Feasibility of Licensed Vocational Nurses Using a CDS App to Communicate Signs and Symptoms of a UTI

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occurring in nursing home (NH) residents are poorly assessed and challenging to treat. The emergence of clinical decision support (CDS) technology provides an opportunity for improved diagnosis and treatment of UTIs in the NH. The purpose of this study was to report f...

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Main Authors: Alyce S. Ashcraft, Donna C. Owen, Kyle Johnson, Huaxin Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Nursing Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/nrp/8574727
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author Alyce S. Ashcraft
Donna C. Owen
Kyle Johnson
Huaxin Song
author_facet Alyce S. Ashcraft
Donna C. Owen
Kyle Johnson
Huaxin Song
author_sort Alyce S. Ashcraft
collection DOAJ
description Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occurring in nursing home (NH) residents are poorly assessed and challenging to treat. The emergence of clinical decision support (CDS) technology provides an opportunity for improved diagnosis and treatment of UTIs in the NH. The purpose of this study was to report findings examining the feasibility of licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) using a CDS algorithm designed to directly guide assessment of a standardized NH resident experiencing symptoms of a potential UTI in a simulation setting at a university in the Southern United States. A structured observational design was used. A sample of ten practicing nurses used an algorithm developed by the authors from published UTI assessment and practice-driven criteria. Data collection was framed using (a) UTI-guided assessment tool, (b) analysis of LVN behavior and verbal interaction with the algorithm, and (c) postsimulation interviews about the algorithm and nurse–resident interactions. Results showed LVNs found the algorithm easy or very easy to use, their behaviors demonstrated high levels of engagement with the simulation while using the algorithm, and interviews supported the positive value LVNs placed on using an algorithmic approach for UTI assessment. The algorithm we developed fills a gap in the current approaches to diagnosing a UTI in the NH by focusing on the role of the LVN in data collection in relation to assessment of the resident.
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spelling doaj-art-0087f3ac74f14fa8a9cc22b867b2ce562025-08-20T03:08:18ZengWileyNursing Research and Practice2090-14372025-01-01202510.1155/nrp/8574727Feasibility of Licensed Vocational Nurses Using a CDS App to Communicate Signs and Symptoms of a UTIAlyce S. Ashcraft0Donna C. Owen1Kyle Johnson2Huaxin Song3School of NursingSchool of NursingSchool of NursingSchool of NursingUrinary tract infections (UTIs) occurring in nursing home (NH) residents are poorly assessed and challenging to treat. The emergence of clinical decision support (CDS) technology provides an opportunity for improved diagnosis and treatment of UTIs in the NH. The purpose of this study was to report findings examining the feasibility of licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) using a CDS algorithm designed to directly guide assessment of a standardized NH resident experiencing symptoms of a potential UTI in a simulation setting at a university in the Southern United States. A structured observational design was used. A sample of ten practicing nurses used an algorithm developed by the authors from published UTI assessment and practice-driven criteria. Data collection was framed using (a) UTI-guided assessment tool, (b) analysis of LVN behavior and verbal interaction with the algorithm, and (c) postsimulation interviews about the algorithm and nurse–resident interactions. Results showed LVNs found the algorithm easy or very easy to use, their behaviors demonstrated high levels of engagement with the simulation while using the algorithm, and interviews supported the positive value LVNs placed on using an algorithmic approach for UTI assessment. The algorithm we developed fills a gap in the current approaches to diagnosing a UTI in the NH by focusing on the role of the LVN in data collection in relation to assessment of the resident.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/nrp/8574727
spellingShingle Alyce S. Ashcraft
Donna C. Owen
Kyle Johnson
Huaxin Song
Feasibility of Licensed Vocational Nurses Using a CDS App to Communicate Signs and Symptoms of a UTI
Nursing Research and Practice
title Feasibility of Licensed Vocational Nurses Using a CDS App to Communicate Signs and Symptoms of a UTI
title_full Feasibility of Licensed Vocational Nurses Using a CDS App to Communicate Signs and Symptoms of a UTI
title_fullStr Feasibility of Licensed Vocational Nurses Using a CDS App to Communicate Signs and Symptoms of a UTI
title_full_unstemmed Feasibility of Licensed Vocational Nurses Using a CDS App to Communicate Signs and Symptoms of a UTI
title_short Feasibility of Licensed Vocational Nurses Using a CDS App to Communicate Signs and Symptoms of a UTI
title_sort feasibility of licensed vocational nurses using a cds app to communicate signs and symptoms of a uti
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/nrp/8574727
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