Technology has become a major aspect of working life today. Organizations want their employees to be technology savvy, and so do patients, in the health context. It is technology that enables nursing professionals to access tools that help them automate part of their work for efficiency and ease.
According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), about 95% of hospitals and health centers have adopted the electronic health record (EHR) technology that is used for keeping patients’ records. This helps to avoid the tedious traditional methods of filing documents that can result in mistakes being easily made.
The FNP’s role is to preserve patient lives and protect the integrity of the family system. However, these professionals need to understand the benefits of some tech innovations in their career.
Why FNPs should embrace technological advancements
Technological advancements for nursing professionals, such as family nurse practitioners (FNPs), help them focus on providing adequate care to patients with automated processes. These advancements can be something as minute as a cloud-based document, a smartphone app, or online courses such as the online FNP program that American International College offers. This program offers an integrated curriculum that’s designed for working nurses. It helps nurses explore advanced fields such as professional practice, interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based practice. You can explore these areas within 2 years and 7 months, with the chance to undertake a clinical placement with the help of a preceptor near your community.
The FNP role is now shaped by technology. Here are several reasons why you should embrace it as an FNP.
It makes patient records accessible
Patient data keeps professionals updated about their patients’ health histories. These medical documents explain the medical history of a patient, including diagnosis of past or recurring ailments, pre- and post-operative care, nutritional plans, and their medications and allergies. Technological advancements such as EHRs make patients’ records readily accessible to nurses.
EHRs are cloud-based digital documents of a patient’s record. It contains the same information kept in the patient’s traditional record file, but it’s online – easily accessible and up to date. EHRs are regularly updated after each diagnosis, making it easy to provide the current medical records of a patient.
Another amazing impact of EHRs is the security. They are difficult to hack because they are encrypted and HIPAA compliant. So, when treating private patients, FNPs can be assured that their patients’ records remain confidential.
It helps to improve patient care
The detailed medical records stored in EHRs help FNPs provide better patient care. These records inform the nurses of the medication and dosage their patient should take. Physicians may fill in this prescription, and nurses can easily access, prescribe and follow up on the patient’s health.
This way, FNPs can also create personalized care that’s unique to the previous and present diagnosis of their patients. This significantly reduces medical errors – for instance, there won’t be a patient going through a severe allergic reaction from incorrect medication administration.
Another technological advancement is smart beds. A smart bed has a network of sensors and trackers embedded in the mattress and can be used to track important data such as the patient’s heart beat rate, breath rate, duration of sleep and body temperature. It’s like a fitness smartwatch in this regard.
It enhances diagnostic capabilities
Healthcare diagnosis has witnessed great technological advancements in recent years. Technologies such as imaging tech automate patient diagnosis. Medical imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scans, ultrasonography and X-rays help healthcare professionals to examine the complete anatomical structure of their patients and identify potential abnormalities and diseases.
These advancements help FNPs better understand their patients’ ailments and devise methods that can treat them with accuracy.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also an important technological advancement that helps in enhancing the diagnostic capabilities of nurses. AI provides nursing professionals with the information needed to help them analyze large volumes of medical data and improve patient care.
Technological innovations such as telehealth help FNPs evaluate, diagnose and treat patients without making an in-person visit. The patients and the FNP can easily connect remotely via video calls, regardless of their locations. Telehealth platforms allow private practice nurses to connect their patients with other specialists. These specialists can help provide accurate diagnostic results for the patients without getting to meet them physically.
It enables a more efficient workflow
Having a stable workflow is important for nurses. It eases their duty, and reduces the risk of burnout. A nurse with a well-balanced workflow is more likely to deliver patient care in compliance with the standards of practice. Technological innovations can help in this area.
Nurses no longer need to worry about unorganized patient data with tech innovations such as the EHR. Mobile devices and smartphones also aid effective communication among FNPs, their patients and other healthcare workers. Aside from communication, these devices are equipped with apps that provide the FNP with easier access to educational resources, drug references, shift tracking and calculators that can help enhance their general workflow.
It increases patient engagement
Patients must be actively involved in their health to make nurses’ work easier. To achieve this, FNPs must properly educate their patients on their health challenges and treatment options. One way to do this is through online patient portals. These portals can be customized to help patients view information such as medications and dosage, test results, recent visits and bills.
It supports professional development.
Technology can also support the professional development of FNPs. It provides opportunities for online learning, networking and access to resources that help them stay updated with nursing practices.
FNPs can also join social media platforms and groups that help them connect, network and collaborate with other nurses. These social media groups help FNPs engage in discussions, stay updated with industry news, and build relationships with their colleagues just from their phones.
Conclusion
FNPs should be conversant with technological advancements in order to provide optimal care for their patients. They must stay up to date with technological news so that they can have adequate information on these innovations, how to use them, and how they can help improve their efficiency at work.
