Module 3 Information Retrieval

Reponding to the question "How do you anticipate that this [information retrieval] assignment will help you in your graduate coursework?" I'd say that it's invaluable. Even though I'm on a clinical--not a research--track, my ability to sift through research for information relevant to my practice and, more specifically, my DNP project is crucial to its success. If I am to persuade key stakeholders of the merit of my project, I need to be able to point to solid evidence that shows how their participation is likely to produce a good return on their investment of time and resources. Obviously, the best vehicle for that showing will be other previous demonstrations of similar outcomes. To move from abstraction to a concrete illustration, I want to persuade our local senior centers to implement the Strong Women Stay Young program here in Utah. To do that, I'd start with Miriam Nelson's excellent books explaining the program and its underpinnings, but I wouldn't want to stop there; I'd want to go further to find other examples where her theories and methods are demonstated to be in lockstep with current evidence based practice. In other words, I would seek verification linking her version of what might be best for seniors to other researchers' works. To do that, I'll rely on electronic information retrieval to find the best scholarly sources for critical review of Dr. Nelson's work, and I'll also benefit from an information management system so as not to become overwhelmed or disorganized in my collection and synthesis of that mountain of information.

Module 2 Post

In response to the question, "what is one way you could become involved in designing, selecting, evaluating, or implementing an information system in your workplace?" I was surprised to realize that I am, in fact, already involved in this at work. I didn't really even realize it until I was asked to draft this post. The University Hospital switched over from paper orders to CPOE about 2 years ago and ever since we've been working through the kinks to edit our computer charting to more transparently reflect the care process. Through various unit based teams feedback filters up through the Nursing Practice Council and then to the IT support people who make changes designed to make charting go more smoothly. I'm on my unit's Unit Based Council and in that capacity I routinely review proposed changes to provide feedback about if and how those changes might be received in my particular unit. So, for example, we were recently asked to review some changes to the pain scores in response to a visit by the Joint Commission. The changes are hoped to record more clearly how information about patients' experience of pain is collected, what measures are taken to alleviate pain, whether those measures are timely, and whether they are effective. As one of our unit based reps I'm charged with responsibility for gathering opinions from my coworkers that I take back to our monthly Unit meeting, and our leader will distill our reports into a summary that she presents at the Nursing Practice Council meeting. So, unbeknownst to me, I actually have been involved with evaluating and implementing an information system in your workplace!! Who knew?! I'll also add that I help to implement the information system in a second, informal way: I talk it up at the workplace. To the extent that people are resistant to computer charting, I think they're just whistling Dixie. We need to embrace the new systems, engage in the process of making them "friendly" enough that they don't make us want to pull out our hair, and recognize that they will ultimately improve health care delivery and are, in fact, a good thing.