Nursing Informatics – Lecture & Laboratory

Module #8 Student Activity Sheet

Name: Armee Gay C. Neri

Class number:
Section:C9 Schedule:
Date: 01/28/23

Lesson title: INTERNET APPLICATIONS & PDA Materials:

Electronic gadget, pen, & notebook
Learning Targets:
At the end of the module, students will be able to: References:
1. Name specific functions and tools which the internet
supports; Calano, Roel B. & Del Rio, Fernando. (2017).
2. Identify different internet applications; and, Health informatics: An illustrative approach
3. Describe how you can use the internet professionally and (1st ed.)
personally.
Saba, Virginia & McCormick, Kathleen.
(2006). Essential of nursing informatics (4th
ed.). McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW

Focused Listing: Concentrate on the key ideas related to the recent topic. List them down here in the space provided.
Afterwards, as you finish today’s session, review your list and identify the significance of these sessions. Make sure to not miss any
detail!

B. MAIN LESSON

Internet Applications
● Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and Wireless Devices
● Emails, Bookmarks
● Wireless phones
● Two-way Video Teleconferencing
● FaceTime
● Text Messaging
● Twitter, Google, Internet, Facebook
● Web 2.0, blogs, wikis

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 Nursing Informatics – Lecture & Laboratory
Module #8 Student Activity Sheet

Name:
Class number:
Section: Schedule:
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● Teleconferencing also known as teleseminar

− This is the live exchange and mass articulation of information among several persons from a remote or distant location
− Use of: audio, video, and/or data services by means of the use of telephone, computer, telegraph, teletypewriter, radio
and television
● Web Conference: Used as an umbrella term for various types of online collaborative services including web seminar
(Webinars), webcasts and peer- level web meeting.
− Allow real-time point-to-point communications as well as multicast communications from one sender to many
receivers.
● NVivo: - it also can manage documents, audio and video files as categories, attributes, or nodes in visual displays that show
the structure and properties of the document.
− The latest version of this also allows researchers to import exported data from other applications such as the online
survey tool
● E-Mails: messages distributed by electronic means from one computer user to one or more recipients via a network.
− It is the most widely used and successful internet application
● Two-way video conferencing: "means to conduct a conference between two or more participants at different sites by using
computer networks to transmit audio and video data."
● FaceTime: "Time spent in face-to-face contact with someone. It is an application for a mobile communications device
that enables people to speak to each."
● Twitter: a social networking and blogging service that allows users to send and read tweets (updates)
● Text Messaging: "It is an electronic communication sent and received by mobile phone."
● Social Media: "computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through the
building of virtual networks and communities. By design, social media is internet-based and gives users quick electronic
communication of content."
● Personal Digital Assistant: It is a term for a small, mobile, handheld device that provides computing and information storage
and retrieval capabilities for personal or business use, often for keeping schedules, calendars and address book information
handy.

Battery Life
● Mobile devices depend on batteries. Battery life has both hardware and software components, e.g screen illumina tion
algorithms for wen to dim the screen to conserve the battery.
● Adding peripheral devices increases the workload of battery. Strategies to achieve longer times between battery recharging
include dynamic power consumption management procedures, power aware applications for adoptive power management
and energy aware interfaces for reducing display demands of the battery.

PDA Operating System

● The type of operating system determines in part the strategies for conserving energy in order to prolong the battery life. The
operating system for computers determines many of the characteristics of the computer because the operating system controls
how the hardware and software work together. The two most commonly used operating systems include Blackberry, Hiptop,
Linux and Symbian. The type of operating must be compatible with the software the users add to the computer or the
software will not run properly.

Mobile Devices
 Size and weight determine to what extent a computer is considered portable. Any computer system that can be hand
carried or rolled around is portable device.
 Computers that are small and lightweight enough to be hand carried are mobile devices. A computer that can be held in the
palm of one hand and used with the other handheld device.
 Note the trade-off in functions. A desktop computer has the least limitations in what it can do because it has the greatest
capacity.

