NR 599 Week 6: Midweek Comprehension Questions
NR 599 Week 6: Midweek Comprehension Questions
Discussion
Purpose
As mentioned in this lesson, numerous telecommunications-ready tools are already available to assist nurses in delivering care and improving patients’ health outcomes. New and innovative tools are rapidly making it to the marketplace, making current tools dated and sometimes obsolete. Continue to reflect upon the point-of-care tools you may be familiar with using in your role as a Registered Nurse and how your responsibilities will change with your future role as an APN. How will you stay current? Provide a brief response (100 words or less)
The use of these tools is not something that is going to go away. Companies are going to continue to come up with new ideas and updates on their technology. Ways to keep up would be newsletters and signing up for emails from the companies to let you know when there are new devices out. No matter how hard we try, no one can keep up with everything out there all of the time. We may find out about something new when a patient walks in with it, telling us how it works!
Telecommunication has advanced over the years and become very popular. Due to the global pandemic, telemedicine is safer and more convenient. According to an article conducted by Stuckey et al. (2018), using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid Information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, and for the continuing education of health care providers. Always advancing our skills as providers is essential to patient care.
Stuckey, R., Domingues-Montanari, S. (2018). Telemedicine is helping the parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders living in remote and deprived areas. Paediatrics & International Child Health. Vol. 37 Issue 3, p155-157.
In my current role as a care transition nurse, I follow patients telephonically to monitor their progress after an emergency department visit or hospital stay. Our department calls the patient within two days post hospitalization and within 24 hours for an E.D. visit to ensure the patient is not having new or worsening symptoms. We also educate them on any chronic condition or current illness, assure they have picked up their medications, have a follow-up appointment with their PCP and have connected with any additional services ordered for them (such as home health care).
Due to the current demographic of our patients (mostly elderly), we typically just call them as they are not as comfortable with technology. However, there has been much discussion about performing video visits in the future. I hope to be able to practice as a PMHNP solely through video visits or at the very least hybrid (part face-to-face, part video visits remotely). I will need to continue to learn and stay on top of technology related to my work. It’s with these advances that I’m even able to envision this future goal.
Many errors and adverse incidents in healthcare occur because of poor data and information. In addition to threatening patient safety, poor data quality increases healthcare costs and inhibits health information exchange, research, and performance measurement. There are health care institutions that are developing and implementing standards for data content, data mapping, and documentation. Implementing continuous quality improvement strategies to support quality data and information are critical to achieve desired positive patient outcomes.
I agree. That is a good reminder that even though this technology is available it also needs to be accurate with good quality information. Otherwise, it is no help to us at all. Like most products, there must be quality control to make sure that customer satisfaction remains high, the product is safe to use and accurate.
With medical applications, the F.D.A. has set guidelines and recommendations for manufacturers and developers to follow in order to keep the public safe. “if a software function is intended for use in performing a medical device function (i.e., for diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease), it is a medical device, regardless of the platform on which it is run”. (FDA, n.d.).
The technological world is enormous and advanced, and I feel that it will only get more complicated and more difficult to oversee, but quality control for patient safety must be done.
Reference:
Policy for Device Software Functions and Mobile Medical Applications – Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff | FDA. (n.d.). https://www.fda.gov/media/80958/
As tools and technologies are ever changing the best way to stay current and up to date on data is to continually learn. As a future APN and being apart of a the younger tech generation I see the need for constant learning in the technology space. I grew up with computers but I see how much has changed in a 5 year period so I can only imagine what the future holds and as these technologies become more innovative they will become better tools for us to use as APNs if we learn how to use them correctly.
Many errors and adverse incidents in healthcare occur because of poor data and information. In addition to threatening patient safety, poor data quality increases healthcare costs and inhibits health information exchange, research, and performance measurement. There are health care institutions that are developing and implementing standards for data content, data mapping, and documentation. Implementing continuous quality improvement strategies to support quality data and information are critical to achieve desired positive patient outcomes.
I used the Epocrates Essential app as a reference guide as an ER nurse. It has been helpful in many ways. For example, it identifies pills in an overdose patient. The mobile app combines communication and computing features, allowing easy access and use at the point of care. Another example is the mhealth app had a record of recent laboratory results. This was beneficial to know with a patent with a GI bleed to compare laboratory results. In addition, this helps facilitate communication among healthcare professionals.
The transition from registered nurse to nurse practitioner is a significant career role transition. The responsibilities will be essential as advancements in digital technology continue to increase patient care options. Understanding security requirements and protecting patients’ personal information must be a top priority. APNs may need to provide care with an interactive video visit keeping in mind privacy. Telehealth is a safe and convenient alternative to care to in-person visits. This is beneficial for older adults who have limited mobility. APNs need to be aware the patient’s home needs access to the internet and technology to conduct a video telehealth visit. Stay current is, attending education meetings and conferences and keeping open communication with other APNs.