- Reflect on the role of a nurse leader as a knowledge worker.
- Consider how knowledge may be informed by data that is collected/accessed.
The Assignment:
- Explain the concept of a knowledge worker.
- Define and explain nursing informatics and highlight the role of a nurse leader as a knowledge worker.
- Include one slide that visually represents the role of a nurse leader as knowledge worker.
- Your PowerPoint should Include the hypothetical scenario you originally shared in the Discussion Forum (provided below). Include your examination of the data that you could use, how the data might be accessed/collected, and what knowledge might be derived from that data. Be sure to incorporate feedback received from your colleagues’ responses.
- APA FORMAT (at lest 3 references)
Discussion forum: In my psych nursing practice, I found significant patient readmission rates in a specific patient category, specifically those with major depressive disorder (MDD). The scenario identifies readmission factors and implements interventions to enhance patient outcomes.
Demographic data, medical history, medication records, treatment plans, therapy session notes, and patient feedback questionnaires could solve this problem. This data can be collected from EHRs, patient interviews, staff observations, and standardized evaluation tools (Howell et al., 2023). Secure EHR systems or databases enable data access.
To effectively address the problem of high readmission rates in patients with MDD, the nurse leader must evaluate data to solve MDD patients’ high readmission rates. The nurse leader can determine if age, gender, or socioeconomic status are linked to more excellent readmission rates by evaluating demographic data. According to Magny-Normilus et al. (2019), medical history and medication records can show treatment patterns, medication adherence, and potential comorbidities that may lead to readmissions. Treatment plans and session notes can reveal MDD interventions and their efficacy. Patient feedback surveys can reveal the patient’s experience, care satisfaction, and treatment effectiveness hurdles.
Analyzing readmission data may show triggers, non-adherence to treatment plans, lack of social support, or poor medication administration. For instance, patients with significant life pressures like a recent loss or financial issues may be readmitted more often. The results may also show that patients without taking their medications or having poor social support are more likely to be readmitted. This understanding can help nurse leaders create targeted interventions for these situations.
Based on the derived knowledge, clinical reasoning and judgment allow nurse leaders to create evidence-based initiatives. They prioritized interventions and allocated resources based on each patient’s needs. If data shows that medication non-adherence is a significant cause of readmissions, the nurse leader may focus on patient and family education. They may work with the pharmacist to simplify drug regimens or provide reminders. Clinical reasoning and judgment also include continual intervention assessment and evaluation (Manetti, 2019). The nurse leader would monitor and analyze data to assess intervention efficacy and make modifications. If educational efforts fail to improve medication adherence, the nurse leader may consider home visits by nurses to help patients manage their medications.
The nurse leader can also evaluate confounding factors and interpret data in the context of the patient group through the use of their clinical expertise and experience. They would recognize the complexity of mental health problems like MDD and that systemic concerns like poor follow-up care or community support service gaps may cause readmissions. The nurse leader can advocate for systemic changes and work with community resources to address these underlying causes with this comprehensive approach.
