Electronic medical records training for hospital medical-surgical registered nurses: A descriptive case study

Contemporary health systems are under pressure to implement an electronic medical record (EMR) by 2013 to qualify for government incentive programs. The EMR was presented in the literature as an essential component to health care delivery transformation. Many EMR system installations failed because of the lack of end-user acceptance; therefore, how to best train health care professionals must be examined through further research. The challenge for health systems is to implement an EMR training program for providers to document care delivery in a timely and accurate manner. The purpose of this study was to describe registered nurses' (RNs) perceptions of training content and sequence delivery provided by the case study entity. The researcher used a triangulation data gathering method associated with qualitative supported by quantitative data. Data regarding hospital medical-surgical RNs' perceptions of training were gathered by a Likert-type scale survey, direct observations, and individual interviews. The study population included 16 RNs with the same job responsibilities working on a medical-surgical unit. The study found that the current training content and sequence of modules are appropriate for the critical workflows addressed. The study results suggest the need for further research regarding adult training of EMR applications.;Keywords: Electronic health record, electronic medical record, health information technology.