The Nurse Leader as Knowledge Worker
The term “knowledge worker” was first coined by management consultant and author Peter Drucker in his book, The Landmarks of Tomorrow (1959). Drucker defined knowledge workers as high-level workers who apply theoretical and analytical knowledge, acquired through formal training, to develop products and services. Does this sound familiar?
Nurses are very much knowledge workers. What has changed since Drucker’s time are the ways that knowledge can be acquired. The volume of data that can now be generated and the tools used to access this data have evolved significantly in recent years and helped healthcare professionals (among many others) to assume the role of knowledge worker in new and powerful ways. The nurse leader as knowledge worker
In this Assignment, you will consider the evolving role of the nurse leader and how this evolution has led nurse leaders to assume the role of knowledge worker. You will prepare a PowerPoint presentation with an infographic (graphic that visually represents information, data, or knowledge. Infographics are intended to present information quickly and clearly.) to educate others on the role of nurse as knowledge worker.
Reference: Drucker, P. (1959). The landmarks of tomorrow. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To Prepare:
- Review the concepts of informatics as presented in the Resources.
- Reflect on the role of a nurse leader as a knowledge worker.
- Consider how knowledge may be informed by data that is collected/accessed.
The Assignment:
- Explain the concept of a knowledge worker.
- Define and explain nursing informatics and highlight the role of a nurse leader as a knowledge worker.
- Include one slide that visually represents the role of a nurse leader as knowledge worker.
- Your PowerPoint should Include the hypothetical scenario you originally shared in the Discussion Forum. Include your examination of the data that you could use, how the data might be accessed/collected, and what knowledge might be derived from that data. Be sure to incorporate feedback received from your colleagues’ responses.
By Day 7 of Week 2
Submit your completed Presentation.
submission information
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Scenario Focus: Enhancing Medication Administration Safety in a Trauma ICU
- Ensure medication administration accuracy is critical in the high-pressure environment of a trauma ICU. Despite standardized protocols, medication errors can still occur due to factors such as high patient acuity, complex medication regimens, and the frequent need for rapid decision-making. To address this issue, the scenario focuses on improving medication administration safety by implementing a data-driven approach that leverages real-time monitoring and analysis of medication administration processes (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2022). The nurse leader as knowledge worker
- Data Collection and Access
- The primary data to be collected would include medication administration records, patient outcomes, nurse workload data, and incident reports related to medication errors. This data could be accessed through an electronic health record (EHR) system that integrates barcode scanning technology, which is already used in many hospitals to verify patient identity and medication details before administration (Sweeney, 2017). Additionally, the hospital’s workforce management system could gather data on nurse staffing levels, patient acuity, and workload. The nurse leader as knowledge worker
- To collect this data, the EHR system could be configured to automatically record each medication administration instance, including the time, dosage, and the administering nurse’s ID. Incident reports and patient outcome data could also be linked to specific medication administration events, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of factors contributing to errors.
- Deriving Knowledge from Data
- The data collected would enable the identification of patterns and trends related to medication administration errors. For example, the analysis might reveal that mistakes are more likely to occur during certain shifts, with specific medications, or when nurse workloads exceed a threshold. This knowledge could inform the development of targeted interventions, such as adjusting staffing levels during high-risk periods, providing additional training on specific medications, or redesigning workflow processes to reduce the likelihood of errors (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2022).
- Role of Nurse Leader in Knowledge Formation
- A nurse leader would use clinical reasoning and judgment to analyze the data and derive meaningful insights. This process begins with recognizing the need for data collection and identifying the relevant variables to monitor. The nurse leader would then critically evaluate the data, considering factors such as the context of each medication administration event, the reliability of the data sources, and the potential impact of confounding variables (Sweeney, 2017). The nurse leader as knowledge worker
- Using clinical judgment, the nurse leader would interpret the findings in the context of the trauma ICU’s unique environment, balancing rapid medication administration with the imperative to minimize errors. For instance, if data shows that errors increase during peak workload times, the nurse leader might advocate for implementing a double-check system or adjusting nurse-patient ratios to reduce the risk of errors.
- The knowledge gained from this experience would enhance medication safety in the trauma ICU and contribute to broader organizational learning. The nurse leader could share the findings with other units, participate in developing hospital-wide medication safety protocols, and contribute to the continuous improvement of nursing practices (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2022). The nurse leader as knowledge worker
- References
- McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2022). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge(5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Sweeney, J. (2017). Healthcare informatics. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 21(1).
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NURS_5051_Module01_Week02_Assignment_Rubric
| NURS_5051_Module01_Week02_Assignment_Rubric; The nurse leader as knowledge worker | ||||||
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDevelop a 5- to 6-slide PowerPoint presentation that addresses the following:· Explain the concept of a knowledge worker.· Define and explain nursing informatics. |
|
25 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDevelop a graphic visual representation of the role of the nurse leader as a knowledge worker. On the slide, include an explanation of the role. |
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15 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePresent the hypothetical scenario you originally shared in the Discussion Forum. Include your examination of the data you could use, how the data might be accessed/collected, and what knowledge might be derived from the data. Be sure to incorporate feedback received from your colleagues’ replies. |
|
35 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePowerPoint presentation:The presentation is professional; images are appropriately attributed; images are clear. The presentation text is readable. Presentation flows well and is presented in a logical order. The nurse leader as knowledge worker |
|
5 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeResources
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|
10 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten Expression and Formatting – English writing standards:Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation The nurse leader as knowledge worker |
|
5 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten Expression and Formatting – APA:The reference list and image attribution list follow correct APA format |
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5 pts | ||||
| Total Points: 100 | ||||||