DIGITAL TOOLS IN MY JOB
I currently work as a nurse in the orthopedic department. We use many different applications there. Omni365 is a patient information system that contains all the information about the patients. We also use several applications in conjunction with it that manage things like patient surgeries, meals, and patient transportation.
Microsoft 365 offers many different applications that we use in our daily work. Teams and e-mail are the main communication channels we use every day at work. You can also use these applications at home.
Medicines are dispensed via a smart medication cart, where medicines are dispensed to patients through a computer application. Patient wristbands contain a scannable QR code that connects the patient to the correct medication box. The department’s phones are equipped with the Medanets application, which can record the administration of medications alongside the patient and capture information about vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, diuresis, etc.
FIVE NEW SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS
While I was thinking about five different social media programs that I could use in my daily work, I realized that many of these are already used in health care in one way or another.
When working with patients, Instagram could be used by making updates from the department, which would make it easier for the patient to come into the surgery. You would get to know the staff before you even get to the department because you have already seen them through the updates. However, considering how busy the department is, it would be difficult to post updates very often. Kys updated something of the whole hospital on Instagram. Different departments were featured and there were days with, for example, the hospital director Olavi Airaksinen.
TikTok
I could use TikTok in my work the same way I use Instagram. I like to watch TikTok videos and there is a lot of good advice on many health issues. For example, there could be tips for surgical wound care and some kind of videos like frequently asked questions.
I use WhatsApp “WA” every day.I talk with my friends there and I also belong to many group chats. If I didn’t use WhatsApp I wounld’t be able to speak with my friend and family members as freely as I can with this appilacation. Due to patient data security we don’t use WhatsApp in the workplace.
YouTube
I don’t use YouTube as much as I used to. I think TikTok and Instagram are more popular than YouTube these days. Okay, there are still some famous YouTubers and most people watch their videos. I don’t have so much time to watch long videos, so I like Instagram and TikTok with short clips more. At my workplace, we might do longer videos on YouTube about what happens when you get to artificial joint surgery. There are also good educational videos for nurses and physiotherapists where you can review some topics.
Hmmm. Pinterest is a place where I look for ideas for crafting or knitting. There are lots of beautyful pictures and free knitting patterns. How could I use Pinterest on my work? I´ve to admit that I have no idea. Nice pictures from hospital? Maybe I could use it to make nice gifts for the kids in childrens clinic.
SOCIAL MEDIA PROS AND CONS
Social media has many different pros and cons. Through social media, I can connect with others, learn and get my mind out of things. However, social media can also be stressful and mentally draining. There is a lot of negativity and you can spend a lot of time there. I have a bad habit of scrolling through my social media before bed, so I do not fall asleep early enough.
SELF EVALUATION
This topic was difficult for me. The list included applications I knew, but also those I did not. Social media is an interesting topic. There would have been a lot to say in Finnish, but in English I had to figure out what to say about it. Writing a blog was a challenge to make it interesting. But I did it and I am pleased with myself. Challenges are there to be won!