THE APPLICATION OF DATA TO PROBLEM-SOLVING

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In the modern era, there are few professions that do not to some extent rely on data. Stockbrokers rely on market data to advise clients on financial matters. Meteorologists rely on weather data to forecast weather conditions, while realtors rely on data to advise on the purchase and sale of property. In these and other cases, data not only helps solve problems, but adds to the practitioner’s and the discipline’s body of knowledge.
Of course, the nursing profession also relies heavily on data. The field of nursing informatics aims to make sure nurses have access to the appropriate date to solve healthcare problems, make decisions in the interest of patients, and add to knowledge.
In this Discussion, you will consider a scenario that would benefit from access to data and how such access could facilitate both problem-solving and knowledge formation.
RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To Prepare:
• Reflect on the concepts of informatics and knowledge work as presented in the Resources.
• Consider a hypothetical scenario based on your own healthcare practice or organization that would require or benefit from the access/collection and application of data. Your scenario may involve a patient, staff, or management problem or gap.
BY DAY 3 OF WEEK 1
Post a description of the focus of your scenario. Describe the data that could be used and how the data might be collected and accessed. What knowledge might be derived from that data? How would a nurse leader use clinical

Sample Solution

Scenario: Improving Post-Operative Pain Management for Laparoscopic Appendectomy Patients

Focus: This scenario focuses on improving pain management for patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove the appendix.

Problem: Many patients experience moderate to severe pain after laparoscopic appendectomy, despite receiving pain medication. The current approach relies on a one-size-fits-all approach to pain management, which may not be optimal for all patients.

Data Needed:

  • Pre-operative Data:
    • Patient demographics (age, weight, medical history)
    • Pain history (previous surgeries, chronic pain conditions)
    • Pre-operative pain scores
  • Intra-operative Data:
    • Type and amount of pain medication administered during surgery
  • Post-operative Data:
    • Pain scores at regular intervals (e.g., every 1-2 hours)
    • Type and amount of pain medication administered post-operatively
    • Patient satisfaction with pain management

Data Collection and Access:

  • Electronic Health Records (EHR): Most of the pre-operative and post-operative data can be collected electronically through the existing EHR system.
  • Standardized Pain Assessment Tools: Using standardized pain assessment tools like the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) will ensure consistent data collection.
  • Patient Surveys: Post-operative surveys can be used to collect data on patient satisfaction with pain management.

Knowledge Derived from Data Analysis:

By analyzing the collected data, we can potentially discover:

  • Risk Factors for Increased Pain: Identify factors like pre-operative pain history or specific surgical techniques that might put patients at higher risk for post-operative pain.
  • Effectiveness of Different Pain Management Strategies: Compare the effectiveness of different pain medications or pain management techniques used on post-operative patients.
  • Optimal Dosing for Pain Medication: Analyze data to determine the most effective dosages of pain medication for different patient profiles.

Nurse Leader’s Role:

A nurse leader can leverage this data to:

  • Develop evidence-based pain management protocols: Based on the data analysis, develop protocols that tailor pain management approaches to individual patient needs.
  • Educate staff nurses: Train nurses on using standardized pain assessment tools and best practices for managing post-operative pain based on the new protocols.
  • Monitor and Improve Pain Management Outcomes: Continue collecting and analyzing data to monitor the effectiveness of the new protocols and make further improvements as needed.

 

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