[Applications of nursing information systems: sharing the experience of implementation in a hospital].

With the rapid development of information technology, many information devices have been utilized in health environments to improve care quality. There are many factors involved in designing and implementing information systems, such as: using graphical user interface, user-oriented design, "Help" information, graphic capabilities, consistency of system interface and the redo function. There are different strategies for system implementation, such as: big-bang (directly cutover from the old to the new system), parallel (both old and new systems are used at the same time) and phased (gradually replacing the old with the new system step by step). The most commonly used method of system evaluation involves conducting a questionnaire survey. This paper provides an experience of topic choice, interface design, export outputs, installation process and difficulties encountered in implementing a nursing information system. The experience could serve as a reference for related healthcare institutions or agencies implementing nursing information applications.

Development and testing of an evaluation scale of personal digital assistants.

With the increasingly popular use of PDAs in healthcare, the need for a reliable scale to evaluate this technology has become critical. The authors describe the development and testing of an evaluation scale for PDAs in nurses' daily practice. A review of the literature generated a 30-item questionnaire that was administered online to a convenience sample of 334 hospital nurses in Taiwan. The scale's reliability and validity were established by item and factor analyses. From the original pool of 30 items, 24 were selected and grouped into six major constructs: user preference, nursing efficiency, user training, device features, drug content, and user support. The scale's overall reliability (alpha coefficient) was 0.88. Survey results showed an overall slightly negative score for the evaluation scale for PDAs, indicating a slightly moderate evaluation of PDA use. Additional psychometric analysis and refinement of item wordings are recommended.

An exploration of nursing informatics competency and satisfaction related to network education.

The rapid development of computer technology has driven the growth of the Internet, which has made access to daily services more timely and convenient. Network education strategies for long-distance nursing education are increasingly being implemented to overcome distance barriers and allow nurses to obtain more knowledge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the informatics competency of nurses and their satisfaction regarding network education as well as to explore related factors. A total of 218 nurses answered an online questionnaire after completing 4 hours of network education at their appropriate clinical level. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyze data. Study results found that nurses who took computer training less than 3 hours per week, were unable to connect to a network, or held an associate degree as their highest level of education achieved a lower nursing informatics competency than those who were older, were certified at an N4 clinical level, had previous online training experience or attended 4 or more course hours each week. Those who participated in the network education course more than 4 hours per week and owned their own computers were more satisfied with network education. Nurses who had higher nursing informatics competency were also more satisfied with network education. Network education not only enhances learners' computer competency but also improves learning satisfaction. By promoting network education and improving nurses' hardware/software skills and knowledge, nurses can use networks to access learning resources. Healthcare institutions should also enhance their computer infrastructures, and increase the interest of nurses to learn and apply network skills in clinical practice.

A study of network education application on nursing staff continuing education effectiveness and staff's satisfaction.

The rapid development of computer technology pushes Internet's popularity and makes daily services more timely and convenient. Meanwhile, it also becomes a trend for nursing practice to implement network education model to break the distance barriers and for nurses to obtain more knowledge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of nursing staff's information competency, satisfaction and outcomes of network education. After completing 4 weeks of network education, a total of 218 nurses answered the on-line questionnaires. The results revealed that nurses who joined the computer training course for less than 3 hours per week, without networking connection devices and with college degree, had the lower nursing informatics competency; while nurses who were older, at N4 position, with on-line course experience and participated for more than 4 hours each week, had higher nursing informatics competency. Those who participated in the network education course less than 4 hours per week were less satisfied. There were significant differences between nursing positions before and after having the network education. Nurses who had higher nursing information competency also had higher satisfaction toward the network education. Network education not only enhances learners' computer competency but also improves their learning satisfaction. By promoting the network education and improving nurses' hardware/software skills and knowledge, nurses can use networks to access learning resources. Healthcare institutions should also enhance computer infrastructure, and to establish the standards for certificate courses to increase the learning motivation and learning outcome.

[Analyzing a nursing information system in terms of Lewin's change theory].

The ever increasing are of information technology has deeply influenced, indeed changed our lives. Under its impact, healthcare institutions have constantly changed to improve the quality of patient care. Enterprise management has become a major focus of hospitals, and the development of nursing information systems has accelerated in line with this worldwide trend. The purpose of this study is to apply Lewin's change theory in analyzing a nursing information system, as well as to explore issues regarding challenges that such systems will present to managers and staff and the strategies that can be applied in order to set up the infrastructure for future nursing information systems.