Transforming nursing practice through technology and informatics

The article by Joyce Sensmeier states that nurses have to be given a more visible role in patient care and this can only be done through their being allowed access to patient’s medical information. Sensmeier suggests that the best way through which nurses can have a more active role in patient care is through the use of information technology and being active participants in nursing informatics within their institutions (Seinsmeier, 2011). As individuals who have a greater access to patients and are actively involved in ensuring patient recovery, it is essential for them to be provided with all necessary information so that their provision of care can be more efficient since this will help in improving patient outcomes. Nurses have for a long time played a pivotal role in health provision, but despite their efforts, Sensmeier notes that they are being left behind by government healthcare policies. She declares that if the government is indeed willing to reform the healthcare system, it is essential that nurses be actively involved because it is they, more than any other medical practitioner, who have an active knowledge of patient problems, as well as most weaknesses in healthcare provision. Therefore, new technology should be taken advantage of to bring about a change in health care by nurses, and this should include an inclusion of nursing informatics in patient care. Nursing informatics should be given a prominent role in breaking the barriers that prevent nurses from being more efficient in their work because it provides them with much needed information concerning how to bring care to their patients at a personalized level. The article recommends that the future of healthcare depends on ensuring nurses receive at least a bachelor’s degree whose significant parts involve informatics, allowing them leadership positions within healthcare as well as ensuring that they all provided with the opportunity to practice without any barriers as has previously been the case.

Susan Rosenberg and Jeff Rodik in their article declare the role of bedside nurses in informatics is quite limited in scope and this is mainly because it is normally not included in their training. They state that most organizations which have implemented go-live projects tend to ignore including bedside nurses for ongoing maintenance as required for clinical application programs (Rosenberg & Rodik, 2012). Go-live projects tend to be discontinued after one week and this does not provide bedside nurses with ample time to utilize the system on behalf of their patients. These circumstances make it extremely difficult for bedside nurses to function because after go-live gets discontinued, they end up becoming unidentifiable to other staff members which results in their having to seek out information services rather than their coworkers. Such situations make their work more difficult because they are unable to get information which can be used in enhancing their efficiency in care provision. It is often quite difficult for bedside nurses to gain feedback from information services regarding technological issues and this makes the process to be quite frustrating for them. Rosenberg and Rodik cite the unique approach taken by Salem Community Hospital in Ohio which increased the duration of its go-live project for its bedside nurses by another two weeks and this ensured that there was also an increase in their efficiency. The period for achieving feedback was greatly reduced with failures in communication being fixed in such a manner that all inquiries and concerns were acted upon in record time and to the satisfaction of end users. While there are some limitations to these projects, Salem Community Hospital makes it possible for bedside nurses to work together and give each other support in matters concerning nursing informatics. Furthermore, when they are not working in groups, there is constant communication between nursing informatics nurses which makes possible the continued use of technology in nursing informatics. Rosenberg and Rodik conclude that it should be recognized that bedside nurses should be recognized as part of the larger nursing community and because of this, they should be provided with knowledge on nursing informatics in their training.

The articles above show the importance of nursing informatics not only in higher levels of nursing, but at all levels because it allows for a more active and personalized role for nurses in provision of care. Nursing informatics has for a long time been a domain of higher levels of nursing, a situation which has made it difficult for healthcare to be more efficient since not all nurses were provided with much needed support when conducting their tasks. Moreover, a deficiency in nursing informatics in the nursing profession can be blamed on a lack of courses on it at the university level of nursing and this has allowed for a lack of knowledge among nurses. Efficient communication as well as quick access to information by nursing professionals makes possible their becoming more involved in their works resulting in greater efficiency. In a world which is quickly adopting newer technologies, it is essential for this technology to be included in nursing informatics because it allows for a more personalized provision of services by nurses. Technology has made it possible for nurses to bring care to their patients rather than the latter seeking it out physically. Through numerous online applications, it has become possible for patients to contact their nurses directly on a face to face basis and this has also ensured that there is a reduction in hospital visits. Nursing informatics makes it easier for nurses to gain information concerning diverse medical conditions and this ensures that there is improvement in nursing practice.

