1- Identify a practice issue in nursing that would benefit from utilizing a mixed methods approach. 

2- Discuss how the quantitative and qualitative data would complement one another and add strength to the study. 

3- Discuss the challenges that you might encounter in using a mixed methods approach. Support your discussion using current mixed methods research articles.

Following  is the article that uses a mixed method, and I would like to use for my homework :

Eaton, L. H., Meins, A. R., Mitchell, P. H., Voss, J., & Doorenbos, A. Z. (2015). Evidence-based practice beliefs and behaviors of nurses providing cancer pain management: a mixed-methods approach. Oncology nursing forum, 42(2), 165-73.

We have to use the text book :

Tappen, R. (2015). Advanced Nursing Research: From Theory to Practice. (2. Ed., Ed.) Jones & Bartlett Learning 

Respond to this post with a positive response :

Ask questions to help clarify the scenario and application of data, or offering additional/alternative ideas for the application of nursing informatics principles.

                                                           Main Post

The development of the electronic medical record (EMR) has been a pivotal advancement within nursing and to the delivery of healthcare. I have been a nurse for 19 years. While the electronic medical record was difficult to embrace in the beginning, it has proven to be a reliable and necessary tool. EMR has evolved over time impacting delivery of care and improving outcomes including time sensitive acute care patient scenarios resulting in positive outcomes (Sweeney BSN, 2017).   The availability of viewing labs and health records simultaneously allows nurses and critical care team members, i.e. pharmacist and intensivist, the ability to make safe time sensitive decisions for patients.  

     As a critical care nurse, things can go bad quickly at the bedside. For example, a patient arrives to the ED in an acute CHF exacerbation.  Lab work, radiologic studies and a baseline of vital signs are crucial to fast and effective care. If this patient is established in the system, baseline lab values, previous radiologic test for comparison and possibly even notes from a specialist i.e. cardiology/nephrology are available while waiting on new test to arrive and stabilizing the patient.  This information is available to the entire team instantaneously through his/her EMR. EMR has allowed physicians, nurses and other medical team members to make safe and effective decisions producing favorable and effective outcomes. For example, knowledge of the patient’s renal function or availability to notes from his/her renal physician will direct the ED physician to the appropriate treatment. This could potentially avoid possible long-term effects to this patients’ kidneys and provides insight to treatment options that have worked well for this patient in the past.  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) supports this with study results noting fewer medication errors, improved quality of care with and cost savings as a result of fewer medical errors from utilizing the EMR (“Electronic Health Reporter,” 2018).

    Nurses have contributed to the evolution of the EMR and applications centered toward favorable outcomes. The role of the informatic nurse has changed with the evolution of healthcare redefining roles and forms, it is not consistent and will change as healthcare evolves (Nagle, Sermeus, Junger, & Bloomberg, 2017). Nurses will continue to play a profound role in the development of EMR and other tools available to provide safe and effective patient care.

                                                                                                                 References

How Nurses Are Using Health Informatics to Improve Patient Care. (2018). Retrieved from https://electronichealthreporter.com/nurses-using-health-            informatics-improve-patient-care/

Nagle, L. M., Sermeus, W., Junger, A., & Bloomberg, L. S. (2017). Evolving Role of the Nursing Informatics Specialist []. Forecasting Informatics                             Competencies for Nurses in the Future of Connected Health, 212-221. https://doi.org/doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-738-2-212

Sweeney BSN, N, J. (2017). Healthcare Informatics [Entire issue]. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics (OJNI), 21(1). Retrieved from                             https://www.himss.org/library/healthcare-informatics

Question #1 Georgia Reporting Laws

“New CDC data for three nationally reported STDs – chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis—reveal more than 2 million cases were diagnosed in 2016. CDC estimates that closer to 20 million infections occur annually”(CDC, 2017).  These are the highest numbers ever.  As healthcare providers it is important for us to be aware of reporting laws and just trends in our areas.   Georgia has different reporting laws for different STD’s.  Syphilis in adults and syphilis in pregnancy must be reported immediately.  The healthcare provider is to call the District Health Office.  Other cases are to be reported within seven days.  This are to be reported electronically through the State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance. Chlamydia trachomatis, hepatitis B -acute hepatitis B -newly identified HBsAg+ carriers** -HBsAg+ pregnant women hepatitis C virus infection (past or present) (genital infection), gonorrhea HIVinfection and Perinatal HIV exposure*, or AIDS all have to be reported within seven days.  “According to Georgia’s law notifiable disease reporting, healthcare facilitites providing HIV/AIDS care and testing should report any new patients to their facility (including referrals), any current/previous patient updates (change of address, name, pregnancy status, and or gender), and any new clinical status’ (new AIDS status or AIDS defining illnesses) within seven (7) days”(DPH, 2019). Adult (>13 years of age) cases can be reported electronically through the secure disease reporting system called SENDSS (State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System) using an electronic Adult Case Report Form (eACRF)”(DPH, 2019).  When looking into reportable diseases, I also found some very disturbing news about Georgia.  “According to the 2016 report, Georgia had some of the highest rates of reported chlamydia, gonorrhea and primary and secondary syphilis cases in the country”(CDC, 2017).  I was unaware that Clamydia and gonorrhea had to be reported so this was a very informational discussion for me.

CDC. (2017). 2016 STD Surveillance Report. Retrieved on February 16, 2019 from https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/2017/2016-STD-Surveillance-Report.html#Graphics

Georgia Department of Public Health. (2019).  Disease Reporting.  Retrieved on February 16, 2019 from https://dph.georgia.gov/disease-reporting

Assignment 2: Competitiveness and Performance Effectiveness for Health Care IT Systems

Write a six to eight (6–8) page paper in which you:

1. Define the fundamental responsibilities and key characteristics of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) within health care organizations. Make one (1) recommendation where they can utilize their expertise to assist with employee and patient satisfaction. Support your response with related examples of such expertise in use.
2. Suggest two (2) developing technologies that health care systems should use in order to improve health care processes and thus increase the quality and lower the cost of health services. Provide a rationale to support your response.
3. Determine two (2) significant methods that health care systems should use in order to prevent misuse of information and protect data privacy and thus achieve a high level of security of health information. Provide a rationale to support your response.
4. Suggest one (1) strategy for health care organizations to train providers in using technology in health care. Provide a rationale to support your response.
5. Provide three (3) best practices for effective IT alignment and strategic planning initiatives. Justify your response.
6. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note:Wikipedia and similar type websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting guidelines:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow SWS or school-specific format. 

• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Examine the impact technologies have on health care information systems.
• Describe the basic components of a strategic information system plan.
• Describe the major types and classifications of health care information standards and the specific organizations that develop and regulate these standards.
• Discuss the need for, and identify methods of, accomplishing the security of information systems.
• Evaluate the impact of strategic information system plans on organizational competitiveness and performance.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in health information systems.
• Write clearly and concisely about health information systems using proper writing mechanics.