3. You used an electronic index, a guideline index, and a web search engine to retrieve information relevant to your clinical problem. Compare and contrast your results. Which resources were useful/ not useful for your information retrieval task, and why? Identify some alternative strategies for retrieving relevant information - would context relevant information retrieval be useful?
I used several different search engines in searching for my information. I found that all of them have good and bad points. Google is the first one that I usually use because it is very easy to use and read. The major drawback to Google is that anyone can post on the internet, so you must be able to decipher the difference between reliable and unreliable information. It is also more difficult to find specific scientific information. One reason that I really like Google is because it allows you to have access to some very credible resources that you don’t have access to through other databases such as universities and government websites including the CDC website, health.utah.gov, and other public health website. Using PubMed was rather simple and effective for searching medical research. I was able to generate and filter a search and have access to many reliable and relevant articles after only a few minutes of starting my search for articles that related to visiting hours in the intensive care units. The one problem that I had with PubMed is that it is rare to find the full text of an article, and this causes you to spend more time in other databases searching for the full text of an article so that you can get a complete idea about what the article is stating.
The National Guideline Clearinghouse was pretty easy to use, and it had lots of information. Even though finding information that was related to visiting hours in intensive care units was challenging. I also found the National Guideline Clearinghouse website to be very informative and comparatively easy to find my way through. I was able to use the same Boolean terms and search strategies that I had used in PubMed. In the past I have liked to use search premier (EBSCO) for school papers. This database is easy to use and more recently I have found out that it is like PubMed in that it is easy to export documents into EndNote. A researcher should be able to manage as long as they know the strategies to effective searching and include Boolean and truncation operators, the pencil/paper strategy, and relevant information to the topic. In contrary if a research does a general search, a lot of non relevant information will be returned. I prefer to use the database that has a lot of full text links. The reason for this preference is that it saves the time it would take to find the full text article elsewhere, or the waiting period it would take for the article to be delivered. The last resort seems to be just simply going to the local library. There are always books, journals, and newspapers there and usually a very resourceful librarian.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
6004 Module 2 Question 2
2. What features in your chosen reference management software can be used to sort, classify, and otherwise organize references? Describe software functionality that allows you to better organize and share information for efficient retrieval and use.
The reference management software that I chose was EndNote. I chose this program for my reference management software because I had already purchased it for other nursing classes. I have had the software for a few weeks and have becoming more familiar with its features. When I first started to use the software I was a little unenthusiastic about it but the more I used it the more that those feelings dissipated. The basic functions of EndNote are easy to use. There is a bar at the top of the reference list and if you click on “author” it will arrange the references by author, or you can chose to organize by the year, title, or journal. You can also create a new folder for each for your individual searches, and save them on the left side of the page and they will be contained within the EndNote program, so when you write papers in the future you will still have quick access to your past searches. Another great feature is that you can also save your reference list on a thumb drive to share with others, or to utilize on a different computer that also has the EndNote software installed. One feature that makes working with EndNote smooth is that you can easily insert citations as you write your paper, because EndNote is diuretically linked with Microsoft Word. EndNote is capable of formatting your references in many different styles including APA and MLA. One drawback to using EndNote is that it was difficult to use any other journal indexes besides PubMed. To use these other journal indexes you must obtain a password. I wish that I would have known about this type of software and had access to it a long time ago.
The reference management software that I chose was EndNote. I chose this program for my reference management software because I had already purchased it for other nursing classes. I have had the software for a few weeks and have becoming more familiar with its features. When I first started to use the software I was a little unenthusiastic about it but the more I used it the more that those feelings dissipated. The basic functions of EndNote are easy to use. There is a bar at the top of the reference list and if you click on “author” it will arrange the references by author, or you can chose to organize by the year, title, or journal. You can also create a new folder for each for your individual searches, and save them on the left side of the page and they will be contained within the EndNote program, so when you write papers in the future you will still have quick access to your past searches. Another great feature is that you can also save your reference list on a thumb drive to share with others, or to utilize on a different computer that also has the EndNote software installed. One feature that makes working with EndNote smooth is that you can easily insert citations as you write your paper, because EndNote is diuretically linked with Microsoft Word. EndNote is capable of formatting your references in many different styles including APA and MLA. One drawback to using EndNote is that it was difficult to use any other journal indexes besides PubMed. To use these other journal indexes you must obtain a password. I wish that I would have known about this type of software and had access to it a long time ago.
