Overview
While several concepts stood out over the last few weeks, I’ve learned that nursing informatics is about more than just using electronic health records. I was most intrigued by the Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) and it’s ability to help nurses make better-informed choices for patient care. I now understand that while these systems are powerful, they are meant to be an aid rather than a replacement for clinical experience. Ultimately, our own nursing judgment remains the most essential factor in providing safe and effective care. In my own practice, I plan to use these technologies to support my decisions and improve patient care while always keeping patient information private and secure.
I plan to do this by letting evidence drive my nursing decisions and staying in close sync with my patients and the rest of the care team. It is really important to me that every patient feels like their concerns are actually being heard. I will also keep advocating for safe, quality care, using my clinical judgment and what I have learned to help my patients achieve the best possible outcomes.
I plan to find the best evidence for using healthcare technology by focusing on three main areas. First, I will check databases like PubMed or CINAHL to see what peer-reviewed research says about tools like telehealth. I also want to follow standards from groups like the American Nursing Informatics Association to make sure everything I use is safe and private. Finally, I will use the Clinical Decision Support Systems in our EHR (Epic) for real-time, evidence-based alerts that help me make better choices at the bedside, while relying on my own judgment. Ultimately, my goal is my patients; their health is my priority.