Week 1 Assignment  

Workflow Analysis

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to

Familiarize the student with the concept of workflow,

Identify potential workflow issues that have implications for the practice of nursing informatics

Acquaint the student with the concept of “stakeholder” in information system design.

Map current and proposed information workflow using flowchart diagrams.

Requirements

Description of the Assignment

 

This assignment requires the student to examine an information workflow ideally from their current work environment. If the student is not currently employed they can discuss alternatives with their faculty for approval. Some examples of information workflow might include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

allergy information;

 

advance directives;

 

organ donor status;

 

past medical history details;

 

past surgical history details;

 

medications;

 

use of vitamins and/or supplements;

 

functional living status;

 

list of providers;

 

Insurance claims processing;

 

Antibiotic resistant infection status

 

Other as identified by student (subject to faculty approval)

 

Directions

 

Map a particular piece of information from its collection and use throughout your organization. Identify what information you have chosen. Include verbal, written, and physical practices (e.g., how information is acquired, stored, distributed, and discarded). Map information workflow using a diagram. The diagram may be drawn using business process modeling notation figures available in Word, Visio, or other software. This assignment should be include a cover sheet, a one page explanation of the chosen workflow and rationale for its selection and a detailed map of current information workflow.

 

 

 

Preparing the Assignment

 

Required texts may be used as additional references.

 

The paper includes a coversheet, one-page description of the selected information workflow that includes the organization represented, rationale for selection and two actual or potential issues identified in the process of mapping the current information workflow, and a map of the current and proposed information workflow to improve safety/efficiency

 

Workflow maps must represent original work of the submitting student.

 

Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and citations are consistent with formal academic writing.

 

References are not required for this assignment but appropriate credit should be given for the ideas and work of others when used.