Patient care technologies, information systems, and communication devices that support safe nursing practice.
Today, Information technology is regarded as the most important aspect of healthcare. In the last couple of decades, a lot of emphases has been placed on technological expansion, particularly in the healthcare sector. In healthcare technology, the primary focus has been put on patient care and technological development in clinical applications. The development of new knowledge and concepts in this sector has focused on improving the quality of patient care and in so doing decreasing patient recovery time as well as helping patients cope with their illnesses positively (Mott & Bowman, 2014). The care of patients involves sharing important information as well as managing their conditions. Consequently, there has been an increase of interest in the use of information and communication technologies and communication systems. This paper seeks to identify the patient care technologies, information systems, and communication devices that support safe nursing practice. It also addresses the value of best evidence as a driving force in instituting change in the delivery of nursing care.
Patient Care Technologies
‘Patient care technologies can be defined as clinical protocols and other ‘paper' based tools' used in caring for patients (Rouleau, Gagnon & Côté, 2015). Technologies used by nurses are a means of preventing adverse events and errors. Such errors include delays in treatment, medication errors, and miscommunications. Adverse events, on the other hand, are issues such as pressure ulcers, nosocomial infections, failure to rescue, the complication of immobility and falls. Patient care technologies range from simple devices such as syringes and catheters to highly complex devices such as electronic health records and barcode medication administration systems.