Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle

Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle

In the media introduction to this module, it was suggested that you as a nurse have an important role in the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC). With a focus on patient care and outcomes, nurses may not always see themselves as contributors to the development of new systems. Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle. However, as you may have observed in your own experience, exclusion of nurse contributions when implementing systems can have dire consequences.

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In this Discussion, you will consider the role you might play in systems development and the ramifications of not being an active participant in systems development.

To Prepare:

Review the steps of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) as presented in the Resources.
Reflect on your own healthcare organization and consider any steps your healthcare organization goes through when purchasing and implementing a new health information technology system.
Consider what a nurse might contribute to decisions made at each stage of the SDLC when planning for new health information technology. Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle.

By Day 3 of Week 9

Post a description of what you believe to be the consequences of a healthcare organization not involving nurses in each stage of the SDLC when purchasing and implementing a new health information technology system. Provide specific examples of potential issues at each stage of the SDLC and explain how the inclusion of nurses may help address these issues. Then, explain whether you had any input in the selection and planning of new health information technology systems in your nursing practice or healthcare organization and explain potential impacts of being included or not in the decision-making process. Be specific and provide examples. Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle.

*Please use APA style, no running head or cover page needed. At least three references dated the last 5 years. Please include doi and follow APA style particularly with in-text citations and references.

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NURS 6051C

Involving nurses in each stage of the SDLC when purchasing and implementing a new health information technology system is all about buy-in to innovation and change, a concern that is becoming increasingly important for the organization success. Failing to involve nurses can result in four consequences. Firstly, loss of initial engagement as the nurses’ attention is not grabbed. Secondly, loss of trust in the change process, and implementers experience and competence. Thirdly, difficulty to balance options as the new system introduces competing priorities that reduce the nurses’ interest causing frustration and burnout. Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle. Finally, loss of personal connection to the new system since the nurses’ core beliefs and individual goals may not be aligned with those of the organization (French-Bravo & Crow, 2015). Through including nurses in each stage of the SDLC, the nurses’ commitment to the new system will be stimulated through initial engagement. In addition, they will be able to relate the system to care delivery thereby developing a personal connection as they began motivated to help patients and seek to improve care. Also, this empowers them to focus their time and energy on the successful implementation of the new system (Cherry & Jacob, 2016; Stanley, 2017). On the other hand, failing to involve nurses implies that they will have first contact with the system at its implementation. This implies that the nurses did not know any details about the new system prior to its implementation and will only be given a very short period of time familiarize themselves with its operation. Some of the nurses will be unable to attend training on how to use the new system, reducing their capacity to use it and slowing up the workflow. It will not be surprising for some of them to make mistakes, entering random commands into the system and hoping for the best. The result would be the system’s benefits not being realized and being evaluated as a failure (Cherry & Jacob, 2016; Stanley, 2017) Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle.

References

Cherry, B. & Jacob, S. (2016). Contemporary nursing: issues, trends, & management. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences.

French-Bravo, M. & Crow, G. (2015). Shared Governance: The Role of Buy-In In Bringing About Change. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 20(2). DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol20No02PPT02. Retrieved http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-20-2015/No2-May-2015/Articles-Previous-Topics/Role-of-Buy-In-In-Change.html

Stanley, D. (ed) (2017). Clinical leadership in nursing and healthcare: values into action (2nd ed.). Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Discussion: The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle