Perioperative nurses' attitudes toward the electronic health record

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Informatics
• Nursing Practice
• Health Information Technology

Background:

• Electronic health records (EHR) are mandated by healthcare legislation, aiming to enhance patient-centered data and safety.
• Limited research exists on perioperative nurses' perspectives regarding EHR adoption and use.
• Understanding nurse attitudes is vital for effective EHR implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To ascertain perioperative nurses' attitudes towards utilizing electronic health records (EHR) in patient care.
• To identify potential barriers and facilitators influencing EHR adoption among perioperative nursing staff.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative descriptive survey design was employed to assess attitudes.
• Perioperative nurses within a southeastern health system participated in an online survey.
• Data collection focused on attitudes concerning EHR use in delivering patient care.

Main Results:

• Respondents generally perceived EHR as beneficial for patient care.
• The EHR was not seen as increasing nursing workload.
• Improvements in documentation and job security perceptions were noted.

Conclusions:

• Successful EHR integration and patient-centered care depend on nursing acceptance and utilization.
• Addressing perioperative nurses' attitudes and potential barriers is key to improving patient safety, communication, and cost-effectiveness.
• Empowering EHR implementers with this data can optimize system adoption and impact.