Chapter 3: Nurses and Computers

Do Nurse and Computer Fit?

The Nurse is overwhelmed with changes in her work environment that requires her to adapt and evolve as well. Generally, it is more difficult for nurses to operate a computer if he/she is not good at it or it is his/her first time handling one. Formal learning in computer starts in elementary, gradually developing few skills and concepts. This learning is extended throughout high school.

Computer systems underwent many modifications, from 1960s where in US, computers were introduced in the nursing profession. Later in most parts of the world including Philippines, nurses recognized the computer's potential in improving documentation, quality of care and managing care. In Philippines, the use of computers in healthcare organization dates back as early as 1970s. Early commercial computers were used by Philippine Heart Center for Asia. Worldwide, in 1980s, Internet revolutionized dissemination of information and communication. In early 1990s nursing informatics became a specialty. During this period, many mainframe-based healthcare information system emerged with information systems as one of its subsystems. In the latter part of 1990s, miniaturization and dramatic improvement in processing power brought computers to the bedside and all of the point-of-care systems, this led to a new nursing function called telemetry. In the early years of 2000, the development of more rugged tablet PCs and personal digital assistants, programs with advanced reliability and security features, and wireless technology made it possible to automate and optimize many nursing care and practices. This provided the real time multimedia communication that led to distant nursing care or telenursing.

The elements of a computer system are hardware, software, data and user. The hardware components are devices for entering data (input devices) which includes keyboard, mouse, touch screen, scanner, camera and microphone. Devices for viewing work (output devices) which includes monitor, printer and speaker. Devices for processing and transmitting data (input/output devices) include the main board, processor, internal memory, cards and communication devices. Computers are classified according to form and sizes, namely: Supercomputer, is a large array of system units. Computer or mainframe, a houseful set of system units. Minicomputers, are physically smaller that mainframes. Workstations, look like a PC in external features but is more powerful internally. Microcomputer, also known as PC is the most common type of computer. Handheld computers, are very small computers having same functionality and processing capabilities as a standard desktop computer. Wearables, are small computers that can be worn. Robots, are used in some hospitals to assist nurses. GUI or graphical user interface provides a way to point or click with a mouse. The nurse as a user has to interact with a computer, obviously, for it to do function. A computer system is an electronic device that accepts input, processes data and stores data, and produces output, all according to a series of instructions. The smallest unit of data is called a byte. A series of 8 bits is called a byte. A nurse-computer interface is a part of a workplace where nurse's modified activity meets with a computer adapted for human use for enhanced productivity while maintaining harmony with nature.