Answer

Application: Adoption of New Technology Systems

Adoption of novel technologies has proven to be the sufficient way through which nurses can execute their practice in effective and efficient manner, which can ensure the delivery of quality care (Abramson et al, 2014). However, the implementation of new technologies in organizations is often met with immense resistance from employees who want to maintain the status quo. To minimize the level of resistance that the implementation of the EHRs (electronic health records) may encounter, the five qualities highlighted by Rogers (2003) can be employed in preparing the nurses for this upcoming implementation. This goal will be accomplished by making nurses aware or informed of the EHRs systems and its contribution to the organization’s and nurses’ progress.

The first step will involve making the nurses informed about the relative advantage offered by the EHRs over the old systems. According to Abramson et al (2014), employees often demonstrate minimal resistance when they are aware of the benefits of the change to themselves and to the organizations. Employees will be made to know that the EHRs and the potential to exchange health information in an electronic manner can help them offer higher quality as well as safer care, while establishing tangible enhancement for the organization. McGonigle & Mastrian (2012) assert that the EHRs assist healthcare providers manage care for patients in a better way.  These systems ensure that healthcare providers offer precise, up-to-date, and adequate information concerning patients at the care point. They also enable quick accessibility to records of patients for more coordinated and efficient care. EHRs ensure that nurses can securely share electronic information with their patients as well as other clinicians. EHRs help care providers to diagnose patients in a more effective manner, thereby minimizing medical errors and providing safer care. These systems also improve the interaction and communication between patients and care providers. Furthermore, EHRs ensure the convenience of health care and enable safer and more reliable prescription (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2012). These systems also promote legible and comprehensive documentation, as well as precise and streamlined billing and coding. They also enhance the security and privacy of patient data and enable providers to improve the work-life balance and productivity. The EHRs also enable providers to be more efficient and accomplish their business objectives. Moreover, the EHRS limit costs via decreased paperwork, enhanced safety, limited duplication of testing, and enhanced health (Bates 2010).  These benefits will be explained to the nurses, after which the compatibility between the EHRs and the organization’s practices and values will be highlighted.

As one of the qualities highlighted by Rogers (2003), the aspect of compatibility between the EHRs and the facility’s existing practices and values will be explained to the nurses. According to Roger (2003), the system adopter must comprehend how the novel innovation aligns with the organization’s current practices. In this stage, some of the organization’s core values and principle such as privacy will be emphasized. For example, the EHRs ensure the safety of information associated with patients, thereby making the system to be in line with the organization’s existing practices and values. In addition, the fact that EHRs ensure that diagnosis is executed in more effective ways, thereby reducing medical errors and providing safer care, makes these system match the available practices and values at the organization. Explaining and justifying the compatibility between the EHRs and the facility’s existing values and practices to the nurses will enable them establish a positive attitude towards the adoption of this implementation. This stage will then be followed by informing the nurses about the simplicity associated with the EHRs.

Roger (2003) asserts that the adopted of the system must have the belief that she or he can master the novel technology in an easy way. When systems are difficult to learn, adopters often demonstrate high levels of resistance. As such, the nurses will be made to know that the EHRs are easy to operate/use. Abramson et al (2014) point out that the ease of use of EHRs covers five principal areas that include patient portals, clinical support, technical support, meaningful use. And quality of care. This idea will be emphasized to the nurses to ensure that issues of anxiety and fear of the new technology are eliminated. Such an undertaking will ensure that nurses develop the right mindset about using the new system. After the successful accomplishment of this step, nurses will then be taken to the trial-ability stage.

According to Roger (2003), the adopter of the technology must have the chance to play around or handle the novel technology and explore its competencies. Abramson et al (2014) add that exposing adopters to novel technologies act as a significant step towards ensuring that they get comfortable round such systems, by getting rid of elements of anxiety. In relation to this, nurse will be allowed to try using an EHR system. Nurses will be organized in groups to allow for the sharing of ideas and opinions on how to use the system. This undertaking will also ensure that nurses can jointly employ their knowledge in exploring the capabilities associated with the EHR. Nurses who encounter problems will be required to seek help from their colleagues who know how to use the system. Besides, such nurses will also be offered adequate time to get used to the system. In this manner, nurses will manage to get rid of any element of fear or anxiety that they might have about the proposed system. Besides, they will acquire extra knowledge about the system, which might have not been explained to them.

Nurses will then be allowed to justify the benefits associated with the EHRs. Roger (2003) argues that the adopter needs to have evidence that the suggested innovation has been successful in other circumstances. In relation to this, case studies and real life experiences concerning the use and success of the EHRs will be presented to the nurses. Abramson et al (2014) state that one of the best mechanisms that can be employed in minimizing resistance to the adoption of new technology is presenting situations in which such a system has been successful. Therefore, this approach will be employed in eliminating cases of doubts among the nurses concerning the EHRs effectiveness.

By informing the nurses about the five qualities of a system proposed by Roger (2003), they will manage to wipe out any element of resistance that might be lingering on their minds. Thorough explanation of the benefits and competencies of the EHRs in relation to these five qualities will ensure that the nurses are well-informed about the new system that they have to adopt. As a result, the implementation of this system (i.e. EHRs) will be accomplished in an effective and efficient manner, making it a success.