6004 Module 2 Question 1
1. Describe your clinical problem and choice of electronic index. How did the index facilitate (or impede) your ability to construct an efficient search? How time consuming was your search? Would there be barriers to using the index in daily practice?
The clinical problem that I chose was visiting hours in intensive care units. I chose this topic because currently the intensive care unit where I work is in the middle of changing our visiting hour’s policy. In the past I have done searches in EBSCO, CINAHL and Medline. I chose to use the PubMed database because I need to become familiar with new databases and how to use them. Another reason why I chose PubMed is because it is easy to access from a remote location, making it easier to do searches from my own home. This database was simple to use with lots of information. It is easy to use, however; you must use the Boolean operators or the truncation operators to limit your search to pertinent information or you will get all kinds of non-pertinent articles. It only took me about seven to twelve minutes to perform my search and narrow it down into a specific criteria. This database is easy to export into ENDNOTE which I am also starting to use.
Using this PubMed in everyday practice may not be the best choice but as long as you had access to the internet and are able to link on through a university library you will be able to find lots of valuable articles. I would venture to say that the more you used the database the better you would become. Being one of the most reliable and prominent databases in the medical field helped me to be confident and positive about doing research. One hurdle that almost all databases have is that if you do not know how to search effectively you may be searching for a while through articles that aren’t useful. With PubMed specifically it is hard to gain access to full text articles. This requires the usage of other databases or ordering the article which can be time consuming and because of this PubMed may not be the best choice for daily practice.
The clinical problem that I chose was visiting hours in intensive care units. I chose this topic because currently the intensive care unit where I work is in the middle of changing our visiting hour’s policy. In the past I have done searches in EBSCO, CINAHL and Medline. I chose to use the PubMed database because I need to become familiar with new databases and how to use them. Another reason why I chose PubMed is because it is easy to access from a remote location, making it easier to do searches from my own home. This database was simple to use with lots of information. It is easy to use, however; you must use the Boolean operators or the truncation operators to limit your search to pertinent information or you will get all kinds of non-pertinent articles. It only took me about seven to twelve minutes to perform my search and narrow it down into a specific criteria. This database is easy to export into ENDNOTE which I am also starting to use.
Using this PubMed in everyday practice may not be the best choice but as long as you had access to the internet and are able to link on through a university library you will be able to find lots of valuable articles. I would venture to say that the more you used the database the better you would become. Being one of the most reliable and prominent databases in the medical field helped me to be confident and positive about doing research. One hurdle that almost all databases have is that if you do not know how to search effectively you may be searching for a while through articles that aren’t useful. With PubMed specifically it is hard to gain access to full text articles. This requires the usage of other databases or ordering the article which can be time consuming and because of this PubMed may not be the best choice for daily practice.
Monday, February 9, 2009
6004 Module 1
Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Stevens. I’m in the FNP program. I work in the ICU at Dixie Regional Medical Center and I really enjoy being a nurse there. I live in Sunny St. George Utah. I am twenty nine years old and am single (no kids never been married). I am excited to be in a NP program, though I feel like two and a half years is forever.
1. Why do you as a graduate level nurse need to know about information management?
Information management is an ever developing field. Information management is continually shaping the structure of our current profession. The development of computerized medical records has been improving the health care delivery system for a while now and the knowledge it takes to utilize these programs is priceless. For a top level health care professional to be able to provide the best continuum of care they will have to be efficient in utilizing the latest accepted technologies. A key step in obtaining this knowledge and skills is for a practitioner to know how to find and implement the best evidence practice as it relates to our practice. Information management will better enable prctitioners to get a complete understanding of conditions and treatment because of the availability of many different sources of information. Collaborate care will also help health care professional to be able to work together in treating a patients multiple conditions.
2. Describe what is happeing related to IT in your clinical or practice setting. What structured documentation, standards, and/or coded terminologies do you see within your practice setting?
