A Reflection on EBP and Patient-Centered Care using Healthcare Technological Data
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Indeed, the use of scholarly evidence in decision-making concerning patient care was had an immense impact during my clinical immersion. I felt more confident and prudent in practice when the best available evidence in care guided the decisions I made. I also thought that it was easy to face off and solve dilemmas that could present in the clinical set-up involving patient prevalence and practice.
It will be imperative, from a personal perspective, to use scholarly evidence in my practice as a nurse. I will utilize evidence-based research findings to aid in solving clinical problems coming my way and together assist my colleagues in dealing with such issues. Also, it will form a basis and a guiding tool in delivering the best possible quality care to clients in care delivery settings. I will also use scholarly evidence in considering client values or perspectives before deciding on the best course of clinical intervention since it is critical in delivering patient-centred care (Ellis, 2019).
According to the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), nurse executives ought to exhibit professionalism and have a well vast knowledge of the healthcare environment to increase collaboration (Waxman, Roussel, Herrin-Griffith & D’Alfonso, 2017). I identified a clinical problem in my clinical immersion setting, which was increased rates of nosocomial infections in the inpatient units. In collaboration with my preceptor and patient care team members, we researched the issue and identified causes related to practices that undermined infection control. Every stakeholder of care delivery participated in studies to identify outcome measures. We utilized research findings and disseminated them to patient care team members. Eventually, we resorted for patient care that all intravenous lines be changed every three-four days, changing gauze dressings every two days. Then, the transparent dressings to be replaced every seven days, and performing catheter site care with chlorhexidine when dressing changes as per the CDC guidelines (Kuhar, Pollock, Yokoe, Howell & Chopra, 2018).
I was a change agent in my practice setting by advocating for patient care technologies. We collaborate with the management installed smart beds and computerized staff scheduling system in the clinical environment. By the time I was through with my clinical immersion period, I had advocated for electr0onic health records instead of paper documentation whereby efforts to install them were underway. Such technologies reduce injury and stress for clients and health care providers and generally improves efficiency in nursing.
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The was a well-structured organizational culture in improving the quality of care provided to clients and improving their safety. Every health care delivery member was committed to achieving the Quadruple Aim of healthcare and meeting the minimum standards of healthcare regulatory bodies, including reimbursements. For instance, there was a culture of incorporating continuum of care into care delivery models to discharged patients. Still, my clinical immersion settings did not receive maximum reimbursements. I utilized data to support changes concerning improving the health of populations (the discharged patients). Research data informed that the use of well-designed discharge protocols with patient education, a 7-day post-discharge revisit to the outpatient clinics, and follow-up is critical in reducing hospital readmissions. They also improve the effectiveness of care, improve safety, lower mortality rates and improve patient experiences. All developed my insight that the use of well-research data findings helps enhance the quality and safety of care given to clients.
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Utilization of communication and relationship-building competencies enhanced my interaction with my peers and nurses during my clinical immersion. Effective communication, the building of trusting relationships among my colleagues and staff nurses enabled a streamlined collaboration in delivering care to patients. I relied on computer technology to communicate with my intraprofessional team to share clinical ideas when collaborating in the same case. We engaged us in making decisions regarding staff scheduling and plans on delivering patient-centred care.
Also, I relied on shared decision-making by engaging the group of health care professionals from diverse fields in delivering care. I collaborated with nurse managers of various units to provide an environment conducive for opinion sharing. Besides, I commissioned for acknowledgement of diversity by recognizing differences in values among staff, physicians, clients, and their families. We collaborated with physicians to determine patient care equipment, develop patient care protocols, and facilitated solving disputes involving nurses and physicians or any involved disciplines.
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In the utilization of computerized provider order entry systems, I ensured ethical standards were observed. I ensured that patient data was secure by limiting access to the specified healthcare team and that other parties could not access such information without the consent of clients. Also, I ensured that the systems holding patient data had a two-step verification password protection with data encryption feature. The use of antivirus software and firewalls got also introduced as a recommended evidence-based outcome (Abouelmehdi, Beni-Hssane, Khaloufi, & Saadi, 2017). I ensured that clinicians upheld the confidentiality of patient information during the interaction with other clients, families, and friends. Besides, I ensured that the conduction of routine treatments and procedures followed proper guidelines regarding patient privacy and preferences by seeking consent, thus ensuring client privacy. I strived to abide by the regulatory requirements, more so concerning the statutory laws, as a student that I was responsible for my nursing actions. Additionally, I ensure all nurses and peers could abide by the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) code of ethics and the relevant Nurse Practice Act in our undertakings during my clinical emersion. It was the responsibility of all of us to remind colleagues if their actions had negative implications for patient care outcomes.
References
Abouelmehdi, K., Beni-Hssane, A., Khaloufi, H., & Saadi, M. (2017). Big data security and privacy in healthcare: A Review. Procedia Computer Science, 113, 73-80.
Ellis, P. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing. Learning Matters.
Kuhar, D., Pollock, D., Yokoe, D., Howell, M., & Chopra, V. (2018). Healthcare infection control practices advisory committee (HICPAC).
Waxman, K. T., Roussel, L., Herrin-Griffith, D., & D’Alfonso, J. (2017). The AONE nurse executive competencies: 12 years later. Nurse Leader, 15(2), 120-126.