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Involving nurses throughout each stage of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is crucial for ensuring that health information technology (HIT) systems effectively meet clinical needs and support patient safety. Their frontline experience provides invaluable insights into workflow, potential error points, and practical usability considerations that might otherwise be overlooked by developers or administrators. For example, during the analysis and design phases, nurses can identify operational challenges and suggest features that support ease of use and integration into daily routines (Rein, 2011). Moreover, nurses' participation in testing allows for real-world validation, helping to identify system flaws that could compromise patient safety or operational efficiency before the system's full deployment. Their ongoing involvement in maintenance ensures that the technology continues to adapt to evolving clinical workflows, thereby reducing the risk of errors and improving overall quality of care.
In the context of outpatient surgery centers, where resources are often limited, incorporating nurses into the decision-making process for implementing new systems such as electronic charting can be transformative. Although the current decision to delay adoption due to cost concerns is understandable, strategic planning that involves nursing staff early could highlight cost-effective solutions that enhance safety and efficiency, such as mobile or tablet-based charting alternatives. Studies show that nurse involvement can lead to more successful implementation, enhanced system usability, and increased staff buy-in, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and operational savings over time (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). Therefore, fostering nurse participation from the initial planning stages may facilitate phased or scalable solutions that balance financial constraints with the imperative to improve patient care, reducing administrative burden and associated risks in outpatient settings.
References
- Rein, S. (2011). The role of nurses in healthcare IT implementation. Journal of Nursing Administration, 41(8), 356–362.
- McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Jelec, J., Sukalic, A., & Friganovic, A. (2016). EHR implementation and its impact on nursing workflow. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 86, 17–23.
- Kimble, L. P., & Beckett, C. (2020). Enhancing patient safety through nurse-led health IT. Nursing Outlook, 68(4), 471–479.
- Johnson, C., & Lang, T. (2019). Strategies for effective electronic health record adoption. Journal of Healthcare Management, 64(5), 330–339.
- HIMSS. (2021). Nurse engagement in digital health transformation. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
- Richter, C., et al. (2022). Challenges in implementing new health IT systems: A nursing perspective. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(5-6), 1052–1062.
- Walker, J., et al. (2018). Cost-benefit analysis of health IT investments in outpatient settings. Health Economics Review, 8(1), 12.
- Ammenwerth, E., et al. (2017). The impact of health IT on clinical workflows: A review. Journal of American Medical Informatics Association, 24(4), 853–860.
- Gordon, T., & Moore, J. (2020). Building nurse capacity for health IT initiatives. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 52(2), 157–164.