible, making it simple to find certain data, notice patterns, and
more.

Disadvantages of Technology in Nursing

Of course, with every good thing, there come some drawbacks. The following
are some of the disadvantages of technology in nursing:

 Set Up and Internet Access: An important disadvantage of

technology in nursing is that some patients may not be savvy with
technology. Some patients may not have mobile phones or Internet
access, making applications and video visits useless for them. While
this may not be a total disadvantage, it is a rather important barrier
that nurses and other healthcare professionals must keep in mind
when using tech to revolutionize patient care and interactions.
 Malfunctioning Equipment: One of the biggest headaches of
technology is what happens when technology just  doesn’t work.
Technology may be useful and an efficient way to make life easier, but
when it fails, it can really derail the whole day. This is especially true
for organizations that rely on technology for almost all their
operations. With this in mind, you need to ensure that you have
someone ready and accessible to fix any technical problems that may
arise as well as a backup method to provide patient care.
 At the Mercy of the Server/Power : Another issue for technology in
nursing, both in the healthcare facility and classroom, is being at the
mercy of the Internet and power server. If either of these things goes
down due to weather, connectivity problems, or natural disasters,
you’re basically unable to do anything at all. This would be especially
problematic in a nursing classroom setting if simulations and virtual
 technologies are being used as well as in a hospital when conducting
video calls or procedures that require machinery.
 Potential Lack of Attention to Detail: Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of
technology, in general, is that people can come to  rely on it a little too much.
This means that because their tech is supposed to the fastest, smartest, and
most accurate there is, they are less likely to question it or think for
themselves when something seems off or is inaccurate. While technology in
nursing should lead to fewer medical errors, there is no guarantee that it will
eradicate ALL errors. Human efficiency and thought are still important, which
is why nurses, doctors, and patients must remember that technology does
not always have the final say. There is still plenty of room for error, and all
diagnoses, treatments, and care plans should be double and triple checked
to ensure safety an accuracy overall.

Technology will always have its advantages and disadvantages, but the
bottom line is that it really does make our lives easier. The thing to
remember is that we must use our own human intelligence and ingenuity in
conjunction with technology for the best results. If nurses keep this in mind,
there’s no telling how far and wide the field can expand.

References:

O’Neill KM, Holmer H, Greenberg SL, Meara JG. (2013;98(11):10–18) Applying surgical apps:
Smartphone and tablet apps prove useful in clinical practice. Bull Am Coll Surg. 

Ainsley B, Brown A. (2009; 40:228) The impact of informatics on nursing education: a review of
the literature.  Journal of continuing education in nursing. 

Peter Anderberg, Gunilla Björling, Louise Stjernberg, Doris Bohman (01.10.2019.) Advantages
and Disadvantages of Technology in Nursing