Assume you are a nurse manager on a unit where a new nursing

Assume you are a nurse manager on a unit where a new nursing documentation system is to be implemented. You want to ensure that the system will be usable and acceptable for the nurses impacted. You realize a nurse leader must be on the implementation team.

To Prepare:
• Review the steps of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and reflect on the scenario presented.
• Consider the benefits and challenges associated with involving a nurse leader on an implementation team for health information technology Portfolio

The Assignment: (2-3 pages)
In preparation of filling this role, develop a 2- to 3-page role description for a graduate-level nurse to guide his/her participation on the implementation team. The role description should be based on the SDLC stages and tasks and should clearly define how this individual will participate in and impact each of the following steps:
• Planning and requirements definition
• Analysis
• Design of the new system
• Implementation
• Post-implementation support

Expert Answer and Explanation

Role of the Nurse Informatics in System Development and Implementation

The development of the informatics systems encompasses the different stages that collectively form the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC). For a manager and a leader in a healthcare organization, the knowledge of the SDLC is crucial in the sense that it facilitates their preparation, making it possible for them to be aware of the requirements at different levels of system development.

When involving a graduate-level nurse (GN) in SDLC, a unit nurse manager should present a role description, describing the nurse’s role at various stages of the SDLC (Risling & Risling, 2020). Focusing on the SDLC stages, it is important to describe the GN’s role in SDLC, highlighting the various ways in which they would participate in the implementation of an informatics system.

Planning and Requirements

As the initial stage of the SDLC, planning involves various tasks such as defining an issue that necessitates the development of the system, and outlining the system requirements. During this phase of the SDLC, the GN contributes to defining the system’s objectives and scope. Given their experience and expertise, they understand the different professionals who are likely to use the system.

Accordingly, they would identify the stakeholders that are likely to contribute to the adoption of the system. Their role during the planning also involves participating in performing needs assessment, identifying the areas of concern (McGonigle  & Mastrian, 2022). For instance, they may identify the challenges associated with the paper-based documentation systems, and work with nurse leaders to come up with meaningful solutions.

System Analysis

Analysis stage emphasizes defining the requirements by collecting, analyzing and validating data, and at this point, the GN collaborates with the other parties involved in the project implementation, evaluating the workflow including the efficiency of the clinical operations. In their capacity as nurse leaders, their input into the SDLC involves determining the barriers that may slow down the development of the system, and contributing to the assessment of the risks (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, n.d.a).

This identification of the risk is important because it helps inform the formulation of the meaningful solutions that can help avert the risks. Because capturing the clinical requirements in the design of the system can be a challenge, involving the GN is important because they can act as a link between those working in clinical setting and the team tasked with implementing the system.

System Design

The GN’s role is critical during the system design stage which involves transforming the requirements including what is captured into the plan, to a plan that defines the technical measures to be undertaken to complete the system. At this point, the GN adopts a collaborative approach, working together with the stakeholders involved in system development, to come up with a technical plan that comprises the workflow including the user interface. Additionally, they share pertinent information that can assist with designing of the system (Singletary & Baker, 2019).

For instance, they may recommend the details about the features that that can improve the usability of the system or make it user-friendly. Considering their experience, they can share information about the challenges they faced while using a system. The designers can design the system with this information in mind, designing a more potent system with desirable features.

System Implementation

When it comes to the system implementation, the GN’s role becomes more noticeable as they perform various tasks including training members of the clinical staff on how to use the system. While this training is meant to equip the staff with adequate technical skills that they can apply in using the system, the training helps them understand the expectations and the benefits associated with the system.

Given the challenges associated with adopting a new system, they may work closely with the change managers, ensuring that the process of shifting to a new system succeeds (Hauschild et al., 2022). At this phase, still, they test the system to determine whether it is functioning effectively according to the requirements. In case they notice any issue with the system, they involve the technical team to rectify the issue or recommend replacing the dysfunctional system parts.

Post-Implementation Support

During the post-implementation phase, giving of the feedback becomes necessary because this feedback helps with gauging the effectiveness of the system. This feedback particularly comes from the nurses or other health workers who use the system, and it may range from the problems experienced by users while using it, to any suggestions that may help improve user experience. Leveraging this feedback, the implementation team can decide how to improve the performance or optimize usability (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, n.d.b). Following the implementation, they may be responsible of monitoring how the clinical staff uses it, ensuring that they use it a way that conforms to the required safety and data security standards.

Conclusion

In overview, the engagement of the GN in SDLC is crucial because they can immensely contribute to the adoption of the new system given their expertise. Regarding planning, their role entails sharing pertinent information that if incorporated into the system, results to the development of a plan that captures all aspects of the proposed system. Working collaboratively with other members of the staff including the technical team, they share information that can help complete designing and implementation of the project.

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (n.d.a). Health IT Evaluation Toolkit and Evaluation Measures Quick Reference Guide. Retrieved on January 26,2022 https://digital.ahrq.gov/health-it-evaluation-toolkit.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (n.d.b).Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit. Retrieved on Januray 26, 2022 from https://digital.ahrq.gov/health-it-tools-and-resources/evaluation-resources/workflow-assessment-health-it-toolkit.

Hauschild, A. C., Martin, R., Holst, S. C., Wienbeck, J., & Heider, D. (2022). Guideline for software life cycle in health informatics. iScience, 25(12), 105534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.105534.

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2022). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Risling, T. L., & Risling, D. E. (2020). Advancing nursing participation in user-centred design. Journal of research in nursing : JRN, 25(3), 226–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987120913590.

Singletary, V., & Baker, E. L. (2019). Building Informatics-Savvy Health Departments: The Systems Development Life Cycle. Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP, 25(6), 610–611. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000001086.