Training Nurses to Work With Computer Technologies and Information Systems

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Summary of Educational Need and the Rationale

The educational need at this stage will be to enhance the ability of the learners to work with computer technologies and information system. The practicing nurses always face numerous challenges in their work that affects their ability to deliver quality work. In order to address these problems, it is always necessary for the nurses to engage in regular training in order to be in a better capacity to understand issues that affect them.

According to Billings and Halstead (2009), the field of nursing has faced a massive transformation due to the emerging technologies, and still remains one of the most dynamic professions. In order to understand the changing environmental factors in this field, it is necessary to maintain a regular training which will ensure that the nurses have the knowledge of the current environmental forces. It is through this that they can understand some of the challenges emerging in this profession due to the changing environmental forces. The ability of nurses to work with computer and information systems defines their ability to have easy access to information relevant to their field.

This knowledge will make it easy for nurses to share their discoveries and receive positive criticism out of their work in order to enhance their knowledge. It is because of these facts that this educational need was considered primary to other educational needs. When the nurses have the necessary computer technology skills, and understand information systems, they will be able to achieve other educational needs with ease.

Goal for the Educational Plan

The main educational goal for this plan is to teach the nurses how to work with computer technologies and information system. Computer technologies and information system offers a good opportunity to address some of the problem that nurses face when undertaking various tasks. According to DeYoung (2009), information is power. Many institutions are currently working hard to ensure that their employees have access to the relevant information in order to improve their efficiency. Having knowledge in computer technologies and information system puts nurses a step ahead in information sharing. This knowledge will be needed to make them share vital information about new discoveries, best practice in the industry, and some of the common challenges that nurses face.

By the time this learning process is completed, it is expected that the learners will be able to work with computer technologies and information system in their normal duties. The outcome will be to enhance the ability of the nurses to share related information in nursing among the peers. The knowledge should also make them be able to receive information from doctors and other superiors within the institution on what they are expected to do. This way, there will be a clear flow of information between doctors and nurses, and among nurses. The process of handing over patients will also be enhanced because there will always be sufficient information about the patient.

When the nurses’ knowledge on the usage of computer technologies is enhanced, they will be in a better position to address their duties because they will have easy access to the relevant information they need in this field. It is on this basis that it was considered necessary to make it the basic educational need at this stage.

Learning Objectives

It is important to develop specific objectives for this learning activity that should be achieved based on the broad goal stated above. The objective will define the path that the learning activity should take in order to achieve its objectives. The following are the specific learning objectives for this curriculum.

To enhance the ability of the nurses to work with computer technologies and information system.
To change the perception of the nurses towards the usage of computer technologies and information system.
To create a culture of usage of computer technologies and information system among the nurses in this organization.
To enhance information sharing among the nurses within the organization through the use of emerging computer technologies.

In order to create the lesson plan, it is important to understand the resources and strategies that will be needed at this stage. To develop this lesson plan, it will be necessary to have a number of books that talk about the use of technology in nursing. Books about the emerging trends in nursing and impacts of technology in the field of medicine will also be very relevant. These books and articles will make it possible to understand what is expected of the learners, and how the lesson can be developed in order to address specific issues in this field. Also important at this stage will be the previous lesson plans on related subjects.

It is important to note that this plan will not attempt to duplicate the previous plans. However, these previous plans will be analyzed to determine their areas of weaknesses and strength. With this knowledge, it becomes easy to come up with a superior plan that avoids the previous flaws, and maximizes on their strength.

An effective strategy will also be needed when preparing to create the lesson. As Arbon and Ranse (2013) note, when developing a lesson plan, it is always important to start by addressing simple tasks first in order to generate interest of the learners to the subject. Their anticipation should be raised. They should be made to believe that they stand to benefit from this learning activity. For this reason, there will be need to develop concise objectives and benefits that the learners stand to gain by undertaking the classes.

For this reason, they will have a reason to undertake the classes. They will develop an interest in taking the lessons, and this will boost chances of achieving success in the learning process. The policies within this organization will also be put into consideration to ensure that the learners get enough time to attend the classes without interfering with their duties.

