The Nurse as a Knowledge Worker
For this Application Assignment, write a 3- to 4-page paper on the concept of nurses as knowledge workers using the following guidelines and evaluation criteria. Use the headings below for each section. Use a minimum of three references from the professional nursing literature in the assigned course readings and other references in the Walden Library. If they are relevant, you may use one or two professional web sites in addition to the literature references.
Begin this paper with a brief paragraph that provides an overview of the assignment and its purpose. There is no separate heading for this paragraph; the heading for this paragraph is the same as the title of the paper. This paragraph will be about 2-3 sentences. The last sentence in this paragraph is a sentence that begins "The purpose of this paper is to ¨. This paragraph is worth 20 points.
Work environment and managing knowledge - 40 points
Select one of the following nursing work environments: clinical, education, administration, or research. Describe how nurses manage knowledge in the context of that work environment. This section is one paragraph.
Managing change in workflow - 40 points
Consider how you have managed change in your work flow as a result of using some form of computer-based information technology. This section is 1-2 paragraphs.
Current use of information technology - 40 points
Provide at least one example of an information technology you use today that you previously did not utilize (perhaps last year or in a previous employment). Discuss at least two ways in which this information technology has impacted your practice of nursing. If you do not use any computer-based information technology in your practice, review the media presentation and readings for this week and select at least one type of computer-based information technology and discuss how you would use this technology, and how this technology could influence your work. This section is1- 2 paragraphs.
Impact of information technology on the nursing profession - 40 points
Provide an analysis of how information technology impacts the profession of nursing. This section is 1-2 paragraphs.
Summary - 20 points
End the paper with a one-paragraph summary of the main points of the paper.
Format/style
Proofread the paper as described in the tips for success in this course and correct any typos, grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, or APA format errors before submitting your paper in the Dropbox. Up to 40 points can be deducted from the grade for this assignment for these types of errors, or for not using at least the minimum number of required references.
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The Nurse as a Knowledge Worker
The nurses’ role in patient safety is vital and this is based on the provision of proper patient care and minimizing medical errors as they are involved at the point of work where most medical errors occur. Nursing work at the patient and health care system’ point of intersection requires a high degree of cognitive activity required to predict potential future problems and respond in an effective and rapid way to the ever evolving and potentially harmful situations (LaFave, 2008). The purpose of this paper is to provide a discussion on how nurses manage knowledge within the work environment (clinical setting), how change in the workflow due to the incorporation of a computer-based IT system (CPOE) was managed, and how the use of information technology has impacted the nursing profession.
Work Environment and Managing Knowledge
Approximately 50 years ago Peter Drucker coined the term knowledge worker and he used the term to describe a shift from a manual labor based workforce to one that employs information technology as an organizational asset (Barton & Thompson, 2009). The term knowledge has several definitions, and there are five ways by which nurses know. These are empirical, ethical, aesthetic, and personal knowing including synthesizing (Finkelman & Kenner, 2013). In the delivery of health care today, knowledge is critical and for nurses as knowledge workers knowledge management comprises of both routine work and non-routine work. Routine work includes taking the vital signs and medication administration and non-routine work that involves making exceptions, requires judgment, and often confusing or not completely comprehended. In such an environment, the nurses’ title is irrelevant and involves the active use of collaboration, work, coordination, analysis, critical thinking, evaluation, and the willingness to be flexible (Finkelman & Kenner, 2013). Three critical processes are employed in knowledge management by nurses. First is finding the knowledge that involves the effective use data information. Second is sharing knowledge that involves processes of facilitating other nurses to share what they know and what they have learned. Finally, it is developing knowledge that involves innovation and generating evidence to support any new approaches to care. This is according to Orazno and colleagues knowledge management model (Barton & Thompson, 2009).
Managing Change in Workflow
Computerized provider Order Entry (CPOE) systems are valuable tools for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of medical and nursing practice. However, their ability to change an organization’s workflow and the consequent effects on the safety of the patients has pushed to the forefront the concept of workflow in the implementation of CPOE. Consequently, CPOE integration into clinical workflow is deemed as being among the most vital considerations for implementation despite the difficulties involved in the integration (Niazkhani, Pirnejad, Berg, & Aarts, 2009). CPOE is an electronic process allowing a healthcare system and provider to electronically enter orders and manage the results of the orders. To improve quality of care provided and patient safety, health care organizations are employing CPOE in increasing numbers. However, the implementation of CPOE involves more than a change in information technology and involves major changes in care delivery in both the clinical and ancillary departments hence a complete shift in the workflow (Steele & DeBrow, 2008).
There are four elements that comprise of a nursing workflow, and these include the structuring of the nursing tasks, coordination of performance of a task, enhancement of information flow to support the performance of tasks, and monitoring. To manage the changes in workflow, I have ensured that all the decision-making processes are made using the CPOE and provided clear guidelines and timelines for task completion to ensure that the timelines and deadlines are met. In addition, I require the provision of complete audits and report trails for completed tasks and the tasks that are in progress. Furthermore, throug...