Technology
Definition
The ability to integrate technology into patient care processes as well as business decision making
What is it?
Employing Technology effectively means understanding the effect of modern technology on patient care and delivery systems and then using it to reduce workload for management and staff alike. Nurses should be able to use proper technology to take care of patients. Managers especially have to know how to use information systems to support their business decision making processes.
Why is it important?
Modern technology is gradually becoming a key component of almost every aspect of our lives, including health care. Therefore, physicians, nurse managers, and fellow nurses are expected to use technology to reduce their workload. Technology is also an important helper when it comes to providing the best treatments possible to patients, so health care professionals have to be familiar with technology in use and available.
Suggestions for Improvement
- Know How to Operate Basic Technologies
The first thing we can do to make progress in this section is to make sure we have learned the most basic, required technological skills. For example, we should be adept at how to operate a computer in the workplace, how to type in patients’ prescriptions, how to operate X-ray for anyone in need, etc. For nurse managers, it might be necessary to learn how to use EXCEL to manage data or how to use certain online tools in order to schedule nurses and track their attendance. - Read Technology-Related News
Second, keep an eye on what is happening in the broader world of technology. This includes what new products Apple has developed, but also reaches more specifically into relevant nursing-related technologies. To stay current, nurses and nurse managers should read magazines, newspapers, watch the news about upcoming technology changes, and communicate with colleagues about any new discoveries or inventions in the field. - Be Ready to Learn New Technologies
Finally, we need to be willing to learn new things. For instance, if the hospital has bought a new X-ray machine, which is extremely different and much more complicated than the one you used to operate on, attend some training sessions held by the hospital about how to operate this new machine, search online to see if there is any instruction, or simply ask someone who is already familiar with it. The only way to keep up is to always have an open mind and take initiative to learn new things.
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