Appropriate Instructional Design Model, Learner Characteristics, and the Learning Theory Used To Develop the Plan

It is important to come up with an appropriate instructional design that will be able to generate desired success. In this plan, ADDIE model was considered to be the most appropriate instructional plan for this learning process. The model is shown below

ADDIE Instructional Design Model

As shown in this model, the first step is to analyze what the characteristics of the audience are, the scope and timeline of the project, and any budgetary allocations. In this activity, the learners are registered nurses who are already practicing within Gulf Coast Medical Center which is located in Fort Myers, Florida. The nurses are individuals who are ready and willing to learn. The scope of the learning activity will be limited to working with computer technologies and information system.

The second step will be the design which will basically involve the evaluation and development of the content. It will also involve graphical assets needed in the study, and the e-learning medium, given that the participants will be encouraged to use emerging technologies. The third step involves developing or creation of deliverables using the appropriate tools based on the first two stages above. The fourth stage is the implementation. At this stage, there will be need to ensure that the end-users have the appropriate instructions that will enable them to have access to the deliverables. The last stage will be the evaluation of how effective the process is in achieving the intended objectives.

This will involve gathering feedback from the end-users about how effective they found the system to be during the learning process. They can propose necessary changes that may be needed to make the process more effective.

Given the fact that the basis of this learning activity is to enhance the ability of the nurses to work with computer technologies and computer system, APL and Halstead’s Theory of Software Metrics will be important. According to Arbon and Ranse (2013), this theory holds that “The increasing complexity of computer programs and of the development of systems creates an ever growing need of objective methods for measuring the quality of software” (p. 56).

This theory emphasizes on the need to maintain continuous learning process when dealing with issues related to technology. Technology is very dynamic, and what is considered to be a breakthrough today may be irrelevant after a short while. The only way of keeping abreast with the changing technological environment is to embrace continuous learning process. It is on this basis that it was considered necessary to introduce this learning process.

Content Outline

According to Billings and Halstead (2009), it is always imperative to understand the content of the knowledge that is to be passed to the learners and to develop an outline that shows important areas that will be addressed in the learning process. The following is the brief outline of the content in this learning activity.

The learning goal and objectives
Understanding the relevance of computer technologies and information system in the field of nursing.
Understanding the dynamics in the field of computer technologies.
Analysis of the computer technologies and information system relevant to the field of nursing.
Determining how nurses can improve their knowledge on computer technologies.
Using of computer technologies and information system by the nurses to enhance the quality of their services.

This content outline will define the approach that will be taken in teaching the learners on this topic.

Instructional Methods to Be Used For Delivery of the Content and the Rationale

According to DeYoung (2009), identifying appropriate instructional methods to be used in the delivery of the contents is one of the most important steps in the learning process. The instructional method chosen always defines the ability to achieve success in a given educational course. In this learning activity, two instructional methods were considered to be appropriate at different stages. The first method is an actual classroom learning process where the learner and the instructor will be expected to meet face to face.

This method will be very important during the introductory part of the learning process, and when training the learners on how to use the computer technologies. During the introductory process, it is always necessary to convince the learners of the importance of knowledge that is to be passed to them. Face to face meeting is always effective in convincing people over a given issue. This instructional method is also important when explaining technical concepts in computer technologies. The second approach is the use of online learning. This would effectively determine how well the learners have grasped the learning content.

Types of Instructional Materials to Be Used

The instructional instruments that will be used will vary at different stages of learning. The first materials that will be used will be the handouts that shall explain the objective of the topic, what is to be achieved, and the relevant materials that learners should acquire in order to enhance the learning process. The articles will then be used when the learning process is in progress. The articles will expand the knowledge of the learners on the topic. Finally, there will be the use of videos, especially after classes to expound on what has been taught in the class.

Analysis of Evaluation Methods for the Objective

It will be important to develop evaluation methods for objectives in order to determine if they have been achieved. In order to determine if the learners have gained knowledge on how to use computers, they will be expected to address different tasks using computer technologies. In order to determine the change in the perception of the learners towards technologies, it will be necessary to evaluate how frequently they use technology in their normal duties. In order to determine if the participants have understood the need to share information, it will be necessary to evaluate how they interact, and the kind of information they share.

References

Arbon, P. & Ranse, J. (2013). Australasian emergency nurses’ willingness to attend work in a disaster. Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal, 16(1), 52-57.

Billings, D.M., & Halstead, J.A. (2009). Teaching in nursing a guide for faculty. New York: Cengage.

DeYoung, S. (2009). Teaching strategies for nurse educators. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

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