Technology and Nursing

1848 Words4 Pages

The goal of this literature review is to increase our knowledge about technology use in practice and to identify where there is need for improvement. Information technology seems to be a widely discussed topic these days and most nurses have no clear idea how it can transform the way we do things on an every day basis. We will also look at the impact technology has on nursing, patients, and colleagues. We will then focus on a specific nursing setting, in this case the emergency room. This literature review is organized to grow on each independent section so that you, the reader, can form your own opinion, but take with you the universal understanding of how information technology will lead us down a new and exciting career path.

Technology is stated as the scientific method and material used to achieve a commercial or industrial objective. To go one step further, nursing technology is using a tool to advance nursing practice. “The Institute of medicine identified that technology as a viable method of enhancing patient care delivery and improving staff productivity” Sensmeier, Horowitz (2003 page). Because inadequate nursing staff causes shortcuts to be taken, there are mistakes made that could have possibly been prevented. Errors by nursing staff were variously reported as being responsible for between 44,000 and 98,000 hospital deaths per year. Sensmeier, Horowitz (2003). Technology can have a large impact on nursing. In the past 5 to 10 years, computerized patient records have increased less than 10%. This number shows us that we are still not embracing technology to its full potential. Today in most hospital systems computerized electronic charting is being used. Many hospitals have many different systems for...

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Joyce Sensmeier, Jennifer K Horowitz. (2003). Advance care delivery through technology. Nursing Management: IT Solutions,2-6. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 442886631).

Roy L Simpson (2001, January). Mapping an IT career: The future of nursing. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 25(2), 80-85. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from Health Module database. (Document ID: 68783829).

Roy L Simpson (2005, January). Patient and nurse safety: How information technology makes a difference. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 29(1), 97-101. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from Health Module database. (Document ID: 815491751).

Shannon Tan (18 October). Emergency room embraces technology at Largo, Fla., hospital. Knight Ridder Tribune Business News,1. Retrieved April 23, 2007, from ABI/INFORM Dateline database. (Document ID: 715984971).

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