Standardized Nursing Terminology

Approach Used to Develop the Best Terminology

My role as a GI nurse has equipped me with new concepts and ideas that can support the future of medical practice. Several nursing terminologies are also used in our practice in order to improve the outcomes of many patients. The important thing is to identify various terminologies that have the potential to support the health outcomes of many patients. This knowledge makes it possible for our Nurse Manager (NM) to embrace of the best terminology that can deliver the best results (Eulalia and Udina 199). The terminology is implemented depending on its domains and approaches. Such approaches are useful towards supporting the needs of different stakeholders. Powerful decisions are made in order to ensure the terminology supports the health needs of more patients.

The Omaha Home Health Care (Omaha System) terminology focuses on four major domains. Such domains include “physiological, health related behaviors, psychosocial, and environmental” (Schwirian 22). The important goal is to offer the best interventions depending on the identified health conditions. The approach used to develop the best terminology follows a unique path. The first step is identifying the nature of the healthcare setting. The field usually focuses on “different patients experiencing problems with their gastrointestinal tracts and digestive systems” (Eulalia and Udina 201). This knowledge makes it easier for the department to embrace different terminologies. The Omaha System has been widely embraced because it encourages different practitioners to identify the health problems affecting their patients. The next thing is using the terminology to deliver the best interventions.

Capturing the Above Terminology in Nursing Practice

The Omaha Home Health Care terminology has been widely used in different healthcare settings. The model identifies several problems affecting different patients. For instance, nurses and caregivers can use the system to identify several problems affecting their patients. Such problems are usually separated into four major domains. Such problems can be “health-related, physiological, psychological, or environmental” (Schwiran and Thede 7). This understanding will therefore make it possible for different nurses to offer appropriate interventions to the targeted clients. Surveillance can also be embraced in order to support the health outcomes of different patients.

Many organizations and groups have approved this language. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has also approved the language because it has the potential to support the changing health needs of many populations. This approach made it easier for many institutions to embrace the benefits of the terminology. Medical organizations should therefore embrace the terminology in order to achieve the best health outcomes (Wang, Hailey, and Yu 12). For instance, numerous magnet institutions have embraced the above terminology in an attempt to deliver quality patient care.

Appropriate Implementation and Use of Different Terminologies

Several methods can be used to ensure more nurses implement and use various terminologies in a consistent manner. To begin with, nurses should be equipped with new ideas regarding the use of various terminologies. Medical facilities can offer powerful training programs in order to educate their patients. This approach will make it easier for them to identify the terminologies applicable in different situations. Hospitals can also have appropriate frameworks and policies regarding the use of different terminologies. Nurses can also be empowered and equipped with the best skills in order to deliver the best care (Wang et al. 14). This strategy will make it possible for more nurses and caregivers to support the health needs of their patients. They will also be ready to embrace the power of different nursing terminologies. The use of modern informatics and theories will encourage more practitioners to use different terminologies.

Data Collection for ‘Meaningful Use’

The Omaha System encourages nurses to collect the most appropriate data in order to deliver the best interventions. This nursing terminology “focuses on four areas that determine the health of an individual” (Hoffman and Podgurski 78). That being the case, nurses can use modern technological to acquire accurate data and information. This data can therefore be used to understand the health issues and problems affecting the targeted patient. This discussion shows clearly that the terminology supports the concept of data collection for Meaningful Use. Hoffman and Podgurski define “Meaningful Use as the continued acquisition and use of modern technologies in order to support the health outcomes of different patients” (78).

The above concept encourages “medical practitioners to use different Electronic Health Record (EHR) technologies in order to improve efficiency, safety, and quality of care” (Schwirian 22). The information gained from the use of EHR strategies will make it easier for nurses to use the best skills and approaches. Modern informatics can measure the projected health outcomes thus improving the quality of care. Electronic Health Record (EHR) technologies can promote the best diagnostic processes. This approach will improve the nature of interventions used by different caregivers. Information systems have the potential to improve the quality of decisions, care, and support availed to different populations (Schwiran and Thede 7). This practice should therefore be embraced in order to advance the nature of nursing practice.

Benefits and Barriers of Using Standardized Terminologies

The use of different nursing terminologies can produce numerous benefits for both caregivers and communities. For instance, such terminologies have the potential to improve the level of communication in every nursing department. The model also encourages nurses to embrace various interventions thus producing the best health outcomes. Schwirian believes that such “terminologies can improve the quality of patient care” (23). Such terminologies also make it possible for nurses to follow specific standards and ethics. These facts explain why medical institutions should embrace and implement the use of different nursing terminologies.

However, some barriers make it impossible for many institutions to embrace the use of these terminologies. For instance, many institutions do not inform their practitioners about new terminologies. As well, some institutions lack adequate resources to support the use of different terminologies. Nursing schools also fail to educate their students about the importance of such terminologies (Chin and Sakuda 51). Some problems encountered in healthcare such as nursing shortage and reduced morale discourages medical practitioners from embracing these standardized terminologies.

Standard for Nursing Language

It is appropriate to have a standard for nursing language. This is the case because nursing is a universal practice aimed at supporting the health goals of many patients. The standardization of such languages will make it possible for nurses to apply them in different healthcare settings. As well, health institutions will implement such languages effectively thus promoting the best medical outcomes (Chin and Sakuda 53). The approach will also make it possible for many caregivers to offer standardized care to their patients. The practice will also make it easier for nurses to embrace powerful concepts such as EHR. These strategies will eventually support the health outcomes of many underserved communities.

References

Chin, Beverly and Christine Sakuda. “Transforming and Improving Health Care through Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology.” Hawaii Journal of Medicine and Public Health 71.4 (2012): 50-55. Print.

Eulalia, Maria and Juve Udina. “A nursing interface terminology: Evaluation of face validity.” Open Journal of Nursing 1.2 (2012): 196-203. Print.

Hoffman, Sharona and Andy Podgurski. “Meaningful Use and Certification of Health Information Technology: What about Safety.” Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics 39.1 (2011): 77-80. Print.

Schwiran, Patricia and Linda Thede. “Informatics: The Standardized Nursing Terminologies: A National Survey of Nurses’ Experiences and Attitudes – Survey 1.” The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing 16.2 (2011): 1-24. Print.

Schwirian, Patricia. “Informatics and the Future of Nursing: Harnessing the Power of Standardized Nursing Terminology.” Bulletin of the Association for Information Science and Technology 39.5 (2013): 20-24. Print.

Wang, Ning, David Hailey and Ping Yu. “Quality of nursing documentation and approaches to its evaluation: a mixed-method systematic review.” Journal of Advanced Nursing 1.1 (2011): 1-18. Print.