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Computerized Nursing Information Systems: Benefits, Pitfalls, and Solutions

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Nursing and Computers

Part of the book series: Computers and Medicine ((C+M))

Abstract

Naisbett (1982) has identified a “high tech/high touch” future, proposing that for every technological advance (high tech) that is introduced, a counterbalancing human response (high touch) must occur. Nursing has traditionally been an art of high touch. With the introduction of computerized patient information systems, nursing must counterbalance the dehumanizing effects of computerization with the humanizing effects of nursing. Hospitals have lagged considerably behind other businesses in integrating computers (Aiken & Mullinix, 1987). But as more and more hospitals incorporate computerized patient information systems, nursing will become highly dependent upon computer technology (Bongartz, 1988), much as our society is now highly dependent upon electricity. Computerization has the potential to greatly benefit patients and nurses alike. On the other hand, computerization has potentially detrimental effects. Nurses need to recognize some of these pitfalls and then prevent them through appropriate planning.

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag New York

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Yoder, M.E. (1998). Computerized Nursing Information Systems: Benefits, Pitfalls, and Solutions. In: Saba, V.K., Pocklington, D.B., Miller, K.P. (eds) Nursing and Computers. Computers and Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2182-1_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2182-1_27

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7448-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-2182-1

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