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.
Assignment
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?
Full Answer Section
- Infection control surveillance data: Infection control practitioners (ICPs) routinely collect data on HAIs, including the type of infection, the patient's location, and the date of onset. This data can be used to identify trends in HAIs and to target interventions to specific areas or types of infections.
- Environmental monitoring data: Environmental monitoring is used to assess the cleanliness of the ICU environment and to identify potential sources of infection. This data can be used to target cleaning and disinfection efforts and to prevent the spread of HAIs.
In addition to collecting data from these sources, the organization can also access data from external sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). This data can be used to compare the organization's HAI rates to national benchmarks and to identify best practices for HAI prevention.
Knowledge Formation:
Once the organization has collected and analyzed the data, it can use the findings to form knowledge about the factors that contribute to HAIs in the ICU. This knowledge can be used to develop and implement interventions to prevent HAIs, such as:
- Hand hygiene training: Hand hygiene is the most important intervention for preventing HAIs. The organization can provide hand hygiene training to all ICU staff and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance.
- Environmental cleaning: The organization can implement a thorough and consistent cleaning and disinfection program for the ICU environment.
- Antibiotic stewardship: The organization can implement an antibiotic stewardship program to ensure that antibiotics are used appropriately and only when necessary.
Clinical Reasoning and Judgment:
Nurse leaders play a critical role in using clinical reasoning and judgment to form knowledge from experience and to implement effective HAI prevention strategies. Nurse leaders can:
- Identify patterns in data: Nurse leaders can use their clinical expertise to identify patterns in data that may not be apparent to others. For example, they may notice that HAIs are more common among patients who are on ventilators or who have certain types of surgery.
- Develop hypotheses: Nurse leaders can use their knowledge of HAI risk factors to develop hypotheses about the causes of the organization's HAI problem. For example, they may hypothesize that HAIs are being spread by contaminated equipment or by staff who are not following hand hygiene protocols.
- Test hypotheses: Nurse leaders can design and implement studies to test their hypotheses. For example, they may conduct a study to compare the effectiveness of different cleaning and disinfection methods.
- Evaluate interventions: Nurse leaders can evaluate the effectiveness of HAI prevention interventions and make adjustments as needed. For example, they may need to increase the frequency of hand hygiene audits or provide additional training to staff.
By using clinical reasoning and judgment, nurse leaders can play a vital role in preventing HAIs and improving patient safety.
Sample Answer
Scenario:
A healthcare organization is experiencing an increased number of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) among patients in its intensive care unit (ICU). The organization's leadership team is concerned about the impact of these infections on patient safety, quality of care, and financial performance.
Data Collection and Access:
To address this issue, the organization can collect and analyze data from a variety of sources, including:
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Electronic health records (EHRs): EHRs contain a wealth of patient data, including demographic information, medical history, medications, and laboratory results. This data can be used to identify patients who are at risk for HAIs and to track the incidence and prevalence of HAIs over time.