NURS FPX 4905 Assessment 3 Technology and Professional Standards

Technology and Professional Standards

Student name

Capella University

NURS-FPX4905

Professor Name

Submission Date

Technology and Professional Standards

The issue of medication management in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) is a sore issue due to chronic illness, polypharmacy, and understaffing of RNs. During my practicum, I have mostly acted as an observer, and a BSN-prepared nurse would be at the forefront of the quality improvement process and ensuring that delegation is done safely. Accountability of the RN to administer medications safely and supervise the LPNs and CNAs, and adherence to the scope of practice are stressed by the Nurse Practice Act. These functions overlap the requirements of the American Nurses Association (ANA), which is mostly focused on safety, evidence-based care, and professional responsibility. The technology that BSN-prepared nurses use in such an environment also includes EHRs, medication administration systems, which help prevent the number of errors and improve communication.

Clarifying Role in Change Process

The current position as a student nurse has been grounded on the observation of the interdisciplinary collaboration and identification of how the professional standards impact medication safety at the SNF. Although I cannot entirely attribute this to direct care, the following experiences demonstrated that with the correct assessment, cooperation and safe delegation, the risk of polypharmacy and chronic disease can be reduced. It has been mentioned in the literature that the correct nursing practices and interprofessional collaboration are the secrets to medication-related error minimization and the improvement of the outcome in long-term care establishments (Kuppadakkath et al., 2023). During this observation, I managed to trace some systemic issues which become routine such as delayed RN evaluation and ineffective medication oversight which may also lead to the risk of adverse outcomes. I also noted that medication safety complications occur because of communication breakdown between nurses, physicians, and pharmacists. The implications contribute to the utility of the systematic improvements of the working process and standard operation to enhance the safety of geriatric patients who are at risk.

When it comes to being a BSN-prepared RN, my practice would involve guiding the quality improvement efforts, working with the pharmacists on the medication reconciliation process, and participating in evidence-based practice to reduce errors. I would also order such type of interventions basing on technology as bar-code medication administration and EHR alerts to improve safety and efficiency in the workflow. The research confirms that the leadership in nursing and adoption of health technologies are the most important to enhance the outcomes of medication safety and patient care (Cachata et al., 2024). The involvement of policy, staff training, and interdisciplinary coordination would mean that I would be actively integrated in the execution of safe practices by ensuring that the practices are enforced continuously. These interventions would enable teamwork and accountability in the care team. Lastly, my practice would entail making and sustaining changes that will improve medication management and patient outcomes.

Interprofessional Collaboration Implementation Overview

The model of interprofessional collaboration is essential in the SNF since the elderly patients are most often addressing multiple chronic conditions, and therefore, their needs constitute a multi-level problem. During my practicum, I observed that there is collaboration among Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), physicians, pharmacists, therapists, and social workers in the context of how the medicine is managed and how care is planned. However, the problem of unstable RN staffing and communication between disciplines creates a danger to the slowed evaluation and fragmented treatment (Charan et al., 2025). I as a student observed such interactions and realized the importance of routine teamwork in achieving patient safety. To improve the group coordination in the future as an RN with BSN preparedness, I would promote interdisciplinary huddles, joint EHR documentation, and quality improvement discussions. These interventions will ensure continuity of care, reduce medication errors, and achieve holistic and person-centered outcomes among vulnerable geriatric patients.

Benefits

Interprofessional collaboration within an SNF is very advantageous in that it enhances patient safety, reduces the issue of care fragmentation, and promotes holistic care. The mental and physical demands of the aged residents will be addressed appropriately with the sharing of knowledge among the nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and therapists. Besides, teamwork offers a communication process, allows mutual respect, and prevents burnout among the staff, as work can be shared, and problems are solved together (Horvath, 2024). This collaboration would enhance better management of chronic illnesses, fewer medication errors, and improve the quality of life for the patient. Lastly, interprofessional collaboration helps to provide continuity of care and increases person-centered practice within the SNF setting.

Government Agency Practice Guidelines

There are various government and regulatory organizations that dictate standards and control of the facilities by the SNFs in order to have safe, effective, and patient-centered care. The role of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is critical because it determines the reimbursement regulations, quality aspects, and person-centered care requirements (Erickson et al., 2020). They also make their recommendations based on medication safety, reduction of avoidable hospital rehospitalization, and value-oriented models of care. Similarly, the Joint Commission accredits SNFs and promotes evidence-based practice, ongoing employee training, and patient safety (Ibrahim et al., 2022). Compliance with these agencies implies that the facilities are associated with high-quality care and remain eligible in terms of funding and accreditation.

Nursing-sensitive outcomes include falls, pressure injuries, and medication-related errors which are also found in the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) and provide benchmarks. These indicators help SNFs to track the quality, trends, and take a particular improvement action. The recommendations provided by the government assume the fact that standardized testing, increased continuity of care, and data-based monitoring would help to attain improved outcomes with geriatric population (Wong et al., 2020). By following these requirements, BSN-ready nurses will have an opportunity to engage in quality check and foster safe, holistic care practices. Lastly, the compliance with the recommendations of these agencies helps in inspiring clinical excellence and organizational sustainability.