As a result of its being able to integrate the sciences that involve nursing, computer and information, nursing informatics is of the fastest growing aspects of nursing because it allows for an analysis, development, and implementation of knowledge into nursing practice (Murphy, 2010). Therefore, nursing informatics should be given utmost priority especially in nursing because this is the only way through which nurses can have access to information which is useful in their practice. The development of newer technologies has made it essential for nursing informatics to help the nursing profession turn towards the modern world and this in such a way that nurses become active participants in analyzing patient information. In this way, nurses, being the largest group of health workers, are allowed to take an unprecedented step in making the health care system more efficient. Nursing informatics helps in developing efficiency in nursing practice because it is nurses who spend the most time with patients which allow them to gain firsthand insights into patients’ conditions. Change from current forms of nursing into one which is based on information informatics is inevitable if there is to be an improvement in healthcare and patient outcomes because the world is swiftly shifting from and environment which is paper-based to one which is centered on paperless technology which ensures that patient information is made readily available. Therefore, including nursing informatics in everyday nursing makes nurses to be more accepting on new technology and this helps them to remain in constant communication with their patients because a majority of them are users of newer technology.

In conclusion, nursing informatics is an inevitable result of technological development in the modern world and it needs to be made a part of basic nursing so that efficiency in healthcare can be achieved. Without the inclusion of nursing informatics in nursing, there develops instances where it is difficult to make much needed reforms to the healthcare system so that patient outcomes can be improved. Therefore, nursing informatics is an essential step in making the role of nurses to be more central in healthcare rather than keeping it them in a supporting role, as is currently the case.

The Complications of Drinking Cinnamon Sticks to Induce Labour

Matan, Rimkeeree, Mawson, et al (2006) argue that cinnamon sticks can be quite risky for pregnant women who use it to induce labor because it creates a situation where they are at risk of suffering from toxicity accumulation. This is especially the case where it is used for an extended period without attaining the intended results and this might create a situation where there the woman who uses them ends up developing some serious health problems. These problems might lead to a situation where the baby is also put at risk because high toxicity levels in the mother as a result of high consumption of cinnamon might be fatal for the baby. This is a situation which has to be avoided at all costs and it requires that expectant mothers desist from using large amounts of cinnamon sticks in trying to induce labor. This study is useful because it shows that despite the common assumption that the use of cinnamon induces labor, there are instances where it does not work and an increase in the amount consumed will not help in any way. As a matter of fact, it might create a situation where the mother puts her baby at risk and this might cause a situation where there is little that can be done to save it. However, this study fails to show for how long a mother can take cinnamon sticks before it becomes risky and it is essential that such figures be shown to ensure that there is more sensitization in the society concerning the risks involved. The study does not have interviews with women who have suffered the risks involved in cinnamon toxicity firsthand because information from these women would have been insightful in not only developing conclusions, but would also have increased the credibility of the study. Despite the lack of interviews in the methodology, this study shows that while cinnamon might be harmless for those who use it on a regular basis, it carries some serious risks for expectant mothers and it is essential that it only be used sparingly or in small doses in situations where they wish to induce labor.

Like the one that has been discussed above, the results of this study also show that pregnant women should avoid using cinnamon as a means of inducing labor because it has some serious health risks for them and their babies. Nahas and Moher (2009), state that this is mainly because it might bring about premature labor which the child might not be able to survive. Cinnamon has the ability of inducing premature labor or uterine contractions and this creates a situation where despite the desires of the mother, the baby might be born too soon. Under these circumstances, it is often difficult to know whether it will survive or not and this might cause serious distress on the part of the mother. Furthermore, there is also a situation where the expectant mother herself might be put at risk because the induced labor might cause her to develop complications during birth. It is necessary for there to be caution when using cinnamon sticks as a means of inducing labor because, like the study conducted above, this study also concludes that it might result in putting the baby in unnecessary risk especially in a situation where there is excessive toxicity caused through heavy consumption. However, this study comes to the conclusion that the consumption of cinnamon in small quantities during pregnancy does not bring about many risks and in fact ensures that the mother becomes healthier. Despite this, cinnamon sticks, when consumed for the purpose of inducing labor can be very risky for both the mother and child. The methodology used in this research is sound because there is a combination of interviews and questionnaires with individuals who have used cinnamon sticks before as well as information acquired from obstetricians who have dealt with such issues before and the use of secondary sources. Therefore, it is through the diversified form of data collection and analysis that this study has ensured credibility. Its major weakness, however, is that it concentrates more on the issue of the usage of cinnamon sticks as an agent of inducing premature labor rather than the one which takes place when the baby has come to term and this seems to be a one-sided approach.

