The Application of Data to Problem-Solving Essay

The Application of Data to Problem-Solving Essay

Discussion: The Application of Data to Problem-Solving

In the contemporary era, there are few professions that do not, to some extent, rely on data. Stockbrokers base their advice to clients on financial matters on market data. Meteorologists use weather data to predict weather conditions, and realtors utilize data to guide property transactions. In these and other instances, data not only aids in problem-solving but also contributes to the expertise of the practitioners and the respective disciplines.

Nursing, as a profession, is no exception and heavily relies on data. Nursing informatics aims to ensure that nurses have access to relevant data to address healthcare challenges, make patient-centered decisions, and contribute to the body of knowledge.

In this Discussion, you will explore a scenario that would benefit from data access and how such access could enhance both problem-solving and knowledge generation.

To Prepare:

– Reflect on the concepts of informatics and knowledge work as presented in the Resources.
– Consider a hypothetical scenario, based on your healthcare practice or organization, that would necessitate or benefit from the collection and application of data. Your scenario may pertain to a patient, staff, or management issue or gap.

By Day 3 of Week 1

Post a description of the focus of your scenario. Describe the data that could be used and how the data might be collected and accessed. What knowledge might be derived from that data? How would a nurse leader employ clinical reasoning and judgment in forming knowledge from this experience?

Nursing Informatics plays a pivotal role in healthcare and serves as an effective tool to streamline patient care coordination. It promotes patient care and facilitates the exchange of vital health information between patients and providers, particularly in the context of telemedicine during the current pandemic. Telemedicine enables clinicians to conduct evaluations, consultations, and diagnoses remotely, ensuring the continuity of care.

NURS 8210 Discussions Week 1: Discussion on Health Information Technology and Nursing Informatics: Nursing Informatics Innovators

In my role at an outpatient pain management clinic, we encounter situations where patients come in for a steroid injection while having an active infection or shortly after receiving a steroid shot or dose pack from another provider. This necessitates the cancellation and rescheduling of the patient’s procedure. To address this, we could implement an online preprocedural survey that patients complete before their clinic visit. Nurses could then review the submissions and make clinical decisions regarding the appropriateness of the injection. This approach would help us avoid scheduling gaps, ensuring a smoother workflow in our office. As Julie Sweeney suggests, it’s essential to consider not only the technology but also the workflow and data collection process. In our clinic, patients sometimes wait weeks for a procedure, so any scheduling gaps represent missed opportunities for treatment. The utilization of informatics, as described, would enhance patient care in our clinical setting.

References:

Nagle, L. M., Sermeus, W., & Junger, A. (n.d.). Evolving Role of the Nursing Informatics Specialist. Forecasting Informatics Competencies for Nurses in the Future of Connected Health, 212–221.

Sweeney, J. (2017). Healthcare Informatics. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 21(1).

Snyder, C. F., Wu, A. W., Miller, R. S., Jensen, R. E., Bantug, E. T., & Wolff, A. C. (2011). The role of informatics in promoting patient-centered care. Cancer Journal (Sudbury, Mass.).