Influence of Technology in Intensive Care
There is no doubt that the 21st century will impact
the healthcare industry with technological revolution. Intensive use of
clinical informatics and information technology is needed to gather and manage
data. This is then transformed into actionable information and disseminated for
effective patient care.
The importance of data handling is heightened in
the ITU since it impacts patient outcomes. By nature, critical care involves
complex decision-making processes. As such, it is data-intense and will need to
incorporate technology for data management. Here is how technology can affect
intensive care in hospitals.
Never-Ending Alarms
Alarm fatigue is one of the biggest challenges
faced in agency nurse ITU jobs. ITU nurses use a variety of devices like
pulse-rate monitors and pumps that create noise. These noise levels are often
unbearable and are turned out to prevent distraction.
This action can prove to be dangerous if the alarm
is serious. These sounds are mostly created due to the inability of the devices
to communicate with each other. Updating these devices for a seamless
transmission of patient information will help ITU nurses to manage patient care
with ease.
There is little likelihood of machines setting off
false alarms, and hence the nurses can focus their attention on patients and
not on these sounds. So, improved device communication will undoubtedly make
waves in the not-too-distant future.
Electronic Intensive Therapy Unit
The future of Agency nurse ITU jobs may
also deal with an eITU or an Electronic Intensive Therapy Unit that uses
state-of-the-art technology for advanced critical care. Also known as the tele-ITU, this technology is revolutionising the way
patients receive critical care. As an ITU nurse, you may be expected to use an
eITU for monitoring vital signs or medical management for detecting
arrhythmias.
Also, an eITU can support patients in multiple
hospitals. This technology aims to provide round the clock care and optimise
clinical expertise for patients all across the country. High-speed data lines
connect devices like video monitors, two-way cameras, smart alarms, and
microphones to provide real-time patient information to the ITU nurses.
Dedicated telephone lines may be maintained for uninterrupted communication
with patients. Other benefits attributed to this form of telemedicine include:
·
Improved
task completion rates.
·
Enhanced
job performance.
·
Improved
collaboration.
·
A
useful aid for nursing assessments.
Apps That Sort Data
An ITU will always benefit from enhanced data
filtering facilities. The ITU department collections thousands of patient data
and stores it in an electronic health records (EHR) system. Nevertheless, this
kind of data storage may not always be organised. Hence, more often, ITU nurses
find it difficult to retrieve the correct data about patient conditions. However,
today, several apps are created to help you overcome this issue. For instance,
some apps organise health details based on the organs affected. Few other apps
help doctors analyse whether their treatment of medication has the potential to
harm the patient’s condition.
Time Saving Sensors
As the name suggests, these sensors will alert ITU
nurses and other clinicians about the impending critical tasks that are to be
performed on patients. For instance, a manual check of bed alignment can be
replaced by sensors. These sensors monitor the angle of the patient’s bed and
provide alerts to the nursing staff about realignment. This kind of alignment
is crucial since it helps to keep patients safe from pneumonia.
Have You Begun Your Journey Of ITU Nursing?
Now, with so many technological advancements, ITU
nursing has become a top priority for specialist nursing. It is a great venue
to expect a career boost while benefiting from job satisfaction. Here are some
reasons for you to choose ITU nursing.
Opportunities for Personal and Professional Growth
As an ITU nurse, you would have undergone a
rigorous degree in adult or child nursing or complete a placement in a high
dependency setting. Working alongside technology will help you provide
excellent patient care, develop in-depth knowledge and relational skills
necessary for supervisory or other managerial roles. The role of an ITU nurse
also fetches you enough exposure to challenging patient conditions and polishes
your critical thinking skills.
Limitless Learning Opportunities
Continuous learning is one of the many perks of
being an ITU nurse. It helps you strengthen your skills and keeps you abreast
of changing clinical standards. This continuous learning is brought about by
periodic revalidation and participation in lectures and seminars. On-the-job
experience is also a great way to enhance your knowledge.
Secure Career
An increase in ageing population and rampant spread
of chronic diseases have made ITU nursing indispensable. Job opportunities for
ITU nurses are available in nearly every city across the country.
ITU nursing is a flourishing career that offers
numerous opportunities for career and personal advancements. It is a field of a
continuous technological uprising and brings forth innovative technologies for
assisting the nurses. These innovations have brought about improved patient
care and relived ITU nurses from many strenuous tasks.
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