The Impact of a PDA-Assisted Documentation Tutorial on Student Nurses' Attitudes

Abstract

The purpose of this pretest-posttest study was to determine the effect of a PDA-assisted documentation tutorial on fourth-year student nurses' (n=56) attitudes toward computerized documentation, anticipation to exercise of professional judgment when documenting, and satisfaction with computer technology for documentation. Paired t test showed significant increases in anticipation to use professional nursing judgment and satisfaction with the PDA for documentation. Satisfaction with the PDA for documentation was positively and significantly related to attitudes toward computerized documentation (r=.46, P<.01), and satisfaction with a PDA learning tutorial (r=.46, P<.01). Attitudes toward computerized documentation, length of nursing experience, and satisfaction with the PDA learning tutorial predicted satisfaction with the PDA for documentation. Seventy percent of 213 comments about the value of the PDA were favorable. These findings indicate that the PDA may be a valuable documentation tool for teaching professional nursing judgment and documentation skills to undergraduate nursing students.

A meta‐study of the essentials of quality nursing documentation

“…Reason for exclusion Allen, 1998 12 Focuses on the views of nurses Ansell et al, 2007 21 Focuses on medical care received Axelsson et al, 2006 22 Article is not about nursing documentation Bjorvell et al, 2003 23 Does not answer initial question Ehrenberg et al, 2001 24 Focus on the audit process Friberg et al, 2006 25 Focuses on patient knowledge Johann et al, 2007 26 Outside the scope of the initial question Junttila et al, 2005 27 Outside the scope of the initial question McCormick, 2005 28 Focus on testing and developing a computer system Monsen et al, 2006 29 Focus on computerized documentation Newman and Howse, 2007 30 Focus on attitudes to educational tutorial Darmer et al, 2006 31 Discusses a model preordained and the adherence to this model Thoroddsen and Ehnfors, 2007 32 Focus on change not quality Lee, 2006 33 Focus on care plan design Tornkvist et al, 2003 34 Focus on pain management Ziegert et al, 2007 35 Focus on the next of kin Questionnaire/chart audit An essential source of knowledge about patient care…”

The effect of Personal Digital Assistants in supporting the development of clinical reasoning in undergraduate nursing students: a systematic review

“…PDA devices may in fact help to construct a clearer picture of the patient context and by these means improve students' problem and decision making skills 14,15 .…”

“…Determinants for PDA adoption in nursing education identified in the literature include, issues with interface and the level of skill required to use the device 13,15,16 , limited recourses 16 and the costs to institutions to implement this technology 18,19 .These issues require further attention in the nursing literature due to the potential to impede the development of clinical reasoning among nursing students.…”

The effect of Personal Digital Assistants in supporting the development of clinical reasoning in undergraduate nursing students: a systematic review

“…While findings appear to be inconclusive, it is hypothesised that PDAs can potentially prove to be a useful resource for clinical reasoning development through supporting elements of the process such as improving accuracy, time efficiency and by providing access to a wider variety of relevant and current clinical information readily. PDA devices may in fact help to construct a clearer picture of the patient context and by these means improve students' problem and decision making skills 14,15 .…”

“…Determinants for PDA adoption in nursing education identified in the literature include, issues with interface and the level of skill required to use the device 13,15,16 , limited recourses 16 and the costs to institutions to implement this technology 18,19 .These issues require further attention in the nursing literature due to the potential to impede the development of clinical reasoning among nursing students.…”