Introduction
Information technology is developing these days rather rapidly. It is hard to imagine a field that does not use computers and related discoveries. This is particularly true of technical professions, but the humanities are not far behind. Medicine has long been using information technology to treat patients and teach students new information. Using simulations, it is possible to create an event as close to reality as possible and draw conclusions from how a future doctors will act and how well prepared and competent they are. Nursing informatics is the new way to use the computers in the medical sphere for the staff for better communication and patient care.
A Brief History
The first practice for applying computer technology in the medical field was the electronic recording and collection of patient databases. This practice was popular in the 1990s and allowed time to be saved by not having to fill in paperwork (Mcgonigle & Mastrian, 2018). However, the history of nursing informatics dates to the 1980s, when the first computers were invented. It was mainly used to create a database of the patients and appoint them medicines and procedures. As technology has developed over time, so have the possibilities for many applications. Later on, information technology was applied in education as an online library with lectures and books and as a virtual response.
Informatics in the Nursing Leadership and Administration
Informatics in nursing has made a breakthrough and has helped in many ways to observe the kind of medicine it is right now. It is not surprising that many hospital managers and administrators have liked the system, as it saves time and effort and reduces the number of people needed to treat patients (Joy Don Baker, 2017). With the advent of information technology, it is no longer necessary to have archivists fill inpatient data forms. There is no need for libraries, as all materials are now available online. Moreover, with the help of technology, it is much easier to manage staff around the hospital by sending instructions to devices and controlling the movement around the hospital. The use of information technology as a learning tool includes video and audio lectures and a selection of scientific articles worldwide.
In addition, in the current environment, information technology for administrative purposes makes it possible to keep a digital medical staff logbook. This means that the staff’s devices can be tagged to track movement around the hospital and delay the workplace. In the medical field, every second counts, and every moment counts, so keeping in touch with the medical team and keeping track of all movements. In addition, this logbook allows the performance of professionals to be evaluated. The performance factor is considered for promotions or pay, as fixed data can be provided as proof of incentive. From a clinical and administrative point of view, there are also advantages in different scenarios for patient interaction that can be worked out using virtual data.
Informatics in the Nursing Education and Research
As mentioned earlier, the use of information technology has a positive impact on the learning process for future doctors and their period of adaptation to the new environment. Moreover, these programs allow for the simulation of situations in a virtual reality mode, where the trainee can use the knowledge gained to put it into practice by operating in a program (Mcbride & Tietze, 2018). The same applies to research, as it can now be carried out in a safer environment without exposing specialists to risk.
It is worth remembering that working with patients is not just about taking care of their health but about recording their condition. For this, too, computer technology can be used, creating a database of problems with various illnesses and making it easier to monitor their recovery process. This database can include the latest diagnoses, medications to be taken, and patients’ wishes and feedback on both the medical institution and the doctors and nurses. This will make it possible to keep track of competent specialists in their field and thus make it easier to find doctors who are negligent in their work.
The Government Regulation
When it comes to how this technology can be developed or supported by the state, it is primarily a question of funding. The use of information technology is not cheap (Mcbride & Tietze, 2018). Although computers have a significant impact on the quality of medicine, their use is relatively energy-intensive. In addition, it takes a lot of time and effort on the part of the developers to develop the necessary software. The best way for the state to support these projects, apart from financial support, is to train competent personnel in the field of information technology development. A well-trained team will be able to create such programs much faster, and they will not be inferior in terms of efficiency to already existing long-build projects.
In addition to the reasons already mentioned, the government has ways of encouraging the development of information technology in health care by providing the necessary hardware and more advanced training rooms for specialists. The population pays enormous taxes every year for medical care, so at least a small part of these taxes should be allocated for special training facilities, establishing advanced training rooms, and encouraging employees to learn in the new field. As the interest in information technology develops, so will the number of participants in this program.
The Future Innovations
The potential for this type of technology is enormous, as it is just gaining momentum and technological advances are evident every day. More than thirty years have passed since the first introduction of information technology, and it is impossible to imagine the work of hospitals and their staff without the use of computers. Shortly, it is safe to say that augmented or virtual reality technology will be able to completely dominate the field of information technology in the medical area. This will increase the number of users of training software and the interest in the profession. In addition, improving the quality of this technology will enable better training for doctors and nurses, allowing them to sharpen their skills in working with people.
The fact that the field is still in its infancy and has a bright future ahead of it must be considered. It is hard to imagine how many applications there will be for information technology in health care. It is safe to say that it is gaining incredible momentum, and specific software and hardware for training and simulation in emergencies without using human resources and risk to life is already being developed. It is clear that information technology will not stop there and will continue to evolve over time. If to talk about how nurse-led innovations can change the world of information technology in the medical field, it should be considered that this aspect is not yet so well understood. There are still not enough nurses in the world trained for this kind of work, but it is safe to say that they will reach the same level of influence as medical staff by using informatics. Although incredibly necessary, it will take time and funding, as it is a costly process. The organizational policy of the state may have a bearing on the area of health services. This mainly concerns providing materials for access to information technology and requesting access to patients’ personal information, which is held in a database. The law is needed to limit the influence of the authorities on medical informatics.
Transforming the Nursing Informatics into the Knowledge
Talking about an example of transforming knowledge gained through the use of information technology and turning it into action, the first thing that comes to the mind is the use of training programs aimed at communicating with patients. For instance, training courses in psychology, which are demonstrated using computers in patient care classes. Using the already mentioned virtual reality technology, it is possible to test one’s knowledge more practically, namely by role-playing in a virtual space. The knowledge gained can be transferred to the real world, and the material learned can be demonstrated in live patients. It is evident that an inexperienced staff member should not be allowed to take on complex cases but should be brought more gently into more complex issues.
Conclusion
The conclusion from the above is that the technologies currently used in the medical field can be called cutting-edge, although there is still room for improvement. I am sure that in the future, computers will be even more helpful in teaching and research, as well as in minimizing the risks of treating patients and allowing them to interact with them more professionally. It is only a matter of time, albeit very soon. Even now, at an early stage of technology development, one can see how useful they are and what a bright future lies ahead.
References:
Joy Don Baker. (2017). Nursing informatics. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders.
Mcbride, S., & Tietze, M. (2018). Nursing informatics for the advanced practice nurse : patient safety, quality, outcomes, and interprofessionalism. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Mcgonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington, Ma: Jones & Bartlett Learning.