Application of a computerized nursing care plan system in one hospital: experiences of ICU nurses in Taiwan

The purpose of this paper is to present ICU nurses' experiences with a computerized nursing care plan system at a medical centre in Taiwan.

Computerized nursing care plans have been implemented in recent years, but users' perceptions of this technology have not been comprehensively explored. It is believed that by taking into consideration users' experiences with computer use, strategies and programs can be developed to help users adapt to new systems.

A qualitative study, involving one-to-one interviews, was conducted with 12 Registered Nurses. Data were analysed according to Miles and Huberman's data reduction, data display and conclusion verification process.

Themes related to the clinical impact of system use were: 'saves paper/time', 'time-consuming for print-outs', 'de-individualization of care plan', 'routine/paperwork requirement', 'no consensus for nursing diagnoses', and 'guidelines for the novice'.

Nurses prefer tools that can help them save time with paperwork and focus on targeting patient problems. With careful assessment and evaluation of nurses' experiences in the use of clinical computer systems, the success of computer implementation can be enhanced.