Survey of nurse perceptions regarding the utilization of bedside computers

In December 1993, Intermountain Health Care (IHC) placed a moratorium on the installation of bedside computers in the acute care setting unless information could be obtained to justify resumption of these installations. A survey was developed and administered to nurses at two IHC hospitals. The survey results indicate that acute care nurses value bedside computers and believe that IHC should install them at other facilities. In addition, the acute care nurses estimate that they are using the bedside computers over 75% of the time during the day shift to document vital signs/measurements and intake/output quantities. Based on the results of this survey, IHC has decided to continue installing bedside computers in the acute care setting.