In the media introduction to this module, it was suggested that you as a nurse have an important role in the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC). With a focus on patient care and outcomes, nurses may not always see themselves as contributors to the development of new systems. However, as you may have observed in your own experience, exclusion of nurse contributions when implementing systems can have dire consequences.
In this Discussion, you will consider the role you might play in systems development and the ramifications of not being an active participant in systems development.
To Prepare:
- Review the steps of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) as presented in the Resources.
- Reflect on your own healthcare organization and consider any steps your healthcare organization goes through when purchasing and implementing a new health information technology system.
- Consider what a nurse might contribute to decisions made at each stage of the SDLC when planning for new health information technology.
By Day 3 of Week 9
Post a description of what you believe to be the consequences of a healthcare organization not involving nurses in each stage of the SDLC when purchasing and implementing a new health information technology system. Provide specific examples of potential issues at each stage of the SDLC and explain how the inclusion of nurses may help address these issues. Then, explain whether you had any input in the selection and planning of new health information technology systems in your nursing practice or healthcare organization and explain the potential impacts of being included or not in the decision-making process. Be specific and provide examples.
By Day 6 of Week 9
Respond to at least two of your colleagues* on two different days, by offering additional thoughts regarding the examples shared, SDLC-related issues, and ideas on how the inclusion of nurses might have impacted the example described by your colleagues.
Discussion one that needs a response in APA 7 format and at least 2-3 references.( Micheal )
The health care industry has met with numerous changes over the years; some of the changes lay emphasis on either the patient, the organization or its employees. Of the numerous changes any given health care institution experiences, the goal of patient safety and patient satisfaction preempts the motive for necessary changes to better serve our patient population while also bearing in mind the effectiveness of the interventions that the organization is implementing. For an institution saddled with the responsibility of rendering health care services to members of its community, it is often faced with the need for constant system development of their life cycle to enhance the efficiency of the services provided while also taking patient safety into consideration. The first step in developing a system is to understand the problems or business needs. It is followed by understanding the solution or how to address those needs; developing a plan; implementing the plan; evaluating the implementation and finally maintenance (McGonigle, 2017, p175)
System development life cycle presents as the precursor to the innovations that trigger the much needed difference in terms of efficiency or safety, such changes sometimes suffer the brunt when nurses are excluded in the preliminary phases of planning leading up to its implementation. The consequence of not having nurses weigh in on the intended innovation includes but is not limited to having a poorly designed project since the design and planning was done without the end users input, the project may become obsolete months after its implementation for failing to meet the needs of the nurses with regards to efficiency in patient care and safety considerations. According to a Laureate video presentation by Stuart Speedie, the goal of health care informatics and technology should be its interoperability. (Laureate Education Producer, 2018)
In a different light, if the nurses were included as prospective end users of this innovation, ideas generated from the conversation about the intended innovation will be viewed from many perspectives which will in turn make for a better design knowing what the end user desires for the innovation to be mutually beneficial to the institution and the patient population alike. At the institution that I work, the latest innovation was the inclusion of an automated Alaris infusion pump that synchronizes information across the electronic health record platform and the medication pyxis, the nurses did not have any input on the planning or design of this new innovation.
The impact of not being included or consulted prior to designing and implementing this design were as follows; some medications were not compatible with the pump interface and will not accept manual entry this problem in its self constituted a missed medication for the patient hence delaying patient care, the network interface on the electronic health record platform was a bit confusing and needed more than just a day of orientation to say the least, over all the system launch was chaotic and stressful leading to loss of considerable man hours trying to figure things out on the go with little to no assistance especially for nurses working on the night shift. According to a Laureate video presentation by Kevin Johnson, He highlights the need to acknowledge that the cycle is ongoing and never done even after its implementation. (Laureate Education Producer, 2018)
References
Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Interoperability, Standards, and Security [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Managing Health Information Technology [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2017). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learn
Discussion one that needs a response in APA 7 format and at least 2-3 references.( will be posted soon )
