The Impact of Standardized Nursing Terminology

Standardized Nursing Terminologies

The 21st century is experiencing significant transformations in many sectors, particularly the medical and healthcare industry. Today, the world is gradually shifting towards a digital revolution, which is influencing operations and performance in almost all professions (Törnvall & Jansson, 2015). The healthcare system and nursing career are also undergoing major changes in order to avail improved quality and safe medical care. One of the fundamental transformations in the nursing sector includes the use of standardized terminologies.

Informing Nurses on Importance of Standardized Nursing Terminologies

Nurses are taught different classification systems in the course of their studies and practice. This tutoring is broad and relays comprehensive information which is challenging to memorize (Tastan et al., 2014). As a result, I would employ a range of tools which will not only make it easier for nurses to grasp the standardized nursing language, but also make it easier for professionals and students to build a comprehensive care plan. These tools include workshops, development of simulation centers, website and applications, and use of pocket booklets (Randy & Karen, 2017). Simulations resemble clinical practice and can be applied in assessments, theories, and technology. When simulation is taught in classrooms, the nursing students will grasp the terminologies of clinical practice. Through workshops (which are developed within clinical cases), nurses can be trained on the various standardized nursing terms while still allowing the learners to take an active role in discussions (Törnvall & Jansson, 2015). Mobile applications, websites, and pocket booklets will be taught in clinical sites for real situations.

Benefits of Standardized Nursing Language

The standardized language facilitates better communication among nursing and healthcare professionals, increases the visibility of medical interventions, and supports improvements in patient care.

Better Communication in Health Care Provision

Standardized nursing language is a crucial facilitator of improved communication drive among healthcare professionals, nurses, administrators, and other employees in a hospital environment. For example, the most recent standardized terminology “the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)” is regarded as a uniform term for mental illnesses and disorders (Randy & Karen, 2017). In such a case, when an obstetrician notes “failure to improve” on a medical chart or when a psychiatrist terms a diagnosis as “chronic schizophrenia” other health professionals can easily understand the diagnosis as DSM-IV (Tastan et al., 2014). 

Increased Visibility

It is normal for nurses to use unofficial and informal channels of information to communicate with one another verbally. As a result, there is a need for computerized nursing language and standardized systems located close to the patient, which will ultimately lead to steady documentation (Ali & Sieloff, 2017). For instance, the sensitivity to medical practices availed by standardized nursing systems helps to identify the contribution of healthcare professionals to patients’ outcomes, hence making the care provision more visible.

 Improved Patient Care

The implementation and application of standardized nursing terminologies can heighten the standards of patient care. For example, a survey by Cavendish on perceptions of most common and frequent cases of abdominal pain used the terms NOC and NIC to influence overall outcomes and interventions hence helping to identify chief complaints (Törnvall & Jansson, 2015).

Challenges Facing the Use of Standardized Nursing Technologies

Three categories of limitations encompass the use of standardized language in nursing, and these groups entail system barriers, NP challenges, and EHR operational obstacles.  System challenges include high costs, non-implementation of EHR, and unavailability of resources (Tastan et al., 2014). EHR operational barriers are the limitation in reporting of capabilities, mapping of SNL, and incorporation of SNL in EHR. NP challenges entail non-familiarity with standard language, lack of computer confidence, and lack of understanding on the importance of uniform nursing terminologies.

In conclusion, nurses provide care to a myriad of patients that range from promoting health practices, sustaining life, enabling recovery, and alleviating suffering. There is a huge array of methodologies for communicating the use of standardized nursing terminologies. Amid a number of challenges and benefits affiliated with technology, standardized language facilitates a systematic classification and definition of care interventions in nursing.

References

Ali, S., & Sieloff, C. L. (2017). Nurse's use of power to standardise nursing terminology in electronic health records. Journal of Nursing Management, 25(5), 346-353. doi:10.1111/jonm.12471

Randy, J. H., & Karen, A. M. (2017). Standardized Nursing Terminology Use in Electronic Health Records in Minnesota. Modern Clinical Medicine Research, 1(1). doi:10.22606/mcmr.2017.11003

Tastan, S., Linch, G. C., Keenan, G. M., Stifter, J., McKinney, D., Fahey, L., … Wilkie, D. J. (2014). Evidence for the existing American Nurses Association-recognized standardized nursing terminologies: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 51(8), 1160-1170. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2013.12.004

Törnvall, E., & Jansson, I. (2015). Preliminary Evidence for the Usefulness of Standardized Nursing Terminologies in Different Fields of Application: A Literature Review. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge, 28(2), 109-119. doi:10.1111/2047-3095.12123