Information Technology is not only the computer systems we use but also the way we utilize and mange information. IT in the clinical setting of the ICU varies from time to time and situation. Sometimes the incorporation of IT into the clinical setting comes slowly and other times it is thrown at us and we have to be able to quickly assimilate the information to be able to proficiently use the equipment (i.e. A new Ultra sound machine that was purchased to help physicians place central lines. ). Dixie Regional Medical Center (DRMC) started using computerized charting about two years ago. From this change we are able to quickly look at specific findings and track them over a patients stay at the hospital. Shortly after computerized charting was initiated DRMC began to use medication scanners to setup another safety for medication administration. Still there are some departments like the ER and the OR that do not utilize computer charting and this situation forms gaps in accessing information. After working in the ER I have realized that computer charting would be cumbersome but when patients are admitted to the floor this difference in charting can lead to mistakes. Some of our equipment can be hooked up to a data connection and we can get help and guidance from the manufacture of the machine as they link into the machine and diagnose what is going on from a distant location.
3. How are structured/coded clinical data useful in promoting quality patient care?
Structured/coded clinical data is useful in promoting quality patient care for many reasons. One of the primary reasons is communication which can influence many other mediums of care including shift change reports, clinical decision making, anticipating upcoming events, appraising the processes and outcomes of care, recognizing normal variations from trends, and legal purposes. Structured/coding clinical data can also influence clinical pathways and how they are created for given diagnoses. It will be important to know about them and where to find them, so a practice can stay current because practitioner’s offices are not always notified of the changes in coding. It is also important to stay up to date on clinical data coding, since this would influence billing and ultimately how a business is financed.
1. Why do you as a graduate level nurse need to know about information management?
Information management is an ever developing field. Information management is continually shaping the structure of our current profession. The development of computerized medical records has been improving the health care delivery system for a while now and the knowledge it takes to utilize these programs is priceless. For a top level health care professional to be able to provide the best continuum of care they will have to be efficient in utilizing the latest accepted technologies. A key step in obtaining this knowledge and skills is for a practitioner to know how to find and implement the best evidence practice as it relates to our practice. Information management will better enable prctitioners to get a complete understanding of conditions and treatment because of the availability of many different sources of information. Collaborate care will also help health care professional to be able to work together in treating a patients multiple conditions.
2. Describe what is happeing related to IT in your clinical or practice setting. What structured documentation, standards, and/or coded terminologies do you see within your practice setting?
Information Technology is not only the computer systems we use but also the way we utilize and mange information. IT in the clinical setting of the ICU varies from time to time and situation. Sometimes the incorporation of IT into the clinical setting comes slowly and other times it is thrown at us and we have to be able to quickly assimilate the information to be able to proficiently use the equipment (i.e. A new Ultra sound machine that was purchased to help physicians place central lines. ). Dixie Regional Medical Center (DRMC) started using computerized charting about two years ago. From this change we are able to quickly look at specific findings and track them over a patients stay at the hospital. Shortly after computerized charting was initiated DRMC began to use medication scanners to setup another safety for medication administration. Still there are some departments like the ER and the OR that do not utilize computer charting and this situation forms gaps in accessing information. After working in the ER I have realized that computer charting would be cumbersome but when patients are admitted to the floor this difference in charting can lead to mistakes. Some of our equipment can be hooked up to a data connection and we can get help and guidance from the manufacture of the machine as they link into the machine and diagnose what is going on from a distant location.
3. How are structured/coded clinical data useful in promoting quality patient care?
Structured/coded clinical data is useful in promoting quality patient care for many reasons. One of the primary reasons is communication which can influence many other mediums of care including shift change reports, clinical decision making, anticipating upcoming events, appraising the processes and outcomes of care, recognizing normal variations from trends, and legal purposes. Structured/coding clinical data can also influence clinical pathways and how they are created for given diagnoses. It will be important to know about them and where to find them, so a practice can stay current because practitioner’s offices are not always notified of the changes in coding. It is also important to stay up to date on clinical data coding, since this would influence billing and ultimately how a business is financed.
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