Discussion: 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?
MUST HAVE AT LEAST TWO RESOURCES
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, I believe that the application of data is essential for problem-solving and knowledge formation in the healthcare profession. This discussion prompt revolves around the concept of informatics and knowledge work to identify a hypothetical scenario that will require the collection and application of data in the healthcare profession. This scenario will help us understand the importance of data in nursing management and leadership and explore potential solutions to problems or gaps that this scenario can exemplify.
Answer:
The focus of my hypothetical scenario is the shortage of nursing staff in hospitals. Healthcare organizations across the world are dealing with this problem, which can severely impact patient outcomes and overall healthcare quality. To address this problem, data can be used to access the current ratio of nurses to patients in the hospital, compare it with the national standard, and analyze the underlying causes of the shortage.
The data needed for this scenario can include the number of patients admitted to the hospital and the number of nurses available to care for them. This data can be collected from electronic health records, patient logs, and self-reports from nursing staff. Access to this data can be facilitated by using healthcare informatics software that can compile and analyze data from various sources.
By analyzing this data, healthcare organizations can derive knowledge about the factors contributing to the nursing shortage, such as high turnover rates, low job satisfaction, lack of education and training opportunities, or inadequate compensation. This knowledge can be used to develop evidence-based interventions to address these factors and improve nurse retention rates.
To form knowledge from this experience, a nurse leader can use clinical reasoning and judgment to analyze the collected data and its implications for nursing management and leadership. They can identify potential solutions to address the nursing shortage, such as improving working conditions, enhancing training and education opportunities, or increasing compensation and benefits for nurses.
In conclusion, the hypothetical scenario of nursing staff shortage highlights the significance of data in solving healthcare problems and improving knowledge formation. By collecting and analyzing data, healthcare organizations can identify gaps and areas of improvement, leading to evidence-based interventions that can positively impact patient outcomes and overall healthcare quality.