Computers in intensive care nursing

Abstract

The potential use of computers in nursing is increasing and we must learn to use systems in nursing practice, management, teaching, and research, making sure any new applications meet the needs. The nursing profession must establish an educational programme now for all nurses based on computer appreciation courses and study days devoted to encouraging nurses to become computer literate through identifiable goals. When nurses conquer their fear of computers they will be able to optimise the planning of computer systems to improve patient care, management, and information exchange. The use of computers to provide maximum information to those who required it for decision-making is an important growth area for the future. Trends in care and associated costs could be evaluated using patient data as a base-line analysis of individual patient care given. ‘Nursing has become more precise, more logical, more complex and more expensive. Whilst accurate, uptodate, and complete records are required to meet communication and educational needs and legal requirements, we cannot afford to waste valuable time in assembling them........ We must find ways and means of evaluating whether the care given was appropriate. Technology has stepped in to help us.’ (Scholes, 1983) Nurses must acquire the skills and knowledge to be actively involved in making creative, informed decisions about future computer applications, and nowhere more than in intensive care units.