Module 1 New experiences....

My name is Marilee Slade. I am beginning the third semester of the BSN-DNP program, emphasis in FNP. This blogging thing is very new to me, in fact, I still consider the computer a foreign object- yet, I continue to learn new things every day.
I am the mother of three, and mainly work in oncology.

There is a need to understand information management to be able to have a full range of tools at our disposal, as graduate level nurses. Without the aid of computers and software, trying to collect data and categorize it into useful information would be difficult, time consuming, and fraught with errors. An evidence based practice, with an informatics infrastructure, will readily allow data collected to be categorized thus decreasing unforeseen variations, while tracking quality control and outcomes.

IT, as related to my clinical practice setting is actually in the process of making huge leaps and bounds in progress. What a wonderful time to be learning this information- I believe I am the only nurse in my department that doesn't believe our new program will be a "waste of time". We are currently working on standardizing treatment templates- instead of writing each one individually. What a concept! The templates, with their structured forms and coded data, will then be used for tracking patients and their outcomes across time, and will help with reimbursement issues, billing and coding.
Although the thought of learning all this new information is frightening to me, I am also excited to be involved in the change.
Thus ends the first blog