I am currently working at Hyvinkää Hospital, part of the Keski-Uusimaa Wellbeing County, commonly called KEusote. After graduating, I have spent nearly four years with the same employer, and so far, so good. I am happy with my situation, but nothing is perfect. We have faced some difficulties with digital planning and management. As part of the Uusimaa area, we had planned to change our current patient healthcare system, Pegaso, to Apotti, to integrate with Helsinki University Hospital. However, this mission seems impossible now as all wellbeing counties in Finland are facing budget cuts from the government.

From my point of view, the Pegaso system is not a good system. It is very difficult to learn and handle. Most of my colleagues have given it bad reviews. The system is slow to load and requires frequent updates. New users usually need weeks to become fluent with it.

ID cards for regulated social welfare and healthcare professionals: I am using this card to access Pegaso and other application such as weblab, EKG…. It very useful as it is high secured protected and safe and easy to handle, just need to remember pin code and carry a card with me.

Teams is the most used communication tool in our workplace. We rely on it daily to stay updated with other members of the organization, including managers, doctors, and other professionals. It facilitates seamless communication and collaboration, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Teams also excels in hosting meetings, which we predominantly conduct online these days. The platform’s integration with Office 365 provides us with a suite of tools that enhance our productivity and efficiency.

In my ward, everything is going digital. From daily work lists to updated information, all our tasks are now managed online. This change has cut down our paper use a lot, which I think is great. It not only makes our workflow smoother but also helps the environment. Being able to access and share information online has improved our coordination and response times, making everything run more efficiently.

Plus, the digital tools we use, like OneDrive and SharePoint from Office 365, let us store and share documents securely. This means everyone on the team has the latest information and can work together easily, no matter where they are. Going paperless has also reduced clutter and made it easier to keep things organized.

There are five digital tools I would choose to utilize in my daily work:

First, I would select a communication tool, and my choice would be WhatsApp. I have been familiar with this chat tool for years, and it is important to have a channel for staff to discuss matters unofficially. WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption ensures that our conversations are safe and secure.

Next, for social media, I would choose either Facebook or Instagram. These platforms are ideal for creating a group page where colleagues can share their daily activities and aspects of their working life. This helps build a sense of community and keeps everyone connected.

For my personal and professional development, I have started building a LinkedIn profile. I believe LinkedIn is the best way to expand my network and connect with potential future employers. It provides a platform to showcase my skills, experiences, and career aspirations.

Additionally, I have transitioned to using digital scheduling and project management tools to replace traditional methods. Currently, I use the free version of Google Calendar. It is very easy to use and manage, helping me keep track of my appointments and deadlines efficiently. Besides that, I have explored Monday.com, which offers robust project management features, although the free version has limited options.

In summary, these digital tools enhance my productivity and connectivity in various aspects of my work and personal life. WhatsApp facilitates secure communication, while Facebook and Instagram foster a sense of community among colleagues. LinkedIn helps me build my professional network, and Google Calendar and Monday.com streamline my scheduling and project management tasks. Embracing these tools has made my daily work more organized and efficient, paving the way for continuous improvement and growth.

Everything has two sides, and social media is no exception. From the perspective of a healthcare professional, I can see that social media helps us showcase many aspects of this career and the hospital to the public. It allows people to understand more about healthcare jobs. Patients can also stay up to date with all the information about their healthcare services. Employers can attract more employees through various channels. For instance, I got my gig work through Facebook, and it worked effectively.

On the negative side, the biggest concerns are about security and online communication. Many people do not know or do not remember what information can be shared on social media. There is also the threat of cyberattacks, where our data can be easily leaked if not managed properly.

In conclusion, while social media offers significant benefits in terms of communication, transparency, and recruitment, it also poses challenges related to security and privacy. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to be mindful of these risks and to manage their online presence carefully to protect both personal and patient information.

As a nurse on the ward, I believe there are several key factors for the successful use of digital applications. The first and most important is having adequate education and proper training. This can come from employer training programs and self-education. Personally, I actively keep myself up to date with digital advancements.

For general use in the workplace, it’s crucial to recognize that not everyone has the same level of education or technical skills. Therefore, these applications should be easy to navigate. The application should serve as a helpful tool to assist nurses in handling patient cases, rather than causing frustration with technology. The system should be smooth to use, and for that, support teams are essential and should be available 24/7, as our hospital services operate around the clock.

Lastly, we must always consider data security and privacy. Sensitive and confidential information needs to be protected with strict guidelines, and all users must stay updated and adhere to these protocols.

Over the past four years at my workplace, I’ve had the opportunity to learn and grow significantly. While I’ve adapted to the digital systems at my own pace, I’ve noticed that our hospital is gradually developing its digital infrastructure and integrating high-tech devices. This progress is influenced by various factors, and it’s exciting to witness.

However, I’ve encountered challenges when collaborating with colleagues who are at different levels of digital proficiency. It often takes more time to work together compared to when I handle tasks independently. Despite these hurdles, I firmly believe that further training and simplified systems are crucial for a smoother workflow.

I remain committed to self-improvement and supporting a seamless digital transition in our healthcare environment. By fostering continuous learning and embracing new technologies, we can enhance our efficiency and provide better care for our patients.