Wales: Masterclass in eHealth nursing looks at need for accurate language
Published: 22 April 2009
Wales Update
From DAVE LLOYD, Lecturer at Bangor University.
Delegates from across Wales attended Using standardised terminology to communicate and manage the nursing contribution to health care, a masterclass at Bangor University hosted jointly by eNWI* and the Welsh Academy of Nursing.
The event was designed to explain to clinical nurses and managers who were unfamiliar with what standardised terminology is and how we can use it to make nursing "visible", both in the current nursing context and in the future electronic patient record.
June Clark, representing the RCN Information in Nursing Forum, posed the question of why we need a standardised language and Anne Casey, RCN Adviser on Information Standards, invited delegates to try and define terms such as "muzzy headed", "adverse reaction" and "counselling". The resulting discussion convinced everyone of the importance of accurate communication.
Putting standardised terminology to work
The focus then shifted to how standardised terminology could be incorporated into electronic records to aid nurses in planning, delivering, evaluating and managing nursing care.
My presentation introduced a conceptual model for practice, developed in North Wales and designed to support nurses' clinical decision making. This was followed by Nick Hardiker, Senior Research Fellow at Salford University, who talked about his work with Derek Hoy on helping practitioners develop clinical templates for specific areas of nursing practice which can then be incorporated into computerised information systems.
The final presentation was from Bev Thomas, Clinical Director for Nursing at Informing Healthcare, who gave delegates an update on progress in Wales and the proposed introduction of an electronic patient record in 2010.
All presentations triggered discussion, and everyone went home with a better understanding of the issues and a lot to think about in relation to their own area of practice. We hope to follow on the success of this initial day with further presentations in other parts of Wales.
*More about eNWI (Nyrsio e-Iechyd Cymru - eHealth Nursing Wales) and presentations from the day are at: www.ehealthnurses.org.uk/wales/index.html