Survey: Has the use of computer technology taken the nurse away from the bedside?

Brian, ASN, RN · Jun 17, 2001

this months survey question:

has the use of computer technology taken the nurse away from the bedside?

here are the results from this survey of 827 vistors:

no 60.96 %

yes 39.04 %

please add your comments by replying to this post!

HazeK · Jun 18, 2001

No, because each of our patients has a computer right next to their bed, where we can chart assessments, interventions & evaluations; pt activities, et al. Charting HAS to be done, as part of nursing! Long gone are the days where a nurse took good care of a patient without having paperwork to do! With computer, data entered in one spot flows to several different chart options rather than making us 'double chart' like in the 'olden days'!

Ex: I chart a patient's EDC ('due date') on a Triage outpatient form...it flows to the admission sheet, the delivery record, the high risk referral sheet for NICU, and the transfer to postpartum summary sheet! Nice, huh!

:-)

HazeK · Jun 18, 2001

No, because each of our patients has a computer right next to their bed, where we can chart assessments, interventions & evaluations; pt activities, et al. Charting HAS to be done, as part of nursing! Long gone are the days where a nurse took good care of a patient without having paperwork to do! With computer, data entered in one spot flows to several different chart options rather than making us 'double chart' like in the 'olden days'!

Ex: I chart a patient's EDC ('due date') on a Triage outpatient form...it flows to the admission sheet, the delivery record, the high risk referral sheet for NICU, and the transfer to postpartum summary sheet! Nice, huh!

:-)

Mariah · Jun 18, 2001

As a nurse involved with a bedside critical care information system, a few findings. A time-motion study was done in the mid 90's by the hospital to determine how a CIS changed the nurses time. It was found that with a CIS in place, nurses spent significantly more time caring for patients at the bedside with the CIS in place. An anecdote from a head nurse of a CABG unit - what was the difference she noted when a CIS was put in - She noticed more patients walking in the hallways more often (with their nurses of course).

Mariah · Jun 18, 2001

As a nurse involved with a bedside critical care information system, a few findings. A time-motion study was done in the mid 90's by the hospital to determine how a CIS changed the nurses time. It was found that with a CIS in place, nurses spent significantly more time caring for patients at the bedside with the CIS in place. An anecdote from a head nurse of a CABG unit - what was the difference she noted when a CIS was put in - She noticed more patients walking in the hallways more often (with their nurses of course).

Q. · Jun 19, 2001

I don't think so. If implemented properly, computer technology can enhance a nurse's role.

Q. · Jun 19, 2001

I don't think so. If implemented properly, computer technology can enhance a nurse's role.

oramar · Jun 19, 2001

I have worked with several computer systems. Some were more trouble than they were worth. The worst ones were the ones where we spent so much time dealing with jammed printers and unsheduled down time that the patients were neglected. Some were actually labor saving devices. However, no computer system is good if all the IT people leave at 4pm and the nursing staff is left with a phone contact 100 miles away when problems arise. Every computer system should have on site IT people 24 hours a day who will get off there orifices and come to your terminal when you ask. They also should not grouse about being called for hard ware problems. If they are nasty to nursing staff they should be sent packing.

oramar · Jun 19, 2001

I have worked with several computer systems. Some were more trouble than they were worth. The worst ones were the ones where we spent so much time dealing with jammed printers and unsheduled down time that the patients were neglected. Some were actually labor saving devices. However, no computer system is good if all the IT people leave at 4pm and the nursing staff is left with a phone contact 100 miles away when problems arise. Every computer system should have on site IT people 24 hours a day who will get off there orifices and come to your terminal when you ask. They also should not grouse about being called for hard ware problems. If they are nasty to nursing staff they should be sent packing.

Brownms46 · Jun 19, 2001

Originally posted by bshort:
This months survey question:
Has the use of computer technology taken the nurse away from the bedside?
Please take a minute to answer our yes or no survey at the bottom of the allnurses.com homepage
Also, please reply to this post and give us your more detailed responses.

Today was a good example of PC's taking me away from my pt's bedside and took up way too much of my time!

First..pt. returned from pass on Sunday. This morning received NO breakfast due to the "system" refused to except that he was there! After hearing the feedback from the unit secretary about how sorry the evening, and nite shift was to not have had the problem resolved prior to this am. I called dietary..(in the midst of trying to give meds)..to have them just send a tray up! They replied they can't until they could print a ticket for that pt. Frustrated by this time, as my DM pt. needs weren't being taken care of, and unable to get my hands around the throat of the rude, and seemingly uncaring dietary staff, I finally was able to get them to send a tray up by sending a hand written request throught the tube system!

Next...a pt. was transferred from another unit...AT LUNCH time!!! Why he couldn't have stayed on the floor until he ate lunch is waaay beyond me! Same problem! Same solution!!!

Next...pt. transferred at 0945, unable to get med orders to come up! Orders needed to be released to our unit, but no one knew what the problem was! I called, talked, grabbed anyone I even thought could help! Finally got orders released, after talking to NP, CN, Unit secretary, Pharmacy TWICE, Nurse manager, and finally after I pitched a total hissey..got orders released at 1300hrs!!!! I ended up having to stay over to chart!!! I let my unit manager know that this was TOTALLY unacceptable, and took waaaay took much time! This man was in pain, and I had to give meds to him by looking at the history to figure out what time the last pain was given, so I could medicate him! I had to get the NP to verbally ok my giving the meds as without this, I could have given the meds, and later found out they had been DC'd!

Give me paper charts anyday!

Brownms46 · Jun 19, 2001

Originally posted by bshort:
This months survey question:
Has the use of computer technology taken the nurse away from the bedside?
Please take a minute to answer our yes or no survey at the bottom of the allnurses.com homepage
Also, please reply to this post and give us your more detailed responses.

Today was a good example of PC's taking me away from my pt's bedside and took up way too much of my time!

First..pt. returned from pass on Sunday. This morning received NO breakfast due to the "system" refused to except that he was there! After hearing the feedback from the unit secretary about how sorry the evening, and nite shift was to not have had the problem resolved prior to this am. I called dietary..(in the midst of trying to give meds)..to have them just send a tray up! They replied they can't until they could print a ticket for that pt. Frustrated by this time, as my DM pt. needs weren't being taken care of, and unable to get my hands around the throat of the rude, and seemingly uncaring dietary staff, I finally was able to get them to send a tray up by sending a hand written request throught the tube system!

Next...a pt. was transferred from another unit...AT LUNCH time!!! Why he couldn't have stayed on the floor until he ate lunch is waaay beyond me! Same problem! Same solution!!!

Next...pt. transferred at 0945, unable to get med orders to come up! Orders needed to be released to our unit, but no one knew what the problem was! I called, talked, grabbed anyone I even thought could help! Finally got orders released, after talking to NP, CN, Unit secretary, Pharmacy TWICE, Nurse manager, and finally after I pitched a total hissey..got orders released at 1300hrs!!!! I ended up having to stay over to chart!!! I let my unit manager know that this was TOTALLY unacceptable, and took waaaay took much time! This man was in pain, and I had to give meds to him by looking at the history to figure out what time the last pain was given, so I could medicate him! I had to get the NP to verbally ok my giving the meds as without this, I could have given the meds, and later found out they had been DC'd!

Give me paper charts anyday!