THE APPLICATION OF DATA TO PROBLEM-SOLVING

Full Answer Section

      Problem-solving: By analyzing this data, the hospital could identify the problems that are contributing to the high rate of readmissions. For example, they might find that patients are not taking their medications as prescribed, or that they are not receiving the appropriate follow-up care after discharge. Once the problems have been identified, the hospital can develop interventions to address them. Knowledge formation: The data could also be used to form new knowledge about heart failure and readmissions. For example, the hospital might learn that patients who are readmitted are more likely to have certain risk factors, such as diabetes or obesity. This knowledge could be used to develop new interventions to prevent readmissions in these patients. Conclusion: In this scenario, access to data can help the hospital to solve the problem of high readmission rates and to form new knowledge about heart failure. This knowledge can then be used to improve the care of patients with heart failure and to reduce the number of readmissions. Here are some other examples of how data can be used to solve problems and form knowledge in nursing:

• A nurse can use data from EHRs to identify patients who are at risk for falls. This data can then be used to develop interventions to prevent falls, such as providing patients with fall risk assessments and education.
• A nurse can use data from patient surveys to identify patients who are dissatisfied with their care. This data can then be used to improve the quality of care by addressing the concerns of patients.
• A nurse can use data from quality improvement reports to identify areas where the hospital can improve its processes. This data can then be used to develop and implement interventions to improve the quality of care.

Data is a powerful tool that can be used to improve the quality of care in nursing. By accessing and analyzing data, nurses can solve problems, form knowledge, and improve the care of their patients.  

Sample Solution

   

Scenario: A hospital is experiencing a high rate of readmissions for patients with heart failure. The hospital wants to understand why this is happening and what they can do to reduce the number of readmissions.

Access to data: The hospital could access data from a variety of sources, including electronic health records (EHRs), patient surveys, and quality improvement reports. This data could be used to identify patterns and trends in readmissions, such as the patients who are most likely to be readmitted, the reasons for readmission, and the interventions that have been effective in preventing readmissions.