Nurses left out of the conversation

As happens many times in the health care industry, nurses seem to get left out of the big picture. I couldn’t help but think of this when reading “Yale study links electronic health record systems to physician burnout, medical errors” [Nov. 14]. The article refers to a study which found that physicians are feeling frustrated, overworked, and burntout from the difficulties of documenting and maneuvering through electronic health records (EHRs). I don’t doubt this.

However, as a recently retired critical care nurse who worked many years in a large inner-city hospital system, it bothered me that this article focused on EHRs causing stress to physicians, but did not address its effect on other health care workers, especially nursing staff. Today, nurses are caring for sicker patients in more budget-constrained competitive hospital environments. This alone creates a stressful work environment for nurses as they struggle to deliver safe, competent care to their patients, while attempting to support their loved ones as well during their work shift. Additionally, there is the need to document all of the physical care, emotional support, medications and treatments delivered by the end of the work shift without accruing any frowned-upon overtime — let’s just say, nurses are definitely feeling the stress and frustration as well.

In the past, one would walk onto a hospital unit and the nurse would most likely be found at the bedside interacting with the patient or family. Now it would be more likely to find that nurse in front of the computer, interfacing with EHRs. So even though the EHR has had a positive effect in making patient information more accessible, it has come at a price for those caring for the patient. Hopefully, moving forward, one of the goals for improving the EHR will focus on easing the burden of our health care staff, as they interface with these systems.

Lauren Banda, Windsor