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 Nursing Informatics – Lecture & Laboratory
Module #8 Student Activity Sheet

Name:
Class number:
Section: Schedule:
Date:

 A desktop computer has the largest display, most memory, greatest storage capacity and a variety of ways to enter data.
 As size gets smaller, there are corresponding limitations on what a computer on what a computer can do.

Portability Desktop Notebook/Laptop Tablet PDA Smartphone

Portable No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mobile No No Yes Yes Yes
Handheld No No No Yes Yes

Wireless Devices
● For a computer to connect wirelessly there must be a physical component added to the device to enable wireless
communication. Depending on what standard that device follows, there is also a requirement for a wireless access point to
the network. It is possible to set-up a desktop computer to connect wirelessly to a network, but that involves special
hardware meeting specific standards for wireless communication.
● With the right card added to the computer and a wireless local area network (WLAN), it is possible for a wirelessly enabled
desktop computer to connect through an over-the-air interface to a network.

PDA Generic Functions and their application to clinical Practice

● The focus of generic PDA applications is to allow individuals to organize and manage their information, including time,
data, and money.
● The PDA provides an address book, a calculator, date book, memo pad, notepad, to-do-list, and a way to
synchronize part or all of this information with another computer, to help the user organize them time and tasks.
− Address book - is an always-alphabetical list that has fields for name, address, phone number, organizations, e-mail and
other data.
− Calculator-is a basic function calculator, capable of basic mathematical operations.
− Datebook - allow nurses to keep track of his other schedule, from daily, weekly, or monthly perspective.
− Memo pad - provides a place to compose memo which can be synchronized with another computer.
− Notepad - is useful in jotting quick notes. It allows the nurse to write directly on the screen in digital ink.
− To-do list-
allows the nurse to create multiple lists and keep track of tracks to be done daily, weekly, or monthly.
− Infrared sharing of information (beaming) enables transmission of information or files from a PDA to another without
use of cables.
Evaluation of Clinical Applications
● There are hundreds of applications available to support healthcare providers. Some problems exist. The quality of all
applications is not equal. Not all applications are peer reviewed. Information may not be updated quickly.
● A systematic approach to evaluating clinical applications starts with an understanding of the goal of the nurse selecting
and using software. The software selected must be compatible with the operating system of the PDA. Factors to consider
include the amount of time and level of effort required to install and successfully run the application.
o There should be a way to install and back-up the application.
o The human computer interface should allow user to comfortably view information
o The user should be able to do soft and loose data.
o The user should have control over the synchronization process.
o The battery life should accommodate the user’s workflow.
o The user should be able to get the information desired out of the application in the format desired. The
benefit derived from using the application should offset the cost of the application.

Available Software for nurses

● Telehealth ● Tettito

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 Nursing Informatics – Lecture & Laboratory
Module #8 Student Activity Sheet

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● Nursing Central ● Netdoc

● PEPID ● Tarasion
● Skyscape ● PDA Cortex

● MediSoft: These are only some of the types of software. From these there are many different kinds of downloads the focus on
areas such as medication, nursing dx, nurses’ notes, medical dictionary, nursing procedures and mostly anything else that one
could think of Skyscape is the worldwide leading software service for handheld devices
− It contains trusted medical information ordered by specialty (Nurse, Doctor, PA etc.)
− Based on an electronic evidence based system easily navigated through clinical decision support
− Helps healthcare professionals to raise the standards of care
− Aids in patient safety
− Supports the human thought process for Diagnosis and treatment
− Registered user base of 750,000 practitioners and over 500 trusted resources that cover 30+ medical specialties
(Business Wire 2008).
− Can be customized for areas of the nursing profession (RN, LPN, OB, PEDS, etc.)
− The best thing about this software is its wide range of healthcare specialties and specifics.

● INFORMM is a nursing database developed and maintained by Nursing Informatics.

