Standardized nursing work: works in practice but not in theory?

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2010:157:91-6.

Abstract

Socio-technical approaches have established that ICT-supported standardization of healthcare work is difficult, if not impossible. We argue that standardization is neither straightforward nor uncontroversial, but discuss an interpretative case study where standardization of nursing work--to an interesting degree--has been achieved. Our case suggests that co-constructing of the standards is essential to standardization in practice. This is partly imposed from the top, and partly accomplished through the active involvement and ingenuity of users.

MeSH terms

  • Hospital Information Systems / organization & administration
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Nursing Care / organization & administration
  • Nursing Care / standards*
  • Nursing Informatics / organization & administration*
  • Organizational Case Studies
  • Software Design