NURS FPX 5005 Assessment 4 Patient Care Technology

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Capella university

NURS-FPX 5005 Introduction to Nursing Research, Ethics, and Technology

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Date

Analysis of Technology in Nursing Practice

Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems play a crucial role in modern nursing practice by securely storing comprehensive patient information, including laboratory results, medication data, treatment plans, and medical history. These systems significantly enhance clinical decision-making (DM) by providing instantaneous access to patient data, which streamlines workflows and facilitates communication across healthcare professionals. By enabling accurate documentation and reducing medication errors (MEs), EHRs improve care coordination and bolster nursing competencies. Furthermore, Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) relies heavily on the trustworthy and valid data derived from EHRs, which inform clinical decisions, research, and quality improvement initiatives (Li et al., 2022). This section examines how the influence of EHRs in nursing practice is communicated and applied through strategic approaches that ultimately improve patient outcomes via EBP.

How Patient Care Technology Affects Patient Care and Nursing Practice

EHRs centralize patient information, making it easily accessible and computerized, which positively transforms patient care and nursing practices. These systems simplify documentation processes, enhance communication among interdisciplinary care teams, and promote continuity of care by providing nurses with real-time access to critical patient data such as medical histories, lab results, and medication lists. For example, automated medication alerts notify nurses about potential drug interactions, reducing the likelihood of medication errors (Li et al., 2022).

Despite these advantages, EHR implementation presents challenges such as system downtime and time-intensive documentation, which can hinder workflow efficiency and reduce direct patient interaction, potentially contributing to nurse burnout. The accuracy of EHR data depends on proper training and staff diligence, as human error in data input remains a concern (Li et al., 2022).

EHRs generate various data types crucial for clinical decisions, including nominal variables (e.g., gender, diagnosis), ordinal data (e.g., pain levels), and ratio data (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure). These data allow clinicians to monitor patient trends and adjust treatments accordingly. For example, nurses can track blood glucose trends in diabetic patients to modify care plans promptly. When healthcare providers consistently use EHRs, these systems foster interprofessional information sharing and enable evidence-based care through actionable patient insights, ultimately improving patient safety and care quality (Subbe et al., 2021; Upadhyay & Hu, 2022).

Table 1: Types of Data Generated by EHRs and Their Clinical Uses

Data Type	Example	Clinical Use
Nominal	Gender, Diagnosis	Patient classification and demographic analysis
Ordinal	Pain level scales	Assessment of symptom severity
Ratio	Heart rate, Blood pressure	Monitoring vital signs and treatment adjustments

Data Generated by the Technology

EHRs aggregate diverse patient information—including laboratory results, vital signs, medication histories, and clinical notes—into a unified platform, enabling healthcare providers to make timely and evidence-informed decisions. For instance, fluctuating blood pressure readings documented in the EHR can prompt clinicians to alter medications or recommend lifestyle changes, preventing adverse outcomes (Upadhyay & Hu, 2022).

Decision-support tools embedded within EHRs provide automated alerts and reminders, such as warnings about drug interactions or overdue preventive screenings. These features promote safer and more effective patient care. Moreover, EHRs facilitate seamless communication among nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and other clinicians by providing real-time patient data, which is essential for coordinated care delivery (Khairat et al., 2021).

The sharing of patient data across departments is supported through automated reports, summaries, and secure messaging within EHR platforms. Critical information like lab results is automatically flagged and routed to the appropriate team members, enhancing timely follow-up. Secure messaging minimizes miscommunication risks by allowing direct communication between providers, thereby improving clinical accuracy (Upadhyay & Hu, 2022).

The effectiveness of data communication in EHRs can be assessed by four key metrics: timeliness, accuracy, completeness, and accessibility. Timely access ensures prompt intervention; accuracy and completeness provide reliable bases for clinical decisions; and accessibility guarantees that all responsible parties can retrieve necessary data. Collectively, these factors enhance clinical decision-making and support high-quality, coordinated patient care (Khairat et al., 2021).

Table 2: Metrics for Evaluating EHR Data Communication

Metric	Definition	Clinical Importance
Timeliness	Availability of data when needed	Enables prompt interventions
Accuracy	Correctness of recorded data	Ensures reliable clinical decisions
Completeness	Extent to which all relevant data is recorded	Provides comprehensive patient assessment
Accessibility	Ease of obtaining data by authorized users	Facilitates multidisciplinary collaboration

Controls and Safeguards to Maintain Patient Safety and Confidentiality

While EHRs have revolutionized healthcare by providing instant access to patient data, they also introduce risks related to patient safety and confidentiality. To mitigate these risks, robust clinical and administrative safeguards must be established, in compliance with regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These safeguards include encryption, firewalls, and multi-factor authentication to secure data storage and transmission. Furthermore, continuous staff training is essential to reduce human errors and data breaches by emphasizing privacy protocols like prompt system logoffs and safeguarding patient information (Keshta & Odeh, 2021).

