Running head: ESSENTIAL IV 1

E-Portfolio Essential IV: Information Management and Application of Patient Care Technology

Hai-Duong Nguyen

Frostburg State University

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E-Portfolio Essential IV Information Management and Application of Patient Care Technology

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) created the Essentials of

Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (2008), a document providing nine

Essentials, a curricular framework that outlines the expected outcomes of graduates of baccalaureate

nursing programs. (AACN, 2008, p. 3) The Essentials includes necessary requirements and

recommendations for the core knowledge required of all healthcare professionals (AACN, 2008, p.

3).This passage will focus on Essential IV Information Management and Application of Patient

Care Technology. Upon meeting Essential IV, the baccalaureate graduate nurse will obtain

knowledge and skills in information management and patient care technology that are critical in

the delivery of quality patient care. (AACN, 2008, p. 3). For this paper, I will discuss how my Final

Technological Innovation Project (Nguyen, 2016) meets the Essential IV Information Management

and Application of Patient Care Technology.

Exemplar

I chose to present my Final Technological Innovation Project (Nguyen, 2016) because I felt the

work was representation of my mastery of Essential IV Information Management and Application of

Patient Care Technology. This project required I pick a work related issue that could be improved with

the use of nursing informatics, a technological innovation. The innovation I decided that was the best

solution was the adoption of Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) in the electronic health

records (EHR). I chose to present my powerpoint presentation, my Final Technological Innovation

Project, because this work showcased my completion of all four parts of the project- subject choice,

dissertation, work-flow analysis diagram, and powerpoint presentation- these components represent my

understanding of data management, information, knowledge, and technology for effective

communication and the use of research and clinical evidence to inform practice decisions. The

powerpoint proved my competence in technological skills, computer and information literacy, and
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knowledge of information technology systems. This powerpoint also demonstrated my understanding

of decision support systems, a data gathering device, as an intervention to delivery quality patient

care and guide practice. Below, I will provide evidence from my Final Technological Innovation

Project that proves mastery of Essential IV Information Management and Application of Patient

Care Technology.

Reflection

My completion of the Final Technological Innovation Project (Nguyen, 2016) showed my

understanding of the CPOE as an information system that allows healthcare providers to

communicate effectively and provide safe patient care. It demonstrated mastery of Essential IV evident

by my adoption of safeguards and decision making support tools/ information systems embedded in

patient care technologies to support a safe practice environment for both patients

and healthcare workers. Within my presentation, I described the issue with written medication orders of

the medication administration cycle (errors due to distractions, unclear thinking from multitasking, lack

of knowledge, short staffing increasing workload, poor legibility, and fatigue), patient safety risks

(failing to check against a patients potential allergy, renal function, medication contraindication or

ordering wrong weight-based dose causing an adverse event), and the application of the innovation

technology as a solution (a solution to the issue of potential errors in written medication orders is the

implementation of the CPOE adopted in the EHR). The presentation provided evidence of the CPOE's

functionality: 1) Requires physicians or nurses/pharmacists who take verbal orders to completely fill

out all criteria of a medication order; 2) Imposes restrictions and alerts when ordering an inappropriate

dosing route for a medication; 3) Electronically checking the medication orders against the patient's

EHR such as allergies, proper dosing according to the patient's weight, drug contraindications, and

renal function; and 4) Provides safe dosing parameters that allow clinicians to safely order the

medication as hundreds of different medications require adjustment. The CPOE's implementation is

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evidence that I recognize its program as a clinical information system that improves patient

care outcomes and advocacy of new patient care technologies for safe, quality care. The Timeline

Implementation is another example within my presentation that meets Essential IV. The Essentials

requires that graduates Graduates be aware that new technology often requires new work-flow patterns

and changes in practice approaches to patient care prior to implementation (AACN, 2008, p. 18). My

Timeline Implementation suggested a 3 month introductory period, with each month requiring metrics

where feedback regarding program functionality, benefits/cons, adoptability, and satisfaction with its

use is inquired before implementing the program clinic-wide. My Final Technological Innovation

Project meets Essential IV as it shows relevance to ethical standards related to data security, regulatory

requirements, confidentiality, and clients right to privacy. McGonigle and Mastrian (2015) stated that

nonmaleficence is an obligation not to inflict harm intentionally and forms the framework for the

standard of due care to be met by any professional. Obligations of nonmaleficence are obligations of

not inflicting harm and not imposing risks of harm. (Mastrian and McGonigle, 2015, p. 73) My

presentation clearly dictates that patient safety and reducing patient harm by adoption of the CPOE is

my main objective, and this is a thorough portrayal of my growth as a baccalaureate graduate nurse

and completes the requirements of Essentials IV. These are prime examples that show how my Final

Technological Innovation Project meets the Essential IV Information Management and Application of

Patient Care Technology.

My completion of the Final Technological Innovation Project (Nguyen, 2016) demonstrated my

knowledge and skills in information management and patient care technology that are critical in

the delivery of quality patient care. My Final Technological Innovation Project showed my

understanding of informatics systems and its role in improving communication, data management,

research, and guide practice for safe patient care. My completion of the Final Technological Innovation

Project shows I am competent and comfortable to utilize patient care technologies and informatics
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systems, and this is how my Final Technological Innovation Project meets the Essential IV

Information Management and Application of Patient Care Technology.

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References

Essential IV Information Management and Application of Patient Care Technology. (2008). In The

Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. Washington, D.C.:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2015). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge.

Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Nguyen, H. (2016). Final Technological Innovation Project. Unpublished manuscript. Frostburg State

University, Frostburg, MD