You are excited by evidence supporting the use of PDAs at the bedside

QUESTION

You are excited by evidence supporting the use of PDAs at the bedside to improve documentation and patient outcomes. You have disseminated the information through discussions and e-mails and are now ready to begin the process of considering implementation

To develop positive attitudes toward the use and implementation of the technology, you would discuss your ideas with (Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory):

a. Harvey, RN, a technology guru, who enthusiastically tries on all new software.
b. Berta, RN, who thoughtfully considers evidence and regularly uses it to try new approaches in her practice.
c. Carol, LPN, who is positive about new ideas but looks to her friends for their ideas about whether or not to try something new.
d. Ben, a 10-year veteran of the unit, who wonders why technology should be used at all. He says that he will use it when there is no chance of security breaks.

ANSWER:

ANS: B
Berta is the one with whom you should now have informed conversations, because she is an early adopter who is respected for her thoughtful acquisition and critique of knowledge and application of knowledge to practice. Berta, an early adopter (Rogers’ characteristics of innovation adopters), is more effective in this stage than Harvey, an innovator who may be seen as open to all new ideas regardless of merit.