ONS Connect - July 2008 - (Page 15)

UpCLOSE&prOfESSiONaL Nurses Describe How Technology Affects Their Oncology Nursing Practice [By camille A. servodidio, RN, MPH, CRNO, OCN ®, CCRP, Contributing Editor] Lynne Rossier, RN Beth Gouge, RN L ynne Rossier, RN, oncology staff RN for Cancer Care Associates in Royal Oak, MI, has felt the effects of technology in her oncology clinical practice. “Our practice is using an EMR [electronic medical records] program that has significantly reduced the amount of paper generated by our medical records department. We no longer have paper charts for the majority of our patients.” A paperless office may create new dilemmas, Lynne says. “I think one of the biggest challenges lies in the fact that every employee has a different level of competency when it comes to computers. New medication orders and new prescriptions need to be added in the appropriate spot or it becomes very time consuming for a nurse to perform a search. Outside labs and tests need to be scanned to the EMR. A follow-up system must be in place since results depend on the patient calling for results.” Beth Gouge, RN, clinical nurse in oncology at Memorial Health System in Colorado Springs, CO, agrees that computerized records have facilitated her nursing practice. “Laptop computers make it easy for new admissions. We take a computer into the room, where we get the patient’s history and do a complete assessment, charting right in the room. Through the computer, we have access to medication reference manuals, so we are able to print out medication information for the patient for their records.” Beth cautions that a computerized world is not a perfect one. “When the computer goes down, we prepare and switch to paper charting, but this is not a bad thing because it is easier to use. Sometimes we are unable to retrieve medications from our automatic medication dispenser. When a drawer gets stuck, we have to call a pharmacy technician to repair it.” Lynne notes that the EMR cannot serve as an excuse for inferior patient care. “I try never to ‘blame’ the EMR vocally to the patient, even if a computer problem has caused a delay in their treatment. I do not want a patient to feel that the computer is more important than they are. When used properly, the EMR is the ultimate aide in improving quality care.” ✱ Contributing Editor Camille A. Servodidio, RN, MPH, CRNO, OCN ®, CCRP, is an RN coordinator/project director for the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program at the Hartford Hospital Cancer Clinical Research Office. July 2008 ONS CONNECT 15

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ONS Connect - July 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In Technologic Advancements in Cancer Care A Year in the Life - Month Seven Web Connect Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Caregiver Care Computerized System Standardizes Symptom Assessment and Management Nanotechnology Treats Cancer at the Atomic Level Rise in Mastectomies May Be Linked to Increased Use of MRI Detection Working for You Calendar of Events Staying on Top

ONS Connect - July 2008

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