NURS 6051S Week 4 Assignment: The Impact of Nursing Informatics on Patient Outcomes and Care Efficiencies
Project Proposal: Decreasing Interruptions in Medication Administration
This project aims to reduce interruptions during medication administration using a bottom-up approach. Interruptions during medication administration are a leading cause of medication errors, contributing to approximately 7,000 preventable patient deaths each year (Mortaro et al., 2019). The routine nature of medication administration makes it prone to distractions, increasing the risk of errors (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2020). To address this issue, the project will employ a pre-and post-intervention observational study, training nurses on the risks of interruptions during medication rounds. The study will measure the number of interruptions before and after the intervention, with the expectation of reducing interruptions and ultimately lowering medication error rates (Harris et al., 2016).
Stakeholders Impacted by the Project
The project affects several key stakeholders. First, patients, as the primary beneficiaries, will see improved safety and care outcomes by reducing medication errors. Second, academic institutions will integrate the project’s findings into their curriculum to enhance medication safety education (Zaccagnini & White, 2017). Third, external stakeholders such as accrediting and regulatory bodies may use the results to develop and enforce safety standards. Fourth, healthcare organizations and leaders will need to incorporate the project’s strategies into their patient safety goals, ensuring organizational commitment to safe medication practices. Lastly, healthcare professionals will benefit from up-to-date information on patient safety and enhanced training to minimize errors (Zaccagnini & White, 2017).
Patient Outcomes and Care Efficiencies
The project aims to improve patient outcomes by reducing the frequency of medication errors caused by interruptions. By training nurses to recognize and mitigate the risks of interruptions, the project empowers healthcare providers to maintain focus during medication administration. This initiative will help frontline staff develop effective protocols for managing distractions, ultimately leading to fewer medication errors and enhanced patient safety (Snipes, 2016).
Technologies Required for the Project
The project will require three key technologies. First, training materials, including presentations and posters, will educate nurses on the risks of interruptions during medication administration. Second, access to electronic medical records (EMR) will help track medication errors and interruptions. Finally, data analysis software will be used to evaluate correlations between interruptions and error rates, identifying areas for targeted interventions (Harris et al., 2016).
Project Team and Role of Nurse Informaticist
The project team will include a project manager, a training analyst, and a nurse informaticist. The project manager will oversee the project life cycle, ensuring it meets deadlines and performance goals. The training analyst will develop and implement the training protocols, and the nurse informaticist will handle the project’s data needs. The nurse informaticist will analyze and interpret data on medication errors, providing insights that can guide future practice improvements (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018).
References
Bemker, M., & Schreiner, B. (Eds.) (2017). The DNP Degree & Capstone Project: A Practical Guide. DEStech Publications, Inc.
Harris, J., Roussel, L., Thomas, P., & Dearman, P. (2016). Project Planning & Management: A Guide for Nurses and Interprofessional Teams. Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Mortaro, A., Pascu, D., Pancheri, S., Mazzi, M., Tardivo, S., Bellamoli, C., … & Moretti, F. (2019). Reducing interruptions during medication preparation and administration: An improvement project. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 32(6), 941-957. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-12-2017-0238
Snipes, C. (2016). Project Management for the Advanced Practice Nurse. Springer Publishing Company.
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2020). Public Health Nursing: Population-Centered Health Care in the Community. Elsevier, Inc.
Zaccagnini, M., & White, K. (Eds.) (2017). The Doctor of Nursing Practice Essentials: A New Model for Advanced Practice Nursing (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.
NURS 6051S Week 4 Assignment: The Impact of Nursing Informatics on Patient Outcomes and Care Efficiencies
In the discussion for this module, you explored the collaboration between nurse informaticists and other healthcare professionals to ensure optimal care. But how do we define and measure success in these collaborations?
Success in healthcare is primarily gauged by patient outcomes and the achievement of care goals. By measuring patient outcomes, data is generated, which can then be analyzed to enhance patient care and processes. Nursing informatics plays a crucial role in this effort by streamlining workflows, identifying at-risk patients, and improving overall efficiency, ultimately leading to better outcomes.
To Prepare:
- Review the application of technology concepts as discussed in the module resources.
- Reflect on how emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI), can strengthen nursing informatics as a specialty and further improve patient outcomes and care efficiencies.
The Assignment: (4-5 pages, excluding title and reference pages)
Write a 4- to 5-page project proposal addressed to the leadership of your healthcare organization, advocating for a nursing informatics project aimed at enhancing patient outcomes or improving patient care efficiency. Your proposal should address the following components:
- Describe the Proposed Project: Provide a detailed description of the nursing informatics project you are advocating. Explain the problem it addresses and how it aims to improve current practices.
- Identify the Stakeholders: Identify and discuss the key stakeholders who would be affected by the project, such as patients, healthcare providers, administrative staff, and regulatory bodies.
- Explain the Targeted Patient Outcomes or Care Efficiencies: Clearly outline which patient outcomes or care efficiencies the project aims to improve. Be specific and provide examples of how these improvements would manifest in the healthcare setting.
- Identify the Required Technologies: List the technologies necessary to implement the project and explain why they are essential for its success. This could include electronic health records (EHR), AI tools, or data analysis software.
- Assemble the Project Team: Identify the roles of individuals on the project team, including the nurse informaticist. Explain how each role contributes to the project’s success and the specific responsibilities of the nurse informaticist in ensuring data-driven decision-making and improved patient care.
Formatting Guidelines:
- Use APA format for the proposal, including in-text citations and a reference page.
- Include a title page.
- Before submitting, use SafeAssign Drafts to check for originality and reduce the match percentage.
By addressing these elements, your project proposal will provide a clear and structured plan to enhance patient care through the integration of nursing informatics.
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