How effective are technology based applications in teaching and learning

Effectiveness of Computer Technology in Nursing

The advancement of technology has brought about changes in almost every area of life within the industrial world. As the nursing profession advances, as education remains responsive to the changes that occur it is imperative that nursing education undergo modifications. The computer plays a major role in nursing education .

Computer technology has transformed teaching and learning through the merger of informatics, tele-health, simulation and online learning to create a powerful learning environment. Enhancing information technology competence is one of nursing’s most significant and urgent priorities .

The computer offers many opportunities to practice the skills that are needed in clinical on an individual basis. In nursing skills laboratories one of the tools that is used to enhance clinical skills are the mannequins that can blink their eyes, have pupils that dilate, breathes and have a heartbeat and a pulse to assist students in the process of learning about heart attacks, diabetic shocks, and other emergencies.Class room lectures and presentations are helped by computer assisted instruction in the form of video presentation, power point, patient simulation, and practice routines (Ellis, Hartley 2004). on-line learning allows students to complete courses until their degree requirements are met.

All new nurses need computer technology skills in order to work in an environment that is relying more on information technology to promote patient safety.The utilization of computer technology in education in any aspect of nursing is a reality.

Computer technology has provided access to registered nurses with an Associate’s Degree to obtain their Baccalaureate degree in nursing.

References
Ellis, J. R & Hartley, C.H. (2004). Nursing in today’s world. Trends issues and management.
Philadelphia PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

PDAs in Nursing

The current nursing shortage impedes the nurse from functioning in her crucial roles as patient advocate. Another role of the nurse is to be a critical thinker, who makes sound patient care decisions. In my opinion holistic nursing care has taken a back seat. What has emerged is task oriented nursing. After reviewing the emerging research on PDAs I am convinced that PDAs have the potential to revolutionize nursing education, as well as bedside nursing care.

A PDA or Personal Digital Assistant is a small hand held device which is an extension of the computer. The device houses various manuals, drug books, care plans. Through a PDA nurses can get real time information at their finger tips enabling them to better care for their patients. According to Farrel & Rose (2008), “Having access to information at the bedside in real time, has the potential to improve the quality and safety of care, thus reducing adverse events and improving patient health outcomes, a solution to the problem of constrained resources (pp,14).”

A major concern of students and nurses alike is the incident, and likelihood of medical errors. Greater than 106,000 hospitalized patients die, and 2.2 million are injured each year by medication errors (Greenfield, 2007). The PDA has software which can prove to be a valuable asset in the safe and correct administration of medication, thus promoting patient safety. Downloaded drug guides arranged with easy to find drug information, drug to drug interaction, can help nurses and students avert potential medication errors through quick reference prior to administration of medications. They can also alert the ordering physician of potential interactions.

A recent study conducted by Greenfield (2007); conclude that PDAs have the potential to reduce errors, improve care and promote patient safety, by increasing the accuracy and speed of health care delivery to patients.There is a growing body of research on the efficacy of PDA use by the clinical staff. Advantages include: time saved, real time information obtained at the bedside, which assist in patient care planning activities.

Students reported spending more time with patients, not having to leave to look up pertinent information. The students’ perception of learning was enhanced, as the PDA allowed personalization of patient care plans, and physical examination needs.

While the body of research regarding PDA use in nursing education is small, there is growing interest in the use of this technology as an asset to the educational process for nurses as well as nursing students. Most of the literature seems to conclude that the use of PDAs in nursing will have a positive impact on teaching, learning, and patient care.

References
Farrell, M.J., Rose, L., (2008). Use of mobile handheld computers in clinical nursing education. Journal of Nursing Education, 47 (1), 13-19.
Greenfield, S., (2007). Medication error reduction and the use of PDA technology. Journal of Nursing Education, 47 (3), 127-131.

Simulation Technology in Nursing Sim-Man

Sim-Man Patient Simulator

Professional competency is a growing concern by hospitalized patients today
- morbidity and mortality rates are rising (CDC)
- providing SAFE and EFFECTIVE care to patients is important
*Most graduate students have limited direct patient care for clinical exposure
*Nursing education has turned to computer technology for computer interactive simulation scenarios --- Sim-Man Patient Simulator

Sim-Man patient simulator
*Allows students the experience of working real patients without risk
*Computer-controlled by an instructor who sits behind a window in a separate room
*Can have multiple computerized symptoms and diagnoses
*Prepare students to have the psychomotor, technical, interpersonal, collaborative skills and clinical decision – making ability as they practice with it (Wagner, 2008).

SURVEYS
*Been used in nursing schools for approximately 10 years
*A survey conducted in 2002 examining the use of patient simulators in 34 nursing schools
- 56% used simulators in basic nursing skills
- 59% in physical assessments
- 64% in introduction to medical-surgical nursing
- 64% in advanced medical-surgical nursing (*75% of the effect sizes reported were sufficiently high to indicate favorable results in the use of the simulators – Ravert’s study
*More than 5,000 SimMan patient simulator is used all over the world

•Helps determine critical thinking and clinical decision – making ability especially for new graduates
•This supervised teaching strategy contributes to patient’s safety and makes students intervene in different scenarios without risking any harm to the patient
•Sim – Man patient stimulator may be costly but it can be cost effective .
•Competency validation is a requirement for nursing schools and hospitals by accreditation bodies, it may be possible to generate income from other health care organizations in the area that want to use the center.

References

Wagner, S. (2008, November). He's no dummy: Nursing students practice on patient simulator. MetroWest Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x2067099677/Hes-no-dummy-Nursing-students-practice-on-patient-simulator.

We are the Society of Distinguished Teachers at Mercy College. As online trained professors we are strongly convinced that Technology based applications are effective in teaching and learning.

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