How Technology is Transforming Nursing

Changes in the healthcare sector occur frequently following the discoveries that emanate from research and technological advancements. The changes are crucial for improving the wellbeing of societies as well as enhancing healthcare. However, similar to other change processes, change in the health sector is often associated with significant resistance from such health professionals as nurses. The resistance mainly emanates from frustrations that may result from applying new concepts and the fear of failure when implementing change. Hence, leadership plays a vital role in facilitating the successful implementation of new technological systems in the healthcare sector. The paper explores how a nurse facilitator helps in the preparation of nurses in the process of adopting new technologies in hospital settings by applying the Rogers Theory as the critical foundation. Moreover, the paper explores the role of a nurse as a change agent particularly during the adoption of new technology; the paper focuses explicitly on the implementation of a new electronic health record in a small hospital in New York. 

Applying Rogers Theory 

During the meeting, Rogers Theory is applied as the basis of the ideas that will be discussing, including the strategies for minimizing resistance among the nurses. The theory comprises of the critical aspects for ensuring efficiency in change management strategies, including support, planning, and communication ( McGonigle & Mastrian, 2012) . The theory consists of five fundamental qualities that influence people's attitudes towards implementing change that pertains to new technological systems, including relative advantage, simplicity, compatibility with the prevailing practices and values, observable results, and trialability (Rogers, 2003). 

Relative Advantage 

The element pertains to the extent to which an innovation is considered superior to an existing idea (Makse & Volden, 2011). The quality aims at evaluating the degree to which the electronic health records system is better that the existing manual health recording systems. The relative advantage, therefore, must be expressed in terms of the economic benefits that it presents. Hence, it is vital for nurses, who comprise the potential adopters of the new systems to comprehend the diverse benefits that they can derive from the new technology, whereby the benefits should outweigh the likely risks that they may encounter from using the EHR systems. It is vital to recognize that the EHR system presents more advantages to healthcare compared to the manual systems. Further, in most metropolitan markets, it is essentials to implement the latest technologies to maintain a competitive healthcare system. 

Moreover, facilities that possess a high-technology reputation are likely to increase their prestige, which is a crucial aspect in attracting more clients. In some cases, patients tend to judge the quality of the care that they receive using the currency of the equipment, staff, and facilities (Bramble et al., 2010). For this reason, it is common for some patients to choose a healthcare system or hospital that has such new equipment or technologies as the magnetic imaging facilities (MRI) and ignore those that lack such facilities. Similarly, some patients are likely to prefer health facilities that utilize electronic health records over those that use manual systems. Emani et al. (2012) postulate that EHR systems help in increasing efficiency and improving the quality of care that patients receive. One of the most notable advantages that the systems present is interoperability. Moreover, most governments are providing incentives to encourage higher adoption of the EHR systems as well as implementing policies that will support penalties for those who fail to adopt the systems. The highlighted relative advantages of the EHR systems compared to the manual systems are crucial to the improvement of healthcare quality as well as promoting viable financial benefits. 

Compatibility 

Compatibility refers to the extent to which the EHR system is consistent with the prevailing healthcare past experiences, and the needs and values of all the healthcare providers. According to Holden (2011), ideas that are compatible with the existing systems often present fewer uncertainties to the eventual adopters, in this case, healthcare providers. In this context, the EHR systems must be demonstrated as compatible with the prevailing patient needs for innovation, socio-cultural beliefs and values, and the previously introduced innovations. It is vital for the nurses to realize that the EHR systems constitute a vital part of the modern healthcare reforms. In this context, the systems are no longer perceived as mere replacements of the manual systems but rather crucial change agents that will allow health professionals to treat a patient at a time while considering the value-based system to enhance better outcomes in the entire population. 

In addition, it is vital to note that most health professionals have experienced failed implementation of the EHR systems either as reported by their peers or as participants. Therefore, it is common for nurses to develop fear regarding the need to adopt the system, which may in turn affect the successful adoption of the systems. Hence, nurses have a duty to encourage other professionals in the healthcare sector to implement the change and refrain from relating the present systems to the failed EHR systems. In addition, it is vital to realize that the new system matches the needs of healthcare providers (Jha et al., 2009). Particularly, the EHR system is compatible with the needs of the nurses because it is easy to use, less costly, and allows for time saving in the delivery of care. 

Simplicity 

Simplicity refers to the perceived degree of difficulty associated with understanding and learning the use of the EHR system. Basically, effective implementation of the new system requires proper understanding of how the system works as well as developing new skills, which may slow down the process of adopting the new technology ( McGonigle & Mastrian, 2012) . In this context, given that the EHR systems are multifunctional and complex, health providers, including nurses require to not only learn the steps needed to perform tasks such as software mouse clicks and keystrokes, but also understand and learn ways of integrating the new workflows that allow for the provision of patient care, which the technology supports. 

