Orthonurse's Blog

Working as an orthopedic nurse I see a lot of total joint replacements, especially knee replacements. Therefore I thought it would be helpful and interesting for me to create a webliography to help give you reliable information. Considering having a knee replacement can be a very scary thought. The following are some resources to help you get the information to hopefully make your decision easier and live a more active and pain free life.

University of Washington Medicine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

http://www.orthop.washington.edu/uw/totalkneereplacement/tabID__3350/ItemID__67/Articles/Default.aspx

This site is brief and to the point. It does not give a ton of information but the information given is actuate and answers many basic questions. It has lots of links to more information such as preparation for surgery, cost, recovery time, anesthesia, and much more.

Ed Heads – Activate the Mind!

http://www.edheads.org/activities/knee/

This website is AWESOME!! You get to perform the knee replacement surgery while learning a ton and its fun for all ages. It gives great information as you go along. It can help give patients an idea of what will be going on while they are having the surgery.

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00389

This site provides information from the very beginning to the end. It starts off with reasons why one should have a total knee replacement. Then it assists you in finding an orthopedic surgeon near you. It has great information on equipment that one may need for home use and the care that one will need at home for wound care and therapy. It covers it all and it has great pictures!

Zimmer

http://www.zimmer.com/z/ctl/op/global/action/1/id/8138/template/PC

Zimmer is one of the most popular brands of knee joints used. The site discusses the durability of the joint itself along with information of the process for a knee replacement.

Journal of Gerontological Nursing – CINAHL

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,url,cookie,uid&db=rzh&AN=2010413490&loginpage=custlogin.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site

A study published in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing shows that total knee replacements offer increased mobility.

Orthopedics – CINAHL

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,url,cookie,uid&db=rzh&AN=2009298953&loginpage=custlogin.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site

An article published in “Orthopedics” on the use of different knee systems for a routine knee replacement surgery.

Strategy:

When searching for reliable resources on the internet I looked at a couple of different things. The first thing I look at is the site authors and the date it was published. It needs to be within the last few years so that I know it is up to date information. I also pay close attention to the URL. It can give great clues as to who owns the website. For example .edu are educational institutions, .gov are government sites, .com are for profit or commercial, and .org is for organizations.  But remember these are just clues it’s not always 100%.

Because the world of technology is ever changing and all around us it is very important that we look at the ethics of informatics. I think first and foremost we need to look at what ethics is and some principles of ethics. McGonigle and Mastrian define ethics as “a process of systematically examining varying viewpoints related to moral questions of right and wrong.” Healthcare principles related to ethics are nonmaleficence, veracity, and beneficence. Nonmaleficence is doing no harm. Veracity is the right to truth. Beneficence is actions that are performed that contribute to the welfare of others. When making ethical decisions we need to keep in mind that we may all come up with different solutions, however that does not make one person’s solution wrong. Our main focus needs to be on the patient and the patient’s outcomes. Every patient and situation is different therefore when using a decision support tool one needs to look at the information in light of each individual’s situation.

It’s crazy for me to think about how much information is out there on different networks linked to thousands of different computers and the possibility of a breach. Organizations must follow strict policies in order to ensure there is not a breach of patient information, electronic health records, and privacy. Confidentiality, availability, and integrity are the three keys to secure networks. Everyone working with the network needs to understand what data is confidential and know the different ways in which it is handled.

Electronic Health Records (EHR) are composed of 8 main parts according to McGonigle and Mastrian these 8 parts are: “health information and data, results management, order entry management, decision support, electronic communication and connectivity, patient support, administrative processes, and reporting and population health management.” There are many mixed emotions on the advantages of an EHR.

Here’s another thought to ponder when looking at ethics and informatics. Who ‘owns’ the Electronic Health Record? Is it the patient, the healthcare system, the government, insurance companies, the health care provider, or the owner of the computer system itself which holds the electronic health record? I believe that ultimately the patient ‘owns’ the electronic health record (EHR). They have the right to say who sees their health records and who does not. However I also believe that all other personnel involved with the EHR needs to think as if they ‘own’ it because it will instill respect in them for the privacy of the records.

McGonigle, D, & K. Mastrian. (2009). Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge. ( Kevin. Sullivan, Ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

• I Now Know the Differences Between A Search Engine, A Data Base, and an Internet Search Directory

The world of technology and computers is ever growing. As healthcare professionals or all professionals for that matter we need to understand and know how to use that technology to our advantage.  After the first week of our Healthcare Informatics class and reading through “Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge” by Dee McGonigle and Kathleen Mastrian I have already learned a ton. Some important things that I have learned are the differences between a search engine, data base, and an internet search directory.

-  A search engine is a website that is designed to help individuals search for information on the web. There are a number of different search engines out there which may find different results for the same search. However, it is important to keep in mind the credibility of the sites it gives you. Anyone can create a website and put whatever they want on it.

-  A data base is a collection of related information that can be accessed by individuals. The information is organized by either fields, records, columns, or rows.

-  An internet search directory is a listing of categorized websites. These websites have been evaluated by others to ensure their credibility.

McGonigle, D, & K. Mastrian. (2009). Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge. ( Kevin. Sullivan, Ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

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