UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 25 SEPTEMBER 2014
A study released this week, featured in BMJ Quality & Safety, claims that nurses have been putting patients at risk from mistakes being made on paper charts used to monitor them.
But a health expert from Birmingham City University has warned against nurses becoming too reliant on technology, as he believes this may dilute their ability to use their own initiative.
“I find it slightly depressing that nurses need a phone (or other electrical device) to tell them to call a Doctor. On our programme here (at Birmingham City University) we absolutely focus on spotting physiological signs that someone is becoming ill – and acting on it” says Michael Adams, Associate Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery at Birmingham City University.
Michael believes that technology in the ward should be used to assist nurses, not to replace their better judgement, and places a key emphasis on technology confirming what the nurse should already have spotted.
“The key issue is the fact that the devices are helping nurses recognise deterioration – this is the key factor in preventing people becoming sicker. As a profession we have to raise the importance of spotting early deterioration in patients and acting.”
For further comments and interview opportunities, please contact the Press Office on 0121 331 6738.