Trialability 

The element pertains to the extent to which the EHR systems can be experimented on a limited basis. According to Rogers (2010), innovations that can be experimented using an installation plan can be quickly adopted unlike the non-divisible innovations. The degree to which a health provider is capable of experiencing a new EHR system on a limited basis influences their decision on whether to adopt the technology or not to a great extent. In most cases, implementing new systems on trial basis is not considered an option in the healthcare sector. However, implementing new systems in a phased approach allows healthcare professionals to efficiently with smaller portions of the new system ( Blumenthal & Tavenner, 2010). Such approaches enable health providers to improve their perception towards the new systems since they help in lowering the degree of complexity in implementing the systems. 

Observable Results 

The attribute describes the degree to which the results of a new innovation become recognized by others. According to Castillo, Martínez-García, and Pulido (2010), individuals are more likely to adopt a technology or innovation if they can clearly identify the results or benefits of the innovation. Organizations may employ diverse approaches during the implementation of EHR systems. Commonly, the approaches are divided into the incremental approach or the big bang approach. The incremental approach involves the adoption of new systems in departments often for over a month using a phased approach. On the other hand, the big bang approach involves a large number of individuals or departments implement the stated change on a particular day. 

Role of Nurses as Change Agents 

Nurses play a crucial role in facilitating the effective adoption of new technologies that seek to enhance the quality of care delivered to care. The number of patients who die each year from medical errors that can be prevented using appropriate technologies is on the rise. However, a growing field of research in healthcare has demonstrated that using health information technology is capable of enhancing the continuity, quality and patient safety in the healthcare sector ( McGonigle & Mastrian, 2012) . Hence, it has become essential for healthcare organizations and providers to move towards the provision of patient-healthcare through increasing their application of technology. Integrating the EHR system into the facility in addition to the internet provides nurses with effective and new tools that are vital to enhancing care. 

The system particularly allows nurses 24-hour access to the global network of healthcare resources, which are essential in helping them to make better-informed decisions ( Gruber et al., 2010) . Some of the nurses’ roles that ensure efficiency in the implementation of new systems include developing a culture within the work environment that supports change. According to Fickenscher and Bakerman (2011), a supportive culture is crucial, which pertains to change leaders supporting the change process with both words and actions is central to ensuring successful implementation of new systems. Moreover, nurses influence change since given their practice, they are capable of identifying how change affects their practice either positively or negatively and making necessary decisions to either promote or hinder change. 

Summary 

Implementing the new EHR system is essential since it has demonstrated the capacity to influence positive changes in healthcare, especially regarding improving quality and saving on time when delivering services. However, change resistance among nurses is one of the factors that may hinder the effective implementation of the system. Hence, change management by applying Rogers Theory is vital to ensuring successful implementation of the technology. The theory pertains to the concerns and needs of nurses that must be addressed as an organization prepares for change. To minimize resistance, it is vital to involve the nurses in the implementation of the new system to influence them towards supporting other clinical staff through the change process. 

References 

Blumenthal, D., & Tavenner, M. (2010). The “meaningful use” regulation for electronic health records.    New England Journal of Medicine ,    363 (6), 501-504. 

Bramble, J. D., Galt, K. A., Siracuse, M. V., Abbott, A. A., Drincic, A., Paschal, K. A., & Fuji, K. T. (2010). The relationship between physician practice characteristics and physician adoption of electronic health records.    Health Care Management Review ,    35 (1), 55-64. 

Castillo, V. H., Martínez-García, A. I., & Pulido, J. R. G. (2010). A knowledge-based taxonomy of critical factors for adopting electronic health record systems by physicians: a systematic literature review.    BMC Medical Informatics and Decision-Making ,    10 (1), 1. 

Emani, S., Yamin, C.K., Peters, E., Karson, A.S., Lipsitz, S.R., Wald, J.S., Williams, D.H., and Bates, D.W., 2012. Patient perceptions of a personal health record: a test of the diffusion of innovation model.    Journal of medical Internet Research ,    14 (6), p.e150. 

Fickenscher, K., &Bakerman, M. (2011). Change management in health care IT. Physician Executive , 37 (2), 64-67. 

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Holden, R. J. (2011). What stands in the way of technology-mediated patient safety improvements? A study of facilitators and barriers to physicians' use of electronic health records.    Journal of Patient Safety ,    7 (4), 193. 

Jha, A.K., DesRoches, C.M., Campbell, E.G., Donelan, K., Rao, S.R., Ferris, T.G., Shields, A., Rosenbaum, S., and Blumenthal, D., 2009. Use of electronic health records in US hospitals.    New England Journal of Medicine ,    360 (16), pp.1628-1638. 

Makse, T., & Volden, C. (2011). The role of policy attributes in the diffusion of innovations.    The Journal of Politics ,    73 (01), 108-124. 

McGonigle, D., &Mastrian, K. G. (2012). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. 

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York, NY: Free Press. 

Rogers, E. M. (2010).    Diffusion of innovations . Simon and Schuster.