Uses of Computer in Nursing

USES OF COMPUTER IN NURSING
INTRODUCTION
A computer is a machine that is able to take information, do some work on or make
changes to the information, to make new information. Computers have existed for much of
human history.

USES OF COMPUTERS IN NURSING PROFESSION.
The computer revolutionized the nursing profession. Clinical and technological
advancements led to a nursing specialty called nursing informatics: the application of computer
and information science to promote and support the practice of nursing and the delivery of
nursing care. In addition to the routine use of computer-assisted technology such as email,
computers have many other applications in nursing.
1. Nursing Administration:
 Computers are used in the administrative areas of nursing for basic tasks that once
were done on paper.
 Staffing and scheduling systems are used to construct daily, weekly or monthly
schedules.
 Many scheduling systems also collect data on individual employees such as the
amount of sick time used or leave accumulated.
2. Education:
Nurses use computers for a variety of continuing education programs. Below are some
of the points which highlight the uses of computers in nursing education:
i. Systematic Storage of Information:
 Nurses can use computers to take down and store notes of the patients, as they
observe their condition while on rounds.
 As the supervised rounds involve a lot of patients and a lot of information, using a
computerized personal digital assistant makes it easier to access the right medical
information at the right time instead of carrying a bunch of paperwork
ii. Computerized Presentations:
 Computers help the nursing tutors/educators to present the large and complicated
detailed form of data, in a very simplified and effective form.
 Features like PowerPoint presentations, slide shows, videos are used to present
medical procedures and techniques for better understanding of complex medical
procedures and their treatments.
iii. Simulations:
 The field of medicine involves the concept of "hands-on work".
 Nursing education therefore, must involve a lot of practice programs to make the
students efficient to face the real life scenario.
 Computer programs which enable simulate such procedures therefore are of great
use.
iv. Interactive Learning:
 The most appealing and outstanding feature of computer based education is that it
gives boost to interactive learning.
 Unlike traditional method of learning, computer insisted learning encourage more
interaction and communication among the instructor and the students increasing
the scope to learn and understand better.

3. Nursing Practice:
In clinical implication, computers are used for:
 Assessment
 Patient Monitoring
 Documentation
 Telemedicine
 Electronic Medical Records
Nurses use computers for documentation with an electronic health record
or electronic medical record. When an organization uses an EMR, all documentation
related to patient care, diagnostic testing, specialty referrals or any other aspect of patient
care or management is done on the computer. The computers can be stationed at the
bedside, used on mobile carts or might be in the form of a portable electronic tablet that
the nurse carries in lieu of a clipboard with paper documents.
4. Nursing Research:
In research, we can use computers for:
 Preparation of a research document
 Data gathering
 Computer assisted instruction
 Simulation
 Tutorials
 Analysis of data.
5. Community Settings:
In community settings, we use computers for: gathering statistics, patient-appointments-
identification systems, home care management, and automated remote patient monitoring4.
Advantages of Computer:
 It enhances communication and availability of information.
 It allows for more convenient resource sharing.
 It makes file sharing easier.
 It is highly flexible.
 It boosts storage capacity.
Disadvantages of Computer:
 It lacks independence.
 It poses security difficulties.
 It allows for more presence of computer viruses and malware.
 It requires an efficient handler.
 It requires an expensive set-up.
CONCLUSION:
Computer use has become one of the most successful ways of sharing information in the
health care system, where all computers are linked together by a common network. Now,
hospitals heavily rely on it to get information across to essential channels.

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USES OF COMPUTER IN NURSING

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