Systems and Staff Members and the Role of the Advanced Registered Nurse Systems and Staff Members for Design and Implementation Process

Systems and Staff Members and the Role of the Advanced Registered Nurse Systems and Staff Members for Design and Implementation Process

New EHR systems and other technology-driven initiatives can only thrive with proper designs and implementation. Regarding systems, technology implementers should pay attention to hardware, software, and operating systems for new initiatives. It is crucial to ensure that the design will promote safe and effective use. Staff members that should be involved in the design and implementation process include system analysts, risk managers, project managers, and end users. The system analysts and risk managers would provide technical knowledge regarding the new system, while the project manager would facilitate a smooth implementation. As Dopp et al. (2020) suggested, EHRs should have user-centered designs to encourage their use. Hence, end users should be involved in the design and implementation process to give views on the type of system they would like to use and its features. They can also be involved in its piloting to assess efficiency, performance gaps, and opportunities for further improvement.

The Role of the Advanced Registered Nurse

The advanced registered nurse plays a leading role in promoting evidence-based practice (EBP) and leading performance improvement initiatives. In this setting, the advanced registered nurse is centrally involved in identifying opportunities for change and responding by developing evidence-based interventions. Evidence-based interventions are supported by scientific research and guide nurses in implementing positive change to improve health outcomes (Lunden et al., 2021). The other role of the advanced registered nurse is leading change through EBP models. Such models provide a systematic, procedural approach to quality improvement. Above all, the advanced registered nurse promotes a culture of innovation in the setting. Commonly, organizations that encourage innovation are ready for change and support it. As a result, EBP and quality improvement projects face minimal resistance in such settings since the organizational staff is ready for change.

Strategies for Implementing the New EHR Proposal

Implementing a new EHR system typifies engagement in practice change. As a result, resistance to change is possible hence the need for change implementers to be prepared and outline potential interventions. Communication is essential when introducing a new EHR. In change initiatives, communication allows the nursing staff to understand the importance of change from staff and patient care perspectives. Milella et al. (2021) underlined the importance of communication in change projects since it prepares people for the change. Preparation for the new EHR would make the transition easier. The transitioning process should include user training to equip nurses with the skills necessary to use the EHR competently. Competence would also ensure that organizational resources are effectively managed by minimizing errors. The implementers also need to implement sustainability strategies to promote continuous and comfortable use of the new EHR. Such strategies include continuous performance assessment, progressive user training, and proper orientation of new users.

Professional, Ethical, and Regulatory Standards

Technology systems present significant risks to health care organizations, users, and patients that can be controlled if they meet some standards. The most important professional standards that should be incorporated into the system’s design and implementation are meaningful use and user-friendliness. Meaningful use implies that the system is designed to facilitate the easy exchange of health information between users to improve clinical quality and other measures (Alexander et al., 2019). Ethical standards include beneficence and non-maleficence. The implication is that the new system should be designed and implemented to benefit patient care and should be free from harm. Patients and users should be protected from all possible risks. Regulatory standards include developing secure systems and protecting private health information as outlined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) security rule (Alexander et al., 2019). Adherence to the rule’s requirements implies that the new system must have adequate security measures to protect private patient data from unauthorized access and malicious use.

Measures and Steps for Evaluating the Success of the EHR Implementation

Successful EHR implementation should improve outcomes from a staff, setting, and patient care perspective. Process and outcome measures can be used to determine the effectiveness of EHR implementation. From a staff perspective, the new EHR system should improve efficiency, minimize errors, and allow nurses to respond to patient issues timely and more effectively. From a setting perspective, successful EHR implem