Assumptions

The medication management improvement proposals in SNFs have a number of assumptions. The assumption includes a well-equipped facility, in terms of resources, including staffing, funding, and technology, to allow implementation. The other assumption is that the health care sector practitioners are willing to accept the application of evidence-based practice, interprofessional teamwork, and training programs. Additionally, the standardized protocols are meant to assist the elderly patients and their families to receive coordinated care (Valverde et al., 2021). Finally, there is the speculation that the compliance of their guidelines by such agencies as CMS and The Joint Commission directly corresponds to such aspects as safety, efficiency, and patient outcomes.

Clinical Technology Addressing Practice Issues

The SNFs that offer safe medication administration and handling of the elderly in general are dependent on technology. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have become trendy in documenting the history of patients, treatment plans, and medicine, thereby facilitating the communication between providers (Janett and Yeracaris, 2020). Medication administration technologies, e.g., bar-code scanning systems, can be employed to eliminate errors by confirming that the patient is who he or she is and that the dosage is correct. There is also an increasing number of applications of telehealth to engage specialists with the residents who may not be in the physical presence (Talal et al., 2020). These tools can be very helpful to enhance the safety and sustainability of care.

In spite of these benefits, several challenges that limit the effective use of technology in the SNF setting exist. The bad staff training is likely to lead to the bad use of digital systems, which leads to documentation errors and inefficient workflow. The absence of access to modern technologies, such as bar-code medicine administration, leads to the existence of safety practice gaps (Valverde et al., 2021). In addition, there might be delays in communication between the nurse and the pharmacist, and the physician, due to the lack of system integration across the field of discipline. The absence of utilization of digital tools can also affect the elderly due to inadequate digital literacy. Such issues prove that additional training, integration, and accessibility must be provided.

Regardless of these problems, the impact of technology is still positive on SNFs as it assists in being more precise and efficient in terms of care delivery. The EHRs have increased the medication reconciliation process, limiting the occurrence of polypharmacy issues. Consultations have also been enhanced in a timely manner since telehealth has minimized unnecessary hospital transfers. Early warning signals about vital signs and chronic condition monitoring tools can be sent and used to encourage proactive interventions (Talal et al., 2020). When such technologies are used in the case of BSN-prepared nurses, safer, evidence-based care is implied, and residents become more satisfied. Last but not least, technology improves quality and safety in geriatric care in a well-implemented way.

Summarizing Available Technology with Pros and Cons

The literature substantiates the application of a number of technologies in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) to improve the quality of care and patient safety. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have the potential to enhance provider communication, reinforce documentation, and increase medication reconciliation. Barcode medication administration systems are designed to assist in reducing the number of patient errors by ensuring that the patient, medication, and dosage administered at the point of care are the correct ones. The telehealth services increase access to specialists, and the digital monitoring devices control the chronic condition and vital signs of residents (Zheng et al., 2020). These technologies also allow timely interventions, improved continuity of care, and effective clinical decision-making. The technology integration in general increases the evidence-based and patient-centered practice.

However, at SNFs, the use of technologies is not limited to and problem-free. Privacy and confidentiality are also raised when sending information on health in an electronic mode, particularly during telehealth sessions. The low digital literacy or the lack of access to supportive resources restricts other residents. The lack of an integrated system between disciplines may also lead to the failure of communication and fragmented care (Valverde et al., 2021). Moreover, the employees usually mention that there is no training or reluctance to implement new technologies, thus efficiency and adoption are less efficient. It may also be limited by financial constraint, as further investment in advanced systems, such as bar-code scanning. The challenges suggest the importance of training, financial resources, and infrastructure to convert the highest benefits of technology in geriatric care.

Technology Implementation Issue, Challenges, and Solutions

High-technology implementation in SNFs, such as bar-code medication delivery, telehealth, and digital monitoring solutions, comes with a range of challenges. The cost of equipment, software, and maintenance is prohibitively high, and the facilities that are not well-funded typically do not have them (Talal et al., 2020). Resistance by the staff (due to a lack of adoption or fear of work overload) may delay system adoption and reduce system efficiency. Electronic systems also have barriers to their use due to privacy concerns and the threat of data security, which presents challenges in their use. In addition, a few RN personnel make it difficult to provide adequate oversight of the new technology application.

To address these problems, the facilities ought to pursue grants, alliances, and state funds to help in investing in technology. Employee resistance may be diffused through a progressive roll-out process involving pilot testing, and confidence in and competence in digital tools may be achieved through ongoing training programs. Another possible privacy and confidentiality issue is to make sure that the HIPAA-compliant platforms and consent procedures are transparent (Elkourdi et al., 2024). The staff members will have an opportunity to impact the application of the technology, depending on the clinical needs of the facility, based on the interdisciplinary collaboration and regular feedback sessions. Lastly, the key aspects of ensuring that technology improves safety, efficiency, and patient outcomes in geriatric care are effective leadership and employee engagement.

Conclusion

This argument has identified the problems of medication management in SNFs, particularly with regard to polypharmacy, understaffing of RNs, and communication barriers. The quality improvement leadership, the promotion of safe delegation, and the introduction of technology that helps to minimize errors were the areas of contribution of the BSN-prepared nurses, in the first place. The government instructions and quality requirements were found to be essential in facilitating the interprofessional collaboration, which was found essential in the safety and coordination of care. Despite the good solutions being given by technology, cost, training, and integration of the systems should be taken into account to ensure successful implementations of the systems. Lastly, leadership and technology-focused promotion of nursing will enhance the degree of safety, quality, and outcomes within the vulnerable geriatric groups.

Related assessment for this class: NURS FPX 4905 Assessment 2 , NURS FPX 4905 Assessment 4