Administrative controls such as role-based access limit employees to only the data necessary for their responsibilities, minimizing unnecessary exposure to sensitive information. Clinical monitoring features within EHRs, such as alerts for medication errors and inconsistencies, further support patient safety by enabling real-time risk management through automated audits and event logging.

Ongoing risk management activities, including regular software updates and penetration testing, enhance system integrity. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding interoperability between health systems, which can introduce privacy vulnerabilities as data traverses multiple platforms. Emerging risks associated with advanced EHR features and third-party integrations require continuous research and adaptive security frameworks (Abbasi & Smith, 2024).

In summary, maintaining patient safety and confidentiality demands a combination of technical controls, administrative policies, staff training, and ongoing risk assessments to uphold trust in EHR systems.

Evidence-Based Strategies Improving Patient Care Technology

The effective utilization of EHRs is enhanced through evidence-based strategies that integrate research findings and clinical expertise to optimize technology use. One fundamental approach is the development of standardized protocols for data entry and management, which reduce variability and improve data reliability. Training programs emphasizing accurate documentation further elevate data quality (Abbasi & Smith, 2024).

Continuous evaluation of EHR functions based on user feedback and clinical outcomes helps identify features that require improvements or increased usability. For example, clinician input can lead to interface redesigns that simplify navigation and reduce documentation burdens. Additionally, audit and feedback systems promote adherence to best documentation practices by keeping clinicians informed about their data entry patterns (Abbasi & Smith, 2024).

Evidence-based practices also support interdisciplinary collaboration through shared care plans within EHRs. These common data sources improve communication, coordination, and clinical decision-making, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. Furthermore, analysis of aggregated patient data allows identification of effective treatments and the reconsideration of protocols associated with adverse outcomes (Mullins et al., 2020).

While technology-driven EBP strategies advance patient care, it remains essential to blend human touch with digital tools to maintain strong clinician-patient relationships and ensure that EHRs enhance rather than detract from care quality (Mullins et al., 2020).

Conclusion

EHRs are vital tools that advance nursing practice and patient care by facilitating easy access to comprehensive patient data, improving communication, and supporting evidence-based decision-making. They contribute to reducing medication errors and enhancing care coordination. Nonetheless, ongoing evaluation, training, and system adaptations are necessary to address challenges and ensure patient safety. Integrating evidence-based approaches with EHR technology optimizes healthcare delivery and fosters improved patient outcomes.

References

Abbasi, N., & Smith, D. A. (2024). Cybersecurity in healthcare: Securing patient health information (PHI), HIPPA compliance framework and the responsibilities of healthcare providers. Journal of Knowledge Learning and Science Technology International Standard Serial Number: 2959-6386 (Online), 3(3), 278–287. https://doi.org/10.60087/jklst.vol3.n3.p.278-287

Keshta, I., & Odeh, A. (2021). Security and privacy of electronic health records: Concerns and challenges. Egyptian Informatics Journal, 22(2), 177–183. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110866520301365

NURS FPX 5005 Assessment 4 Patient Care Technology

Khairat, S., Whitt, S., Craven, C. K., Pak, Y., Shyu, C.-R., & Gong, Y. (2021). Investigating the impact of intensive care unit interruptions on patient safety events and electronic health records use. Journal of Patient Safety, 17(4), e321–e326. https://doi.org/10.1097/pts.0000000000000603

Li, E., Clarke, J., Ashrafian, H., Darzi, A., & Neves, A. L. (2022). The impact of electronic health record interoperability on safety and quality of care in high-income countries: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(9), e38144. https://doi.org/10.2196/38144

Mullins, A., O’Donnell, R., Mousa, M., Rankin, D., Ben-Meir, M., Boyd-Skinner, C., & Skouteris, H. (2020). Health outcomes and healthcare efficiencies associated with the use of electronic health records in hospital emergency departments: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Systems, 44(12), 200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-020-01660-0

Subbe, C. P., Tellier, G., & Barach, P. (2021). Impact of electronic health records on predefined safety outcomes in patients admitted to hospital: A scoping review. British Medical Journal Open, 11(1), e047446. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047446

NURS FPX 5005 Assessment 4 Patient Care Technology

Upadhyay, S., & Hu, H. (2022). A qualitative analysis of the impact of electronic health records (EHR) on healthcare quality and safety: Clinicians’ lived experiences. Health Services Insights, 15(1), 1–7. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11786329211070722