Woehrlin, et al (2010) argue that there are situations where cinnamon stick usage in inducing pregnancy might have undesired effects on the expectant mother and this is especially as a result of its coumarin content. This study shows that regular cinnamon sticks tend to have high levels of coumarin within them and this is a substance which has health risks because it might cause liver failure of taken on a daily basis in order to induce labor. Regular cinnamon sticks, especially the Cassia variety, tend to have as a much as 5% coumarin content and this might be considered to be dangerous for an expectant mother because a case of liver failure might not only be risky for her, but for her baby as well because the means of cleaning blood in the body will have been interrupted. In such a situation, it would be essential to ensure that when expectant mothers wish to induce labor, they shift to using the Ceylon variety of cinnamon sticks because this only contains some 0.04% coumarin, which is essentially negligible since it allows the user to ingest it without any risk to themselves or their baby. Through the provision of figures, this study shows an in depth analysis of the different variety of cinnamon sticks and the varieties that can safely be used during pregnancy to induce labor. The researcher in this study shows an awareness to detail as shown through the description of the different cinnamon varieties that are discussed as well as the development of a new perspective concerning them. There is an implication that despite the risks that have been stated above, cinnamon can still be used effectively to induce labor, as long as it is the variety that contains lesser coumarin content. This study, however, discusses the risks involved in using cinnamon in high doses on a daily basis because it might bring about a situation where high levels of coumarin leads to liver failure in the expectant mother and this might also have a negative effect on the baby. The detailed research that is conducted can be used as a means of showing that despite the many adverse effects that they might have, cinnamon sticks can still be used, in small doses, to induce labor.

There are certain situations where cinnamon sticks act as a blood thinner and this can be risky for an expectant mother because if she uses them to induce labor, she might end up suffering from excessive blood loss during delivery. Khan et al (2003) state thatOne of the most common characteristics of cinnamon is as a blood thinner and this creates a situation where it can be extremely useful for those individuals who suffer from heart disease. This is because cinnamon acts as an anti-clotting agent and it provides the individual who uses it the ability to have their blood move faster in the body. However, there are situations where it is possible that it might have the same effect when it is used to induce labor and this can be detrimental in the health of the expectant mother because it makes it difficult for her blood to clot after birth. Therefore, while cinnamon sticks might have the desired effect of inducing labor in expectant mothers, it is also accompanied by health risks which are not anticipated and this might lead to the death of a mother. It is therefore essential that all possible precautions be taken in using cinnamon sticks because it is through these precautions that it is possible to know the best variety to use. The study agrees with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health by showing that the Cassia cinnamon has the highest blood thinning properties and it is for this reason that it should be avoided as an agent of inducing pregnancy and expectant mothers should instead use Ceylon cinnamon sticks for the purpose because it has lesser blood thinning properties. The study also warns that cinnamon sticks should not be taken alongside blood thinning medication because they might have an adverse effect on the health of the expectant mother. This study is essential to this research because it allows for the evaluation of the blood thinning properties of cinnamon sticks that might have an effect on the user and the methodology used is sound since it allows for an assessment of the different varieties of cinnamon. While this study concentrates on the medicinal properties of cinnamon, it also tackles how these same properties might negatively affect the user, especially if it is an expectant mother wishing to induce labor.

Akilen, et al. (2012) recognize that a number of people, although a minority, are allergic to cinnamon and this creates a situation where it is difficult to predict its effect on an expectant mother wishing to induce pregnancy. For a woman who does not always use this spice, cinnamon sticks might create a situation where it is difficult for them to cope with the various side effects such as having an upset stomach or facial and hand swelling as well as dizziness. All of these are highly risky for an expectant mother because they not only endanger her, but they also endanger her baby. Under such circumstances, the woman might end up losing her balance and falling as a result of dizziness and this fall might take place under conditions that might be harmful for the baby. Furthermore, there are situations where as a result of an allergic reaction, an expectant mother comes to experience an unusual heartbeat as well as a sudden drop of blood pressure which might not be good for the baby because under such circumstances, she might end up losing it because she cannot get medical attention fast enough. Those individuals who are allergic to cinnamon react differently to its different varieties and it is essential that before using it to induce labor, expectant mothers find out which variety that might be allergic to. Without such knowledge, such mothers might be putting their babies at risk because the latter might develop a serious reaction through the mother consuming cinnamon and this might lead to their death. This study deals with the allergies that are involved as a result of the consumption of cinnamon sticks by expectant mothers and it allows one to understand the significance of knowing the variety of cinnamon that is to be consumed before using it as a means of inducing labor. In this way, it is possible to ensure that both the mother and the baby are protected from the complications that might arise as a result of using cinnamon sticks to induce labor.

