4 Main Functions of a Computer

1. Accepts data
2. Processes data
3. Produces output
4. Stores results

EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS 1ST – 5TH GEN and more to come…

 1940-1956: 1st gen (vacuum tubes)
 1956-1963: 2nd gen (transistors)
 1964-1971: 3rd gen (integrated circuits)
 1972-2010: 4th gen (microprocessors)
 2010-present: 5th gen (A.I. –Artificial Intelligence)

CLASSES OF COMPUTERS

1. Analog computers
- Handle continuous input. Data is continuously changing electric patterns of the heartbeat.

2. Digital computers
- Handles input that comes in discrete points in time.
- Its data are represented by numbers, letters, and symbols.

3. Hybrid computers
- Contains features of both analog and digital computers.

TYPES OF COMPUTERS

1. Supercomputers
- Largest type of computer (NASA, PAG-ASA)
- Computational-oriented computer especially designed for scientific appreciation requiring gigantic
amounts of calculation.
- Used in defense and weaponry, weather forecasting, scientific research.

2. Mainframe (high maintenance)

- Fastest, largest, and most expensive
- Business world
- Processing, restoring, and retrieving data.
- Special environment (cold and dry).

3. Microcomputers (PC)
- Used for an increasing numbers of independent application as well as serving as a desktop link to the
programs of the mainframe.
4. Handheld computers
- Small special function computers
- Limited in their expansion capabilities, ability to serve as full participants in the office network and
the peripherals they can support.
- PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistants)

COMPUTER IN NURSING

-used to mange into patient care, monitor the quality of care, and evaluate the outcomes of care.
- used for communicating…
 MAJOR HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES OF NURSING COMPUTERS

 Six time periods

1. Prior to the 1990s

- There are only few experts who forms cards of pointers who attempted to adapt computer to
health care and nursing.
- The nursing profession was also undergoing major changes
- The image of nursing was improving
- Nursing practice and services were expanding in scope and complexity and the number of
nurses was increasing.
- These events provide the impetus fir the profession to embrace computers.

2. 1960s

- Studies were conducted how computer technology could be utilized effectively in the health care
industry and what areas of nursing should be automated.
-Introduction of cathode ray tube (CRT) terminals, online data, communication, and real time
processing added important dimension to computer system, providing more accessible…

3. 1970s
-
-
- They assisted in the design and development of nursing applications for HIS and other environment
where nurses function.
- Health agencies developed and contracted for their own (MIS)

4. 1980s

- The field of informatics emerged in the health care industry and nursing.
-NI became an accepted specialty and many nursing experts entered the field.
-Many mainframe HIS emerged with nursing subsystem. (patient record, kardex, VS, results
report=lab tests, discharge planning.)
- Microcomputers or PC emerged.
-PCs served not only as terminals link to the mainframe computers but also as stand-alone systems
(workstations).
- They were user friendly and allow nurses to create their own applications.

5. 1990s

- Early 1990s computer technology became an integral part of healthcare settings, nursing
practice, and the nursing profession.
- Nursing profession became actively involved in promoting Ni.
- In 1992, ANA approved NI as a new nursing specialty.
- Brought smaller and faster computer (laptops, notebook) to the bedside and all of the point of
care settings.
- Workstations and local area networks (LANs), were developed for hospital nursing units.
- Wide area networks (WANs) were developed for linking care across healthcare facilities.
- Internet started to be used for linking across different systems.

6. Post 2000s
-Early 2000s continued torrid pace of hardware and software.
 - These growth is reflected in health care and nursing, with developments such as wireless point-of-
care, serious consideration for open source solutions, regional database projects, and increased IT
solutions targeted at all healthcare environments.

THE FUTURE OF NURSING: How changes in the healthcare industry affect clinical practice

NURSING INFORMATICS (NI)

Defined by American Nurses Association (ANA, 2001).

- A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and
communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice.

- Facilitates the integration of data, information, and knowledge to support to patients, nurses, and other
providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings.

- This support is accomplished through the use of information structures, information processes, and
information technology.

 Nursing Science is the development of

theories and practical concepts for improving how
clinicians and patients administer care and manage
conditions. It merges the worlds of natural, applied, and
human science into a multidimensional lens that explores
new and better ways to deliver health services.
 Information Science is the study of
processes for strong and retrieving information, especially
scientific or technical information.
 Computer Science is the study of the
principles and use of computers.

FOUR MAJOR NURSING AREAS

1. Nursing Practice
- Has become an integral part of health record. (EHR)
- Computer systems with nursing and patient care data, nursing care plans are no longer separate
subsystem of the computerized HISs but rather integrated into one interdisciplinary patient health
record in HER.
- Nursing Practice data emerged. Used to assess problems, document care, track the care process and
measure outcomes.
- The electronic version of nursing practice – the computer – has revolutionized and transformed
nursing practice.

2. Nursing Administration
- Nursing administration hospitals has also changed with the introduction of computer the links
nursing departments together.
- Most policy and procedure manuals are accessed and retrieved by computer.
- The internet is being used by nurses to access the libraries, online resources, and research protocols
at the bedside.

3. Nursing Education
- Most universities and schools of nursing offer computer enhanced courses, online courses, and/or
distant education.

4. Nursing Research
- Provides the impetus to use the computer for analyzing nursing data.