NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle

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NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle Sample Paper

The Systems Development Life Cycle is a framework that aims at improving care quality through the implementation of clinical information systems. It helps in managing organization project and information flow through planning, implementation, monitoring, and control. In the healthcare systems, nurse informaticists play an important role in the incorporation of SDLC by fusing applications of information technology with clinical nursing care for health improvement purposes from inception to completion of system projects. The SDLC has five main stages: planning and design, implementation, monitoring and control, and maintenance (Ross, 2018). The inclusion of nurses in tall these phases is essential for the best healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Nurses’ Roles in Various Phases of SDLC

The planning and designing phase is the most important in ensuring the success of the new IT project systems in an organization. the planning phase requires multidisciplinary teamwork where nurses’ input is required. In this phase, the estimation of costs, timelines, deliverables, and the scope of the new systems are discussed and verified. The nurses, especially nurse informaticists, are well-endowed with technical know-how that is vital in proper planning and designing (Verma & Gupta, 2017). Their exclusion risks the system implementation failure through inappropriate requirement identification and health information-related scope description.

The implementation phase requires the services and input of the nurses. The nurses from the largest care provider group in a healthcare organization. Information system implementation requires translation of the system project scope and plan into action. The nurses are, therefore, the best suited due to their hands-on and quality patient interaction skills. The time nurses spend on caring for patients is well reduced by the introduction of information systems and their inclusion in the actualization of the IT system project plan (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, n.d.a). The exclusion of nurses in the implementation of SDLC risks poor coordination of project plans with the realization of the objectives.

The project monitoring and control phase requires adequate and timely feedback and communication. The nurses have good communication skills that enable their interprofessional cooperation with physicians. When purchasing new information systems, the health organization should consider potential monitors and controllers for quality purposes.

Nursing informatics has provided nurses with relevant information technology resources to manage and maintain data flow in the organization (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). Nursing management skills are necessary for quality control and assurance of data management in the new systems (Moghaddasi, 2019). The maintenance depends on the stakeholders involved in the implementation and control phases where nurses’ roles were implicated as well.

My Experience and Contribution

The need for technological advancement in healthcare necessitated my healthcare organization to upgrade the information flow and reduce patient waiting time. Therefore, electronic health records were used to store, manage, share, and retrieve patent information among care providers. I had a role in the implementation phase where collaboration between nurses and the technical team was required. The knowledge and understanding of the application were established during shift reporting and communication of patient lab results.

Conclusion

The nurses form the backbone of direct patient care which also requires ethical, legal, and medical obligations. The nurses’ role in the implementation of new information systems is required because their input complements the technological and administrative requirements. In most cases, the nurses act as foot soldiers in executing and implementing new systems for best quality outcomes. Their roles in planning are also essential in promoting the ethical obligations of advocation for best patient outcomes. Their exclusion also risks project failure due to a lack of coordination from the planning to execution of the system development and maintenance.

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.a). Health IT evaluation toolkit and evaluation measures quick reference guides. Ahrq.Gov. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from https://digital.ahrq.gov/health-it-tools-and-resources/evaluation-resources/health-it-evaluation-toolkit-and-evaluation-measures-quick-reference

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2017). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.

Moghaddasi, H. (2019). Features of nursing management information systems: A systematic review. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 21(2). https://doi.org/10.26717/bjstr.2019.21.003582

Verma, M. P., & Gupta, S. (2017). Software development for nursing: Role of nursing informatics. International Journal of Nursing Education and Research, 5(2), 203. https://doi.org/10.5958/2454-2660.2017.00044.8

NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle

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 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.

Portfolio Assignment: The Role of the Nurse Informaticist in Systems Development and Implementation

Assume you are a nurse manager on a unit where a new nursing documentation system is to be implemented. You want to ensure that the system will be usable and acceptable for the nurses impacted. You realize a nurse leader must be on the implementation team.

To Prepare:

  • Review the steps of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and reflect on the scenario presented.
  • Consider the benefits and challenges associated with involving a nurse leader on an implementation team for health information technology.

The Assignment: (2-3 pages not including the title and reference page)

In preparation of filling this role, develop a 2- to 3-page role description for a graduate-level nurse to guide his/her participation on the implementation team. The role description should be based on the SDLC stages and tasks and should clearly define how this individual will participate in and impact each of the following steps:

  • Planning and requirements definition
  • Analysis
  • Design of the new system
  • Implementation
  • Post-implementation support
  • Use APA format and include a title page and reference page.
  • Use the Safe Assign Drafts to check your match percentage before submitting your work.

By Day 7 of Week 10

Submit your completed Role Description.

Assignment: Policy/Regulation Fact Sheet

As a professional nurse, you are expected to apply your expertise to patient care. On occasion, you will also be expected to share that expertise.

With evolving technology and continuous changes to regulations designed to keep up these changes, there is usually a need to share information and expertise to inform colleagues, leadership, patients, and other stakeholders.

In this Assignment, you will study a recent nursing informatics-related healthcare policy, and you will share the relevant details via a fact sheet designed to inform and educate.

To Prepare:

  • Review the Resources on healthcare policy and regulatory/legislative topics related to health and nursing informatics.
  • Consider the role of the nurse informaticist in relation to a healthcare organization’s compliance with various policies and regulations, such as the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
  • Research and select one health or nursing informatics policy (within the past 5 years) or regulation for further study.

The Assignment: (1 page not including the title and reference page)

Create a 1-page fact sheet that your healthcare organization could hypothetically use to explain the health or nursing informatics policy/regulation you selected. Your fact sheet should address the following:

  • Briefly and generally explain the policy or regulation you selected.
  • Address the impact of the policy or regulation you selected on system implementation.
  • Address the impact of the policy or regulation you selected on clinical care, patient/provider interactions, and workflow.
  • Highlight organizational policies and procedures that are/will be in place at your healthcare organization to address the policy or regulation you selected. Be specific.
  • Use APA format and include a title page, in-text citations, and reference page.
  • Use the Safe Assign Drafts to check your match percentage before submitting your work.

By Day 5 of Week 11

Submit your completed Policy/Regulation Fact Sheet.