− Includes patient care, patient problems, nursing diagnosis, and patient populations.
− Offers decision and user support
− Online retrieval system that allows the use of the database with the nursing process. First developed by the university
of Iowa hospitals and clinics.
− Used by nurses (mainly the RN)
− Includes nursing diagnosis, procedures, assessment, intervention, and documentation.
− A point of service configuration
− Uses American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a database standard.
− Followed the NANDA nursing practice classification scheme

Advantages
− Lightweight and fits nicely into pockets
− Provides medical information at the point of care
− Programs work quickly with no lag or booting up
− Provides medical dictionary
− Nursing dx
− Lab values/interpretations
− Metric conversations
− Risk management
− Collects and stores data at bedside
− Provides an entire drug profile including implementation
− Aides student nurses by decreasing amount of books in clinical
− Reduces stress and saves time and money
− Provides step by step nursing procedures.
− “The benefit of having information in the palm of one’s hand not only saves time, but reduces trips to the
computer by 80%” (Santori, 2008)
− Saving time and the ability to use at the bedside seem to be most beneficial in that it does save trips to the computer
and looking
− Things up in books.

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 Nursing Informatics – Lecture & Laboratory
Module #8 Student Activity Sheet

Name:
Class number:
Section: Schedule:
Date:

Disadvantages
− The need to be trained poses a problem for the already busy nurse.
− The relationship between the device and the user may not be positive
− Risk for colonization when being used with multiple patients and not being cleaned.
− Medication programs are not 100% perfect
− Software limited to drug interactions are more accurate
− If having to purchase device for own desire it can be costly
− Although some facilities require the use of these devices and pay for them, nurses who purchase them as an individual to
use will not get refunded and could spend a lot of money purchasing the device and available software.

Ethical and Legal Issues

− Nurses still need to perform 3 checks when administering medication which they may tend to rely on the device for
confirmation
− The risk of spreading germs because of colonization on devices when going from patient to patient
− Since it is a computer there is always a risk for errors
− Nurses still need to communicate appropriately with the patient and not focus solely on the device
− Because it is a computer and information can be saved in would be unlawful to let anyone besides the nurse use the device
for risk that information could be shared

Nurse competencies and responsibilities of the informatics nurse

− Nurses will need basic computer knowledge and experience
− Understanding of software and set up will need to be learned
− Nurses should be willing to continue their computer skills and be open to their advantages
− The informatics nurse should be available for assistance with co-workers and help in the training
− They should be available for questions
− Leading the way for change for current and future nurses in the use and benefit of computer technology

Conclusion
− “As the acuity of the patient population increases nurses need to access and use information quickly and easily” (Greenfield
2007).
− Handheld computer devices and smartphones are the future of healthcare.
− We can take out the excess steps in nursing and put them all in one little place that fits right into the pocket
− Errors will decrease, patient care will improve, and time will be better spent
− Time is the biggest factor in a nurse’s day
− These devices will not only give the nurses back time they spent on or waiting for the computer but will give back time to
the patient as well
− Drugs, nursing dx, procedures, care plans, and so much more will be available at the nurse’s figure tips.
− The advantages CLEARLY outweigh the disadvantages which are all things that already arise in the standards of care.

Check for Understanding

After studying the main lesson, you may now answer the following multiple choice questions and provide the rationale for each item.

1. Which of these is an advantage in the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) in the health care setting?
a. PDAs may be synchronized with any network without the use of special equipment or software.
b. PDAs minimize the chance of interception of data transmission.
c. Current medication information may be easily stored and compared to actual client data.
d. Data loss is minimized due to long battery life and ease of backups.

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 Nursing Informatics – Lecture & Laboratory
Module #8 Student Activity Sheet

Name: Armee Gay C. Neri

Class number:
Section:C9 Schedule:
Date: 01/28/23

Answer: C
Rationale:

The advantage in the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) in the health care setting is current medication information may be
easily stored and compared to actual client data.

2. Many workstations house clinical information systems and provide Internet access in the acute care setting. Which type of
software program is most likely to be used by the health care staff providing direct patient care?
a. A programming language such as Java to access the Internet
b. A virus checker to increase security for Internet connections
c. A programming language such as COBOL to create databases
d. A programming language such as Visual Basic to enter data
Answer: B
Rationale:

A virus checker to increase security for internet connects is most likely to be used by the health care staff providing direct patient care.

