Computers In Nursing Education

Nursing, like other health-related professions, is information-inten sive. The quality of care a patient receives is based on the soundness of judgment exercised by the health care team. Underlying sound judg ment is up-to-date information. Unless nurses have access to accurate and pertinent information, the care being rendered will not be of the highest standard. What is required is not necessarily more rapid and efficient informa tion services. Modern technology can process immense amounts of data in the blink of an eye. What we in the health professions need are information systems that are more intelligent, systems that can inte grate information from many sources, systems that analyze and syn thesize information and display it so that it may be applied directly in patient care-in other words, information that answers a question or even gives practical advice. In order to accomplish such objectives, work is needed to establish the scientific and theoretical basis for the use of computing and infor mation systems by health professionals. This is the research com ponent. In addition, there is the need for continued development and evaluation of practical information systems.

As computers continue to become more common in the health care industry, computer literacy has become an integral part of the nursing profession. Selected Book of the Year by the American Journal of Nursing in its first edition, this book continues to provide an introduction to computer technology for nurses.

A handbook especially for nurses and other health professionals. It assists in navigating through online nursing references, shows what's there and how to access it.

Nurses and computers are increasingly becoming partners in health care. This comprehensive introduction to computers provides a foundation in computer basics and applications to nursing education and practice. It seeks to prepare students to use computers in their careers as learners and provide concepts that the future nurse will use in clinical practice.