week 8 theory lori, support the argument
Documenting patient care in a computer versus a tangible patient chart was life changing for me. I recall when all IDT members waited patiently (sometimes impatiently) to collect the patient chart so they could document their entry. Missing charts were also a problem especially when the chart was needed STAT to collect pertinent information on a patient. I also recall administering medications by using the Medication Administration Record (MAR). This process could be tedious especially when the orders entered were not legible. Which also brings me to illegible hand written physician orders. There were many errors and questions with the above-mentioned system and I am so thankful to have the technology of computers for order entries, documentation, and medication administration. Powell-Cope et al. (2018) reports computers have increased the safety and positive outcome for the patient and nurse. A study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a majority of nurses reported that when they have access to electronic health records, they have fewer problems with getting patients ready for discharge, fewer medication errors, and better quality of care. When it comes to transfers between departments, about 20% of the nurses surveyed reported that information was more likely to be shared and less likely to “fall between the cracks” when electronic systems are used.
I chose the Transition Theory for this week’s assignment. Middle range theory can be utilized in today’s health care setting by avoiding hospital readmissions by improving communication and coordinating care during during transitions including admissions and discharges within and between acute-care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long-term acute-care hospitals, assisted living facilities, and home. Programs intensify care during transitions between settings and can reduce hospital readmissions. High quality transitional care initiatives and tools will help nurses implement initiatives. According to Nelson, (2015), programs incorporated services such as comprehensive discharge planning, post-discharge telephone outreach, home visits, patient-centered discharge instructions, follow-up with a primary care provider, and medication reconciliation.
Metaparadigm, philosophy, conceptual model, theory, and empirical indicator are identified as a structural holarchy of nursing knowledge that differentiates these components. Fawcett (2004), reports that nursing research will not advance knowledge if it continues to hang on the coattails of other disciplines. Personally, I think that if nurses had the allotted time and the means to collaborate with other nurses regarding a conceptual model and predict the effects of specific nursing interventions on the responses of individuals…then possibly more nurses would contribute to this work.
References
Nelson, J. (2015). Transitional care can reduce hospital readmissions. American
Nurse Today 10(4). Retrieved February 10, 2019 from
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/ncth/transitional-care-model/index.pht
Powell-Cope, G. & Patterson, N., (2018). Patient care technology and safety
Retrieved February 8, 2019 from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2686
