Workflow and Workarounds in Nursing Practice

Paper details:

Overview
For this assessment, you will create a 7-to-11 slide presentation that illustrates a workflow for a process that you regularly encounter where you work based on the following scenario. The process must reflect your nursing practice as captured in an electronic health record (EHR). Your workflow should include one workaround that you commonly employ.

Submission Length: 7-to-11 slide PowerPoint

Professional Skills: Written Communication, Information Literacy and Technology are assessed in this Competency.

This assessment requires submission of one (1) file. Save your file as IM3002_firstinitial_lastname (for example, IM3002_J_Smith).

When you are ready to upload your completed Assessment, use the Assessment tab on the top navigation menu.

Instructions
Before submitting your Assessment, carefully review the rubric. This is the same rubric the assessor will use to evaluate your submission and it provides detailed criteria describing how to achieve or master the Competency. Many students find that understanding the requirements of the Assessment and the rubric criteria help them direct their focus and use their time most productively.

Access the following to complete this Assessment:

Workflow PowerPoint Template (IM3002_WorkflowPowerPointTemplate)
To complete this assessment, read the following instructions then use the “Workflow PowerPoint Template” document to create your workflow flowchart. Consult the resources in the Resource Grid for guidelines on how to create a flowchart in PowerPoint.

Scenario: You work for a busy clinic that has recently hired a number of new nurses. Your supervisor wants to get the new hires up to speed as quickly as possible and realized that some important workflows are not documented. Your supervisor has asked you and the other veteran nurses to select a process and create a flowchart that illustrates the process. She has also asked you to identify one commonly used workaround in your selected process.

In response to your supervisor, you have decided to create a presentation that will document both the workflow and the workaround for the process you have chosen, as well as an analysis of how the workaround impacts the workflow flowchart.

Reminder: Record your response in the “Workflow PowerPoint Template.”

Your presentation should contain the following sections:

Introduction (1-2 slides)
Identify a workaround that is commonly used at your place of work, including a description of its impact on workflow processes. Explain how workarounds might affect potential patient safety issues.
Workaround Strategy (1 slide)
Recommend at least one strategy that can be used to resolve the workaround.
Workflow (1 slide)
Explain the workflow process affected by the workaround. Include a description of the process and its purpose.
Preliminary Flowchart (1 slide)
Create a preliminary flowchart to illustrate the workflow process. Use the flowchart tools in PowerPoint, referring to the tips on designing a workflow from the HealthIT.gov listed in the resource grid for guidance on how to create a flowchart. The goal of this preliminary flowchart is just to get the process mapped out. You will add more detail in the final flowchart.
Final Flowchart (1-2 slides)
If you can, observe the process you are describing at your place of work and look for ways to improve the process. Also, look for ways to incorporate the workaround into the standard process. Consider checking with the EHR vendor for your clinic to see if they have suggestions for how to improve your workflow. Based on your findings, prepare a final flowchart that represents a thorough and complete illustration of the improved workflow process you have chosen—one that can quickly and efficiently get the new hires up to speed.
Discussion of Change in Flowchart (1-2 slides)
Evaluate how your flowchart changed from the preliminary flowchart to the final flowchart in your presentation. Explain why these changes were made and how they affect the overall process you are describing. Analyze how these changes will contribute to increased efficiencies and workflow.
Strategies for Improved Workflow Processes (1-2 slides)
Analyze the challenges and possible impediments to the implementation of the revised workflow. Recommend a strategy to address these potential challenges.
NOTE: Be sure to cite all references used on a reference slide when completing the Competency Assessment. An example of a full APA citation is included in the PowerPoint template for the Competency Assessment.

As we dive deeper into the world of informatics, we must develop a thorough
understanding of consistent practices when using healthcare informatics systems.
However, health IT is complex! Technology is ever-changing, and you play a pivotal role
in the implementation, adoption, and successful use of healthcare informatics systems.
Increasing healthcare technology demands that nurses understand the need for
adherence to designated workflow procedures to improve patient outcomes and reduce
errors.
Whether you are checking in on a patient, ordering a diagnostic test, or scheduling the procedure, chances are you have a workflow process in place to help you get the job
done efficiently and correctly. After all, the workflow is essential in understanding what you
need to do, whom you need to contact, and what tools you have available to complete
the task.
Workarounds are often developed when a usual system is not working well. Even
though workarounds are implemented to complete a given task, they may increase the
risk of error and possible harm to a patient. For this reason, it is imperative that you use
consistent practices in the application of nursing informatics and consider strategies that
lead to the design of workflow processes to avoid the implementation of workarounds
into healthcare delivery practices.
For this Performance Task Assessment, you will create a presentation that illustrates
the impact of a workaround in a workflow process and suggest strategies to improve
workflow processes to resolve the use of a workaround by using a
flowchart. Specifically, your PowerPoint presentation will include an introduction,
University Competency Description – BSN IM3002 2 of 2
workaround strategy, a workflow process, a preliminary flowchart, a final flow chart, and
strategies to improve workflow processes.
Submission Length: 7-11 slide PowerPoint presentation
Competency Topics:
 Workarounds
 Workflow
Professional Skills:
 Written Communication: Write with clarity, coherence, and purpose.
 Information Literacy: Apply strategies to evaluate information in order to
effectively analyze issues and make decisions.
 Technology: Use technology effectively