Traditional Paper Records

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) offer several advantages over traditional paper records, particularly for new student Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs). One of the key benefits is accessibility. EHRs allow healthcare providers to access patient information anytime and anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection. This accessibility is crucial for student FNPs who may need to review patient data quickly and remotely, facilitating better preparation for patient encounters and care plans. Moreover, EHRs support streamlined documentation, which reduces the risk of human errors such as illegible handwriting or missing information, common with paper records. Accurate and comprehensive documentation in EHRs ensures that student FNPs can rely on complete patient histories, enabling more informed decision-making (Hebda et al., 2019).

In addition to improving accessibility and reducing errors, EHRs enhance care coordination and communication among interdisciplinary healthcare teams. For student FNPs, the ability to share information with other healthcare providers in real time can lead to improved patient outcomes and continuity of care. For example, EHRs often include features such as automated reminders for follow-up care, which help ensure that patients receive timely interventions (McBride et al., 2020). EHRs also facilitate evidence-based practice by providing integrated access to clinical guidelines, treatment protocols, and the latest research, supporting FNPs in delivering high-quality care. These features, coupled with the reduction in administrative burden, make EHRs a valuable tool for new healthcare providers (Adler-Milstein & Jha, 2017; Alotaibi & Federico, 2017).

References

Adler-Milstein, J., & Jha, A. K. (2017). HITECH Act drove large gains in hospital electronic health record adoption. Health Affairs, 36(8), 1416-1422. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1651

Alotaibi, Y. K., & Federico, F. (2017). The impact of health information technology on patient safety. Saudi Medical Journal, 38(12), 1173-1180. https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2017.12.20631

Hebda, T., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare professionals (6th ed.). Pearson.

McBride, S., Tietze, M., Robichaux, C., Stokes, L., & Weber, E. (2020). Health information technology and nursing: Moving from silos to interoperability. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 24(2).