Informatic Competencies regarding the quality of care and patient safety
Impact of Nursing informatics and Technology
I have significantly improved my practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, particularly in the outpatient context, by utilizing nursing informatics and technology. Ultimately, these tools have facilitated more personalized and effective treatment plans by facilitating increased access to information, improved data administration, and an expanded reach through telemedicine.
Digitalized changes used that played a role in my nursing practice
My practice as a PMHNP has been significantly influenced by the implementation of Electronic Health Records and telemedicine. The utilization of telehealth technology was expedited by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains pivotal in enabling nurses to connect with patients beyond the clinical environment. I am affiliated with the Florida Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) program, and a significant number of the clients I assist are unable to access transportation, which complicates the process of conducting accurate assessments to ensure the ongoing stability of their mental health. I can evaluate patients from the convenience of their homes, addressing their needs in a manner that is both convenient and accessible, by utilizing telemedicine for follow-up appointments.
Additionally, I can recollect a period in my nursing career when the organization I was employed by utilizes paper charting. Although there were some benefits, the drawbacks outweighed the benefits. When paper charting was implemented, the majority of errors that I observed were committed. Each of us has a unique handwriting style. Occasionally, the handwriting of numerous nurses was illegible, resulting in numerous medical errors. The utilization of electronic charting enables the identification of numerous errors prior to the completion of the charting process. Certain electronic medical records (EMR) software is capable of detecting errors or inaccuracies in documents. The software will notify me of any errors, such as unchecked fields or misspelled words, prior to closing the document, allowing me to rectify them. These errors cannot be detected using paper charts.
Informatic Competencies regarding the quality of care and patient safety
Competencies in informatics that are associated with patient safety and quality of care include the utilization of electronic health records (EHRs) for medication reconciliation and patient documentation, the application of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) to direct treatment, and the analysis of data to identify trends and enhance patient care. Adaptability to new technologies and best practices, communication skills for collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and data privacy and security are additional critical competencies. For instance, the EHR guarantees that all healthcare providers have access to accurate and current patient information, such as their allergies, medications, and vital signs. This illustrates the ability to effectively utilize electronic health records (EHRs) for patient documentation, data submission, and retrieval. Medication safety is of the utmost importance in the healthcare sector, as errors in the prescription, dispensing, or administration of medications can pose significant dangers to the health of patients. It is imperative to establish medication safety protocols that are both comprehensive and effective in order to mitigate these hazards. In this endeavor, technologies such as electronic prescription systems and barcode scanning before administration have emerged as effective instruments. By matching medications with patient records, barcode scanning guarantees precision, thereby minimizing errors associated with dosage, administration, and potential drug interactions. The prescribin