3. Which of the following statements is true about portable or laptop computers?

a. Portable or laptop computers are unnecessary at the bedside.
b. Portable or laptop computers can be connected to networks or peripheral devices through the use of a Personal
Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card.
c. Portable or laptop computers have been replaced by smaller handheld devices.
d. Portable or laptop computers do not have enough memory to effectively store clinical data.
Answer: B
Rationale:
The following statements that is true about portable or laptop computers is: Portable or laptop computers can be connected to
networks or peripheral devices through the use of a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card.

4. Handheld or personal digital assistants (PDAs) are more visible in the health care system. Which of the following answers
best describes an advantage of using a PDA?
a. A PDA is easily transported to the point of care.
b. The probability of theft is high; therefore, nurses can keep the device in their pockets.
c. The PDA has a small screen size.
d. PDAs can hold up to rough use.
Answer: A
Rationale:

The best describes an advantage of using a PDA is a PDA is easily transported to the point of care.

5. Selecting a computer system depends primarily on the needs and expectations of the organization. Which of the following

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 Nursing Informatics – Lecture & Laboratory
Module #8 Student Activity Sheet

choices are not relevant in the decision making process?

a. Applications needed to accomplish goals
b. Back up options
c. Cost
d. The computer literacy of the nursing staff
Answer: D

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 Nursing Informatics – Lecture & Laboratory
Module #8 Student Activity Sheet

Name: Armee Gay C. Neri

Class number:
Section:C9 Schedule:
Date: 01/28/23

Rationale:
The computer literacy of the nursing staff is not relevant in the decision making process.

6. A set of instructions that communicates with the computer and tells it what to do is called which of the following?
a. Software c. Hardware
b. Manual d. Input devices
Answer: A
Rationale:
A set of instructions that directs a computer's hardware to perform a task is called a program, or software
program.

7. The primary disadvantage to client/server technology is which of the following?

a. Cost
b. Vulnerability
c. Computer education
d. Staff resistance to change
Answer: B
Rationale:

The primary disadvantage to client/server technology is vulnerability.

8. A nurse is using a mobile device and stores his calendar, contacts, and notes. The nurse understands that this information
is stored at which location?
a. ROM
b. RAM
c. Flash memory
d. Pocket PC
Answer: A
Rationale:

Is a type of computer storage that holds non-volatile, permanent data and typically allows for reading but not writing. The software
that enables a computer to boot up or regenerate each time it is turned on is stored in the ROM.

9. A nurse-manager is preparing a presentation for the organization about the need for nurses to use handheld devices. Which
potential benefits would a nurse-manager use to promote the use of portable handheld devices in the clinical area? Select all that
apply.
a. Improved time management
b. Fewer client errors
c. Ability to be technologically up to date
d. Increased confidence in clinical skills
e. Change in client perception of the nurse
Answer: A,B,D
Rationale:

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 Nursing Informatics – Lecture & Laboratory
Module #8 Student Activity Sheet

The potential benefits would a nurse-manager use to promote the use of portable handheld devices are: Improved time
management, fewer clients, and increased confidence in clinical skills.

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 Nursing Informatics – Lecture & Laboratory
Module #8 Student Activity Sheet

Name: Armee Gay C. Neri

Class number:
Section:C9 Schedule:
Date: 01/28/23

10. A nurse is using a PDA when caring for a client. The PDA contains clinical data. Which feature would be most
important when using the PDA?
a. Compatibility with the agency's system
b. Password encryption
c. Wireless accessibility
d. Availability
Answer: B
Rationale:

Your password is encrypted, making it unreadable and/or useless to hackers. This easy step safeguards your password while it is
stored on a server and provides additional security as it travels across the internet.

C. LESSON WRAP-UP

Thinking about Learning

REVIEW FOCUSED

LISTING

You may now review the list that you have created in the Lesson Preview/Review and illustrate its significance or
connection in this lesson. You must list at least 5 different concepts.

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