FMEA and HFMEA

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) has been in use in recent years as a means of assessing the risk that is prevalent in the aerospace and locomotive industries. FMEA also came to be adapted into the healthcare industry in the last decade of the twentieth century. It involves four main steps the first of which is the definition of the topic; usually a high risk process attempting to define the criticality of the situation. The second step that is undertaken when using FMEA is the assembly of a multidisciplinary team whose purpose is to deal with the issue at hand. Thirdly, there is the graphic description process which involves the identification of potential failures as well as their causes and effects. Finally, there is a process of calculating the risk, which involves the calculating the severity, the detectability and probability scores.

The Healthcare FMEA has been adopted specifically in healthcare for the purpose of analyzing the risks through the use of the detectability and criticality steps in such a way that it is presented as an algorithm (DeRosier, et al, 2002). In the adaptation of FMEA into healthcare, the calculation step is normally replaced by a hazard score that is indicated directly from a Hazard Matrix Table. HFMEA has five important steps which include defining the topic, assembling the team, graphically describing the process, conducting a hazard analysis, and finally, measuring actions and outcomes. HFMEA is an important process because it allows for the early detection of possible outcomes before medical procedures before they are undertaken.

Challenges in the Healthcare Organizations

There have always been challenges in the healthcare industry but over the years, these have increased significantly as a result of the diversification of healthcare organizations. This statement does not mean that the diverse challenges cannot be overcome because it is essential for strategies to be developed to ensure that challenges do not have an adverse effect on the organizations involved. I believe that the first step towards developing solutions for these challenges is to recognize that they exist and that more needs to be done to overcome them. Therefore, challenges have to be handled in such a way that they do not have a negative effect on the management of patient care in hospitals.

I have come to the realization, and numerous studies support this, that among the biggest challenges to healthcare organizations today are staff shortage and low job satisfaction. These come about because the shortage of medical practitioners in hospitals increases the workload on those who work within them and this is in such a way that makes it difficult for them to cope. Furthermore, recent research has shown that understaffing is a major cause of low patient outcomes because patients do not receive the full attention that they need to recover at a faster rate. The staff-patient ratio in most healthcare institutions tends to go against patients and this created a situation where it becomes difficult for patient to get such ancillary services radiology diagnostic tests, respiratory care services, ultra sounds and many others because they have to wait for long. Staff shortages have led to the development of low job satisfaction levels as the medical staff available have to work under a lot of pressure in order to fulfill their duties. Moreover, despite the heavy workload that they have to deal with, these staff members hardly receive equal pay for it and this has often led to dissatisfaction that brings about low morale among these individuals (Keenan & Kennedy, 2010). The result has been that there have developed high turnover rates as some members of staff choose to leave and seek better opportunities elsewhere.

Another challenge that has come to my attention is the low level of communication, and teamwork that is prevalent within the different departments in the organization. There has been some speculation that staff shortage has slowed service delivery in such a way that funds are lost in the process because the department offers normal services but at a slower rate (McHugh, Kutney-Lee, Cimiotti, Sloane & Aiken, 2011). However, I have also come to notice that the lack of adequate communication and teamwork also has a hand in not only slowing down the rate of service delivery, but it has also led to a situation where it has become difficult for members of staff to work together in patient interests. I believe that it is essential for communication between the management of hospitals and practitioners can be extremely helpful when it comes to improving services for patients while at the same time dealing with the challenges brought about by staff shortage. This is because lack of communication has contributed to the current poor job satisfaction rates because the management and the staff do not understand each other in terms of what the staff and patients need. Therefore, ensuring that communications are improved will make it possible for more work to not only be done effectively, but also at a much faster rate, meaning that more patients will end up being attended to despite staff shortages.

It is my belief that the collaboration between staff and management in healthcare is necessary in maintaining efficiency as well as advancing patient outcomes. This is especially the case where management and practitioners work as a team so that the whole department works in harmony and avoids misunderstandings that could affect service delivery (MacKusick & Minick, 2010). The provision of the best services possible in any healthcare organization is dependent on collaboration and this should be carefully nurtured within our organization as a means of promoting positive health outcomes for patients. Without this much needed collaboration, it becomes extremely difficult for services to be delivered effectively; meaning that healthcare practitioners will not be undertaking the duties assigned to them. Therefore, I urge that teamwork become the basic mode of operations within this institution because it is the only way through which swift and efficient service delivery can be guaranteed.

Finally, as I mentioned before, the major challenges in any healthcare organization are staff shortage, ineffective communication, and lack of collaboration. These three are extremely important because solving them would ensure that there is the enhancement of the efficiency of the organization. Solving these issues will not only bring about trust and understanding between management and staff, but it will also make sure that patient outcomes are constantly positive.