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Interview
I interviewed LD who is the Nurse in charge at St. Monica Hospital. The interview took place on 27th July, 2016. According to LD, there are many career pathways in nursing. Typically, all nurses are required to have at least two year training in areas such as psychology, anatomy, pharmacology and patient care practice. In her case she started as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
Nurses at this level are permitted to conduct simple medical procedures under the guidance of a registered nurse. Her common tasks at this level included measuring blood pressure, dressing wounds and keeping patient records. After two years of LPN, she acquired a nursing degree and became a Resisted Nurse (RN). At this level, she was able to supervise the work of LPNs and was responsible for the overall safety of the patients under her care.
LD indicates that one of the most important pillars of modern nursing is evidence-based care. This method of care is based on the need of improving patient outcomes through the delivery of high-quality care. Studies have indicated that when best evidence is used in care, the patient outcomes improve (Ginter, 2013). At St. Monica Hospital where the interviewee works, there are various best evidence practices at play.
For example, she indicates that they use oxygen therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They also use infection control practices to prevent infections and use non-invasive techniques to measure blood pressure in children.
There are various technologies that have been adopted in the healthcare systems. One of the most important electronic systems from a nursing perspective is the Electronic Health Records (EHR). EHR allows nurse to electronically store data and information about patients past and present health status allowing for better diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases. However, there are various safeguards that must be observed in using electronic health records.
One of the most important safeguards is the observance of privacy and confidentiality of the patients (Malaker, 2013). To this end, nursing professionals must know their limits with regards to, how to handle patient information. One requirement is the need to seek approval of the patients with regards to sharing of private and confidential data.
This means nurses must be conversant with laws such as the HIPAA which governs how confidentially can be achieved within the health sector (Malaker, 2013). Nonetheless, occasionally the need to offer quality care and improve patient outcomes can outweigh the need for confidentiality, and this is the main basis of electronic health systems.
With regards to electronic records, garbage in, garbage out is used to make decisions regarding patient care. It is important for all information acquired from the patients to be accurate in order for the improved patient outcomes to be achieved. Remarkably, if wrong information is fed into the electronic systems, then wrong diagnosis and hence treatment might occur. Thus, nurses must work very hard to ensure that only the most appropriate and reliable patient’s data is used.
Reflection
This interview has modified my career expectations as a BSN-prepared nurse. I now understand the competency levels that are expected of me and the career path that I’m likely to take. For example, given that I will be entering the nursing field is a relatively high level of qualification, one of my roles will be to work with and supervise Licensed Practical Nurses. I will also be required to maintain patient privacy and confidentially, especially with regards to the electronic data of patients.
References
Ginter, P. M (2013). The strategic management of healthcare organizations. John. Wiley.
Malaker, K (2013). Personal medical record: Dominica’s low-tech, low-cost solution for a high-tech, high-cost problem. International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 3: 419-427.
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