Workplace quality initiatives are pivotal in improving patient outcomes and ensuring safe settings. Their implementation is supported by scientific research due to the evidence-based nature of quality improvement interventions. Health information technology (HIT) training in my workplace is a valuable quality initiative that benefits patients, healthcare professionals, and organizational management. Nursing research supports technology education and training for nurses since the digital era requires nurses to be proficient in data use, information handling, and technology applications to improve nursing care (Chipps et al., 2022; Tischendorf et al., 2024). In the workplace, HIT training improves nurses’ informatics skills and competencies to enable them to use technology safely, ethically, and efficiently. Such improved competencies are crucial in nursing since informatics incompetence hampers patient care by decreasing patient safety and causing medical errors (Chipps et al., 2022). A tech-competent workforce is also confident in using information systems, which fosters interprofessional collaboration through seamless information sharing- this leads to better and safer patient care. Implementation barriers encountered during the HIT training include time constraints, resource problems, and poor attitude. Time constraints are a common barrier since the training continues as nurses continue with routine patient care. From a resource viewpoint, the training requires experts and educational resources, adding hospital management costs. Some nurses, particularly older nurses, fear technology, which may lead to negative attitudes toward its use and related informatics training (Chipps et al., 2022). These barriers and others further challenge translating research into practice. During research translation, change implementers encounter various barriers, including a lack of leadership support, inexperience in knowledge translation, and an organizational culture that does not embrace innovation (Tulokas et al., 2024). Healthcare leaders should continually evaluate organizational practices and culture to ensure nursing teams understand the value of research translation into practice. Leaders should also support quality initiatives through resources, guidance, and presence that influence better health practices.

References

Chipps, J., Le Roux, L., Agabus, J., & Bimerew, M. (2022). Nursing informatics skills relevance and competence for final year nursing students. Curationis45(1), e1–e8. https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v45i1.2277 Tischendorf, T., Hasseler, M., Schaal, T., Ruppert, S. N., Marchwacka, M., Heitmann-Möller, A., & Schaffrin, S. (2024). Developing digital competencies of nursing professionals in continuing education and training–a scoping review. Frontiers in Medicine11, 1358398. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1358398 Tulokas, M., Haapasalo, H., & Tampio, K. P. (2024). Formation and maintenance of organizational culture in collaborative hospital construction projects. Project Leadership and Society5, 100125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plas.2024.100125