Nurse practitioner use of computer technologies in practice

A study was undertaken to determine computer use by nurse practitioners in public clinics, private practice, health maintenance organizations, and other settings in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The descriptive research used a survey design. Subjects were 200 nurse practitioners. The survey instrument was developed by the researcher. Of the 104 respondents, 86 (83%) used computers at work. "Obtaining client records from other agencies or departments" was rated the most useful computer application for improving client care. "Internet searches" was rated the next most useful computer application; "entering client record information" was rated the third most useful. Use of computer applications varied by practice setting. Only 7 (25%) nurse practitioners in private practice accessed client records from other agencies, as did 17 (57%) in public clinics, and nearly all, 29 (94%), in HMOs. The research demonstrated that nurse practitioners underused computer applications that would improve client care in their practice.