NURS 4220 - Evidence Based Practice and Informatics Course Course Description: This is an introductory course in nursing informatics with a concentration in evidence- based nursing practice. Using nursing application of information and computing technology will be combined to provide focus on identification of practice issues: appraisal and integration of current evidence and the evaluation of potential outcome across all healthcare settings and patient populations. Course Objectives: Upon completion of NURS 4220 the RN to BSN student will: 1. Explore the foundation of nursing informatics, including theory definitions and historical developments. 2. Recognize the role of information technology in improving patient care outcomes and implement evidence- based intervention to promote health, prevent disease and manage acute and chronic care of patients across the lifespan. 3. Identify and use basic computer concepts and terminology. 4. Demonstrate skills in using computer software programs, patient care technologies, information systems, and Internet sources by using communication and information technology to facilitate literature searches and data management and analysis. 5. Explain the importance of research findings and other data in providing the professional nurse with a body of scientific knowledge that contributes significantly to the improvement of nursing practice, and health care delivery, education and administration. 6. Develop essential information literacy skills to support the integration of evidence- based practice. 7. Explore various telecommunication tools which can be utilized to support e- health, telehealth, distance education and research. 8. Analyze the social, ethical, legal, political and fiscal issues associated with computerized health care delivery systems and research. 9. Discuss application of evidence for decision making to promote client health and improve quality and cost outcomes of care. 10. Demonstrate how human factors involved in security and ethical issues, and human- computer interaction while identifying practice problems, or gaps and limitations in evidence for nursing practice. 11. Recognize the importance of redesign of workflow and care processes preceding the implementation of care technology to facilitate nursing practice. Curricular Outcomes:
1. Collaborate with individuals, their support systems, and interprofessional team members by using communication and teaching principles and information technologies. 2. Demonstrate clinical judgment based on caring, clinical reasoning, best evidence for practice and professional ethics. 3. Identify issues, integrate and disseminate evidence and evaluate outcomes. 4. Use clinical judgment to implement effective, efficient patient-centered professional nursing care emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention and management. 5. Provides patient-centered care as influenced by age gender, ethnicity, nationality, disability, sexuality, sexual orientation, religious and spiritual beliefs, political beliefs, economic status, native language, education, and geographical background. 6. Demonstrate an understanding of the ambiguity and unpredictability of the complex factors such as local, state, national, and global trends that affect coordination and management of care. Course Learning Activities The following is a brief overview of the course assignments. Further information, grading rubrics/tools are provided in Blackboard Weekly Learning Activities o Purpose: Appreciation for Nursing Informatics and Health Informatics Technology to facilitate quality, evidence based, safe nursing practice. Group Assignment: Clinical Setting Comparison o Purpose: Explore the role of informatics and tools used in data collection and analysis, with outcome of care improvement. Individual Assignment: Nurse Informatics Information Specialists Interview. o Purpose: Application of NI concepts and tool. Read, Reflect, Respond Virtual Discussions o Purpose: Stimulate synthesis, critical self- reflection and critical dialogue skills. Critical Appraisal of Evidence- Student pairs- Writing Intensive Peer Review o Purpose: Enhance team and writing skills. Enhance knowledge and skills to use internal and external evidence for clinical decision- making. EBP Project Student pairs- Writing Intensive- Write/Rewrite Opportunities o Purpose: Enhance team and writing skills. Develop/enhance EBP core competencies. Knowledge Checks- Writing Intensive o Purpose: Synthesize and apply knowledge from readings and other resources. Virtual Critical Dialogue/Participation
o Purpose: Encourage student- to- student and student- to- faculty engagement. Stimulate self- reflection, critical self- reflection and critical dialogue skills. Course Summary: Synthesis Paper o Purpose: Enhance writing skills. Synthesize and apply knowledge from readings and other course resources. Course Calendar Curricular Outcome 1. Collaborate with individuals, their support systems, and interprofessional team members by using communication and teaching principles and information technologies. Course Objective 1, 4, 5, 11 WEEKS Objective(s) (if applicable) Learning Activity EBP Competencies Assessment Knowledge checks Virtual Critical Dialogue Clinical Comparison Purpose Appreciation for Nursing Informatics and Health Informatics Technology to facilitate quality, evidence based, safe nursing practice. Stimulate synthesis, critical self-reflection and critical dialogue skills. Explore the role of informatics and tools used in data collection and analysis, with outcome of care improvement. Assess individual EBP knowledge and skills for: (a) decision making to promote client health and improve quality and cost outcomes of care and (b) to identify practice problems, or gaps and limitations in evidence for nursing practice by using the EBP Beliefs and Implementation Scale developed by Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2016). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare. (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins. 2. Demonstrate clinical judgment based on caring, clinical reasoning, best evidence for practice and professional ethics. 2, 4, 10 Knowledge Checks EBP Project Interview Application of NI concepts and tool. Assess knowledge from learning resources for Weeks 3 and 4. Demonstrate EBP competencies by using EBP Steps (0-6) as described in Melnyk & Fineout- Overholt to complete an EBP Project with a partner using a Clinical Case Scenario.
3. Identify issues, integrate and disseminate evidence and evaluate outcomes. 3, 4, 8, 10 4. Use clinical judgment to implement effective, efficient patientcentered professional nursing care emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention and management. 2, 5, 7 5. Provides patient-centered care as influenced by age gender, ethnicity, nationality, disability, sexuality, sexual orientation, religious and spiritual beliefs, political beliefs, economic status, native language, education, and geographical background. 7, 8, 9 Knowledge Checks EBP Project Critical Appraisal of Evidence Course Summary - Synthesis Paper Assess knowledge from learning resources for Weeks 5 and 6. Demonstrate EBP competencies by using EBP Steps (0-6) as described in Melnyk & Fineout- Overholt to complete an EBP Project with a partner using a Clinical Case Scenario.Appreciate the importance of critical appraisal of evidence to evaluate which evidence is most appropriate for answering clinical questions. Synthesize knowledge of EBP concepts and content.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the ambiguity and unpredictability of the complex factors such as local, state, national, and global trends that affect coordination and management of care. 8, 10