THE APPLICATION OF DATA TO PROBLEM-SOLVING

In the modern era, there are few professions that do not to some extent rely on data. Stockbrokers rely on market data to advise clients on financial matters. Meteorologists rely on weather data to forecast weather conditions, while realtors rely on data to advise on the purchase and sale of property. In these and other cases, data not only helps solve problems, but adds to the practitioner’s and the discipline’s body of knowledge. Of course, the nursing profession also relies heavily on data. The field of nursing informatics aims to make sure nurses have access to the appropriate date to solve healthcare problems, make decisions in the interest of patients, and add to knowledge. In this Discussion, you will consider a scenario that would benefit from access to data and how such access could facilitate both problem-solving and knowledge formation. To Prepare: • Reflect on the concepts of informatics and knowledge work as presented in the Resources. • Consider a hypothetical scenario based on your own healthcare practice or organization that would require or benefit from the access/collection and application of data. Your scenario may involve a patient, staff, or management problem or gap. Post a description of the focus of your scenario. Describe the data that could be used and how the data might be collected and accessed. What knowledge might be derived from that data? How would a nurse leader use clinical reasoning and judgment in the formation of knowledge from this experience?

Sample Solution

Scenario: A hospital is experiencing a high rate of patient falls. The nurses and administrators are concerned about this, as falls can lead to serious injuries, even death. They want to find ways to reduce the number of falls, but they are not sure where to start.

Data that could be collected: The hospital could collect data on all falls that occur, including the patient's age, gender, medical history, and the circumstances of the fall. They could also collect data on the nursing interventions that were implemented after the fall.

Full Answer Section

How the data could be used: The hospital could use the data to identify risk factors for falls. For example, they might find that older patients are more likely to fall, or that patients with certain medical conditions are at increased risk. They could also use the data to evaluate the effectiveness of different nursing interventions for preventing falls.

How the data could facilitate problem-solving and knowledge formation: The data could help the nurses and administrators to identify and solve the problems that are leading to falls. For example, they might find that the lighting in the hallways is inadequate, or that the call buttons are not working properly. They could also use the data to generate new ideas for preventing falls, such as implementing a fall prevention program or providing patients with fall prevention education.

In addition to the specific scenario I have described, there are many other ways that data can be used to improve nursing care. For example, data can be used to:

Identify patients who are at risk for certain conditions, such as sepsis or pneumonia.
Track patient outcomes, such as length of stay and readmission rates.
Evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments and interventions.
Conduct research to improve nursing practice.

The use of data in nursing is becoming increasingly important as the healthcare industry moves towards value-based care. By using data to identify and solve problems, nurses can improve the quality of care and reduce costs.

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