WISE-APN

Funded by National Library of Medicine (G08LM008588, 2007-2009)
PI: Suzanne Bakken

The purpose (E3) of Wireless Informatics for Safe and Evidence-based (WISE) APN Care is to provide education in new technologies. The program goal of WISE APN Care is to reduce health disparities in underserved populations through preparing Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) students, faculty, and preceptors to use informatics approaches for improving patient safety and enhancing evidence-based practice in a culturally competent manner. Three continuing project objectives and one new project objective in this competitive renewal reflect an expansion of patient safety targets to include specific aspects of infection prevention and control (Healthy People [HP] 2010 14-18, 14-19, 14-20, 14-21) and handoff communication as a complement to the continuing HP 2010 targets of education and community-based programs, health communication, patient falls and falls-related injuries, and medical product safety. In addition, new project objective 4 reflects an expansion of the Hazard and Near Miss Reporting System, which we developed in the initial project period, for use in the ambulatory care setting. Our technological approach has also evolved from a focus on personal mobile devices to Web 2.0 collaborative learning environments and technologies. The WISE APN project objectives are to:

  1. Incorporate into the APN curriculum an essential set of competencies related to patient safety in underserved populations (National Goals I and II; HP 2010 14-18, 14-19, 14-20, 14-21, 15-27, 15-28, 17-1, 17-2, 17-3, 17-5)
  2. Enhance the competencies of APN faculty and clinical instructors related to patient safety and informatics in underserved populations (National Goals I and II; HP 2010 7-7, 11-2, 11-4, 14-18, 14-19, 14-20, 14-21, 15-27, 15-28, 17-1, 17-2, 17-3, 17-5; Linkage)
  3. Implement and maintain desktop and wireless access to web-based information and communication resources related to patient safety, evidence-based practice, and cultural competence in underserved populations for APN students, faculty, and clinical instructors (National Goal I; HP 2010 7-7, 11-2, 11-4, 14-18, 14-19, 14-20, 14-21, 15-27, 15-28, 17-1, 17-2, 17-3, 17-5)
  4. Expand the web-based Hazard and Near Miss Reporting System for application in the ambulatory care setting (HP 2010 7-7, 11-2, 11-4, 14-18, 14-19, 15-27, 15-28, 17-1, 17-2, 17-3, 17-5)
  5. Apply innovative Web 2.0 technologies to develop, implement, and maintain access to tools aimed at improving handoff communication within discipline, across disciplines, and across care settings (Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal)
  6. Appoint and convene an interdisciplinary Advisory Board with expertise in patient safety, infection control and prevention, informatics, and educational technology (Linkage)

These objectives build upon the significant experiences, outcomes, and infrastructure of the initial three years of WISE APN Care. We will implement and evaluate the objectives for APN students, faculty, and clinical instructors (n=645) in the context of an underserved community population for which we request statutory funding preference.

WISE-APN Team Members