Education strategy for the implementation of computerized nursing documentation

Educators at The Toronto Hospital took an innovative approach to providing education and support to nursing staff prior to, during, and after the implementation of computerized nursing documentation. The education strategy included a combination of formal classroom training, inservices on the unit, a self-learning package and an electronic scavenger hunt. Resources such as Clinical Teachers, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Information Systems Analysts and Educators who provided support during the implementation phase received additional education to prepare for their role on the nursing units. Nurses were provided intensive twenty-four hour support for a period of four weeks, and a documentation checklist helped monitor the progress of individual nurses during the implementation. This strategy was designed to maximize consistent support and to minimize cost.