Nursing Informatics: Annotated Bibliography on EHR Tools
This annotated bibliography examines three peer-reviewed sources related to nursing informatics and the use of health information technology in clinical settings. The first source investigates the impact of patient-provider Internet portals on diabetes management outcomes. The second analyzes a case study of bedside electronic medical record implementation in nursing facilities, focusing on quality of care and staff adoption challenges. The third explores the potential value of electronic prescribing (eRx) systems in improving accuracy, patient safety, and outcomes research. Together, these sources illustrate both the promise and the practical challenges of integrating digital tools into healthcare delivery.
- Introduction to Nursing Informatics: Overview of health IT and electronic records
- Patient-Provider Internet Portals and Diabetes Outcomes: Portal use and HbA1c outcomes in diabetes patients
- Bedside Electronic Medical Records in Nursing Facilities: EMR implementation challenges in nursing homes
- Electronic Prescribing and Patient Outcomes: eRx accuracy, safety, and research potential
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What makes this paper effective
- Each annotation provides a concise summary of the source's methodology, findings, and significance, making it easy for readers to assess the relevance of each work.
- The entries progress logically from patient-facing technology (portals) to provider-facing tools (bedside EMR and e-prescribing), giving the bibliography a coherent thematic arc.
- The annotations go beyond description by noting limitations and challenges, such as staff resistance to EMR adoption and HIPAA considerations in eRx research, demonstrating critical engagement with the sources.
Key academic technique demonstrated
This bibliography demonstrates evaluative annotation — each entry not only summarizes the source but also assesses its contributions and limitations. For example, the portal study is praised for its statistically significant finding on HbA1c while acknowledging the null result for cholesterol. This critical balance is a hallmark of strong annotated bibliography writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief framing section on nursing informatics before presenting three fully annotated citations. Each annotation follows the same pattern: citation in APA format, a summary of the study's focus and methodology, a report of key findings with data where available, and a concluding evaluative statement about the source's broader significance. The consistent structure aids readability and comparison across sources.
Introduction to Nursing Informatics
Keeping accurate electronic records on patients has become an important goal of the nation's health system. Electronic health records encourage the free flow of information between providers, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of medical care. The following annotated bibliography examines three sources that address different dimensions of nursing informatics, from patient-facing web portals to bedside electronic medical records and electronic prescribing systems.
Patient-Provider Internet Portals and Diabetes Outcomes
Shaw, Ryan, and Jeffrey Ferranti. (2011). Patient-provided internet portals: Patient outcomes and use. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 29(12): 714–718.
The Internet can be used to improve patient care by enhancing the flow of information between patients and healthcare providers. This article studies patient-provider Internet portals — interactive websites where patients can transmit information to healthcare providers as well as access their own records and services. The article specifically examines the impact of portal use on patients with diabetes.
Portal use was a statistically significant predictor of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (p < .001). However, portal use was not a significant predictor of LDL and total cholesterol levels. Despite the mixed findings, the article's authors believe that these portals deserve further research in terms of how they can improve the dissemination of patient care information and enable patients to be more proactively involved in monitoring their own health.
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