THE CONTRIBUTION OF REGISTERED NURSES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTERIZED HOSPITAL AND NURSING INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN SELECT ACUTE-CARE HOSPITALS.
Contributors: Seattle University.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 144
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Acute-care hospitals are increasingly adopting automated computerized hospital information systems. A complete nursing information system, one that facilitates management of nursing care and nursing research, does not appear to be in use. An extremely limited number of registered nurses (RNs) are reported to be involved in activities that lead to development of automated systems for nursing practice. This study is a descriptive analysis of RN involvement, perceived need for involvement, and perceived reasons for non-involvement in activities that facilitate development of computerized information systems. The data were collected between December, 1984 and February, 1985, by questionnaire, from the total RN population of four acute-care hospitals. Two of the agencies had computer terminals in the patient care units, and two of the agencies did not have computer terminals in the patient care units but anticipated the addition of terminals for the units. Only 5 percent of the RNs surveyed were involved in activities that lead to development of a nursing information system. Over 80 percent of the RNs surveyed perceived a need for involvement in computer activities. They were extremely concerned about how computer technology would affect or change their role and demonstrated interest in acquiring knowledge in computer technology for nursing practice. The study concluded that limited numbers of RNs are involved in activities that facilitate the development of a computerized nursing information system and that RNs perceive a need for involvement. The major reason for non-involvement was perceived to be an information gap pertaining to computer technology. Staff nurses in agencies with computers in the patient care units were equally as interested in and desirous of obtaining knowledge in computer technology as staff nurses in agencies without computers in the patient care units. A design for a series of educational offerings is appended.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-06, Section: B, page: 1871.

Thesis (ED.D.)--SEATTLE UNIVERSITY, 1985.

School code: 0551.