Module 4 Question 2

How does nursing data quality relate to decision support?

Nursing decision support systems improve nursing effectiveness, provide appropriate interventions, and support the safety of patients and quality improvement activities (Androwich & Kraft, n.d.). Decision support can help provide the evidence that supports quality care as being given. A hospital can set up a data system that places a certain number to keystrokes or words utilized by nursing. For instance, administration can determine the acuity of care needed by a patient if certain keystrokes or words are utilized on a nurse’s shift. The data provided can help administration determine how many nurses are needed on a given shift. Infection control nurse can track infections via the use of reflex technology. With a keystroke an email can be sent to the infection control nurse that alerts her to a patient that has say a central line, she can then track the patient and their hospital stay.

On the other hand, a good decision support system can provide a nurse to a plethora of knowledge by just stroking a few keys. By doing this a nurse is better able to support their decision for care.