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 – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.

How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.

How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded, in sentence sentence care. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle Sample 1 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 Instructions

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. Have a look at NURS 6051 Portfolio Assignment: The Role of the Nurse Informaticist in Systems Development and Implementation.

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.

NURS 6051 Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle Sample 2

I agree with the tour statement that nurses can benefit from implementing health information systems that improve patient care. Having the knowledge and nurses’ involvement in the systems development life cycle can influence the health systems design and development of systems, which increases patient care and staff satisfaction. I concur that the lack of end-user involvement in the SDLC is a challenge to implementing effective health information systems.

From the example given by the student, it is evident that the involvement of nurses in the SDLC model would benefit the healthcare organization. Although nurses offered simulations in the development phase in the example given, it would be better to be involved in the planning and designing phase since they know which systems require production or advancements. Despite providing feedback and being involved in the testing phase through the quick and brief training provided, nurses should be prioritized in every SLDC stage since they use the systems more frequently than any other healthcare personnel (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2022).

I agree with the efforts to obtain end-user feedback, but the best solution is to involve these end-users from the planning phase to maintenance. In addition, I think nurses should be given job opportunities in healthcare systems development companies since they better understand which programs and designs benefit the healthcare system (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, n.d.a).

I concur with your argument that involving nurses in the whole healthcare system development project is essential. Their involvement in the simulation phase would have led to planning an effective technological system. In the design phase, nurses would give recommendations on the designs and programs needed in the system, which are beneficial to the care process. Implementing a non-functional system would occur in the implementation stage, which will not benefit the healthcare system (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, n.d.a).

As you have noted, the involvement of nurses in this phase will encourage them to increase the project’s success and use the new system to improve patient care. I agree that user manuals and fixing the system’s defects in the maintenance phase are recommended to ensure the system’s sustainability and continued operation. In addition, having a group of nurses involved in the evaluation and sustainability of the healthcare system would be better.

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.a). Health IT evaluation toolkit and evaluation measures quick reference guide. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://digital.ahrq.gov/health-it-evaluation-toolkit

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2022). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Chapters 9, 12, and 13.