Nursing informatics combines the science of nursing, computers, and information science. While healthcare organizations throughout the world are introducing computer-based documentation systems as a means of improving communication between multiple providers, little is known about how these systems alter the work done by staff nurses. Further, the few studies that do exist demonstrate conflicting findings. Thus, this on-going study intends to better understand how introduction of a computerized documentation system alters the work of staff nurses in an acute care setting.
Objective(s): The learner will be able to: (a) define the concept of nursing informatics; and, (b) understand how use of a computer-based nursing documentation system alters the direct and indirect care activities of nurses.
Design: Non-experimental, pre-test, post-test design
Population, Sample, Setting, Years: A convenience sample of registered nurses working on a medical unit in a small, rural Upstate NewYork teaching hospital over a course of several months in 2003 and 2004.
Concept or Variables Studied: a computer-based nursing documentation system, nurses work (as measured by direct and indirect patient care hours)
Methods: Prior to and following introduction of a computer-based documentation system, the direct and indirect patient care hours of registered nurses working on the medical unit in a teaching hospital will be examined.
Findings: Data will be examined for statistically differences in the time spent on direct and indirect care activities.
Conclusions: It is hypothesized that, after allowing for adaptation, the amount of time that nurses spend on various direct and indirect care activities will be significantly altered.
Implications: Findings will contribute to an understanding of the costs versus benefits of computer-based documentation systems.
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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 21, 2004