What the Nursing Profession has gained from HIT
The use of health information technology (HIT) has made nursing more efficient. Today more nurses are using different health information technologies. These HITs can improve the quality of care provided to a patient. These technologies integrate different skills and competencies to provide quality care. Doctors and nurses can use HITs to make better nursing decisions. This approach can provide improved healthcare services to many patients. The systems ensure “every nurse detects, treats, and manages every health condition” (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2009, p. 48). HIT can also promote the evidence-based nursing practice. This approach supports the changing needs of every caregiver.
Contributions from Nursing
Every nurse has made timeless contributions to the field of health information technologies (HITs). These professionals manage their patients’ medical records. The nursing practice focuses on the best medical care and support. This explains why nurses can use these HITs to manage every patient’s health needs. Nursing should not focus on the absence of disease. This explains why nursing makes the use of these systems more efficient. The medical obligation and responsibility of every nurse are to promote efficiency, quality, and safety (American Nurses Association, 2008). This explains why nursing has promoted the use of these systems.
Challenges and Questions
Nursing should always be an ethical practice. Nurses should maintain the highest level of confidentiality (American Nurses Association, 2008). These technologies can compromise the privacy entitled to every patient (Kapola & Mitchell, 2011). Some HIT machines can fail thus affecting the quality of patient care. Every nurse should reconsider these challenges and questions. Nurses can lose their jobs “if they fail to safeguard the rights of their patients” (Fowler, 2010, p. 84).
Addressing these Questions and Challenges
The above challenges can affect the quality of care provided to different patients. Every facility should formulate the best practices in order to maintain the highest level of privacy. The government should also stipulate new regulations in order to ensure every institution uses these systems efficiently. Every facility should have an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to safeguard the risks associated with these technologies. Medical practitioners and computer technologists should work together in order to develop secure, effective, and sustainable HIT systems. Such systems will ensure every healthcare institution provides quality care and support to its patients (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2009). The strategy will ensure every patient gets the best medical care.
Response to the Student’s Post
I have learned new ideas from this post. Every hospital is using these health information technologies (HITs) in order to provide the best nursing services to its patients. Medical practitioners can use these systems to detect and manage various diseases. The nursing profession also supports the use of these systems (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2009). The ethical practices and procedures advocated by many nurses make it easier to use these technologies. I have also understood why certain challenges such as privacy might affect the efficiency of these systems (Fowler, 2010). These systems might also threaten every nurse’s profession. This discussion explains why every nurse should embrace the highest level of confidentiality. The government should encourage more medical experts and computer programmers to create new HIT systems in order to address these challenges (Kapola & Mitchell, 2011). The student understands the implications and benefits of different health information technologies. These systems will ensure every patient receives quality medical services (American Nurses Association, 2008).
Reference List
American Nurses Association. (2008). Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice. New York: Silver Spring.
Fowler, M. (2010). Guide to the code of ethics for nurses: Interpretation and application. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association.
Kapola, B., & Mitchell, M. (2011). Use of Digital Health Records Raises Ethics Concerns. JONA’s Healthcare Law, Ethics, and Regulation, 13(3), 84-89.
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2009). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
American Nurses Association. (2008). Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice. New York: Silver Spring.
Fowler, M. (2010). Guide to the code of ethics for nurses: Interpretation and application. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association.
Kapola, B., & Mitchell, M. (2011). Use of Digital Health Records Raises Ethics Concerns. JONA’s Healthcare Law, Ethics, and Regulation, 13(3), 84-89.
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2009). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.