Application of research, scholarly evidence, and technology to inform the delivery of care
I had a strong feeling that using scholarly evidence to support the decisions for care delivery is the right approach. Scholarly evidence can point at effective interventions in care delivery, which could be left unnoticed otherwise. For example, research by Ashcroft et al. (2018) provided empirical confirmation of caregiver-directed psychosocial interventions (CDPI) effectiveness for schizophrenia treatment. In particular, CDPI lowered relative risks of hospitalization and relapse and improved medication compliance (Ashcroft et al., 2018). Therefore, nurses should periodically study contemporary scholarly works in their field of practice.
A knowledge that care delivery should be informed on the best available research is common. My preceptor and I tried our best to apply research evidence to inform the delivery of care. For instance, we utilized the translational research approach that fosters the multidirectional integration of basic research, patient-oriented research, and population-based research (Curtis et al., 2017). Overall, applying research in a clinical setting seems to be an important pathway for improving patient outcomes.
My preceptor and I used healthcare information technology (HIT) to inform the delivery of care. In particular, we stored patient data in the electronic health records (EHR) system and used it to make important notes regarding the patients. Technology allowed us to quickly assess all necessary information, such as which medications were prescribed, what interventions were made, and how patients reacted to them. Our further steps in treatment were based on the data stored with the assistance of technology. I can confidently state that technology was immensely helpful in informing the delivery of care.
Application of concepts of quality and safety using outcome measures to identify clinical questions
In my opinion, data support in healthcare becomes increasingly available due to the development of HIT. For example, clinical decision support systems (CDSS) assist clinicians with preventive and monitoring tasks, prescribing drugs, and diagnosis. Consequently, data support made possible improvements in treatment safety and identification of clinical questions. My preceptor regularly used functionalities of the EHR to monitor the patients’ health conditions and correct drug prescribing in depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia cases. As a result, she was able to ensure the quality and safety of the treatment.
Demonstration of team building and collaboration when working with intraprofessional and interprofessional teams
My preceptor paid significant attention to intraprofessional collaboration with other members of the nursing team. First of all, she set clear expectations for my colleagues and me. Secondly, she still allowed us to express professional opinions and interact in a meaningful way. According to Lankshear and Limoges (2018), nurses often neglect intraprofessional practice, so my preceptor’s approach to leadership was a pleasant experience. Overall, I was able to learn better in clinical settings due to her strong yet democratic leadership.
Our preceptor’s leadership was not limited only to the intraprofessional nursing team. In addition to that, she worked with professionals from other spheres, in particular —education. According to Granrud et al. (2019), school principals and teachers have significant power in collaboration with nurses. My preceptor consulted several local school principals and teachers on how to cooperate with school nurses and counselors. She tried to make sure that principals and teachers do not treat school nurses as outsiders and all cases of mental health problems among the students are duly reported.
Ethical standards related to data security, regulatory requirements, confidentiality, and client’s right to privacy
As a nurse leader, what is your role in upholding ethical standards for each of the following elements:
Data security
In terms of data security protection, my primary role as a nursing leader would be the prevention of electronic health records breaches. I would follow through the several crucial steps to achieve that goal. First of all, I would convince the leadership of my healthcare organization to purchase the most secure EHR software on the market. Secondly, I would reduce the probability of security leaks by introducing training on basic cybersecurity. Lastly, I would make sure that all nurses are adequately trained on using the EHR system.
Regulatory requirements
Upholding regulatory requirements implies that all nurses employed by the healthcare organization fit all demands of the regulatory bodies, such as the state’s nursing board. As a nursing leader, I will have to ensure that all staff of my nursing team is properly certified. In the case of any violation, I will have to report it to my superior. Needless to say, that I must be following all nursing-related regulations and laws of my state.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality means sharing information only after authorization is provided and sharing it only with authorized personnel. As a nurse leader, I will have to ensure that all nursing personnel of my team respects the confidentiality of the patients. The patients must be provided with a confidentiality agreement and be briefed, which information is considered confidential. After obtaining the confidential information from the patient, I will have to make sure that it is shared only among the other healthcare professionals and only when it is required for the process of treatment.
Client’s right to privacy
In my understanding, privacy is a much wider concept than confidentiality. Therefore, when applied to healthcare, almost any kind of information that is personal but is not required for the treatment should be considered private. As such, I would advise members of my nursing team against attempts to gather private information, especially if the client is not willing to share it. If the client were willing to share private information on their own, I would not disclose it, and I would also strongly advise nursing personnel against doing that.
References
Ashcroft, K., Kim, E., Elefant, E., Benson, C., & Carter, J. A. (2018). Meta-Analysis of caregiver-directed psychosocial interventions for schizophrenia. Community Mental Health Journal, 54(7), 983-991. Web.
Curtis, K., Fry, M., Shaban, R. Z., & Considine, J. (2017). Translating research findings to clinical nursing practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(5-6), 862-872. Web.
Granrud, M. D., Anderzèn‐Carlsson, A., Bisholt, B., & Steffenak, A. K. M. (2019). Public health nurses’ perceptions of interprofessional collaboration related to adolescents’ mental health problems in secondary schools: A phenomenographic study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(15-16), 2899-2910. Web.
Lankshear, S., & Limoges, J. (2018). Better together: A fresh look at collaboration within nursing. Canadian Nurse, 114(1), 18-20.