Final Post

What did you like or dislike about taking an asynchronous online course?

The material in this course was suited to online learning. I enjoyed the pace of the course, and the freedom to complete activities at my own rate. I have taken other online courses that are not set up as well and did not enjoy those experiences.

What topic did you learn the most about and what was your favorite topic? What did you like least?

Module 3- teaching with technology and learning theories was my favorite topic. I also learned the most. It was fun to take the multiple intelligences test.  I was surprised by some of my results and reflecting on them helped me to see how I can be a more successful learner/teacher. I also feel like my generation is on the cusp in terms of technology usage.  Most of my educational life  did not involve some of the technology that is currently around. As the Dylan song goes- "the times they are changing" It is necessary to embrace technology in our learning and work environments.  I did not have a least favorite topic though I do find the ethics and policies behind information systems a bit dry.

Do you have any other comments for us?

I would say keep this course as it is! It was a great learning experience.

Module 5

-Why would a patient want to create a blog? What might they gain from this?
-Why would a health care provider create a blog?
-What are ethical considerations when blogging on a public website, such as we've used for this class?

I think patients and their families like to create blogs because it is an easy way to share information with everyone.  It limits the amount of time one would spend on the phone answering questions and relaying what has been going on in terms of care and treatment.  Another benefit is that readers can post comments to the blog.  It is a good form of mass communication.  Also some patients may find it therapeutic to share thoughts and feelings publicly.
A healthcare provider may want to provide a blog as a form of advertisement.  It is a way for them to convey their practice mission and values of care.  A provider might also write a blog in order to get the word out on their methods.  This could be useful to other providers.
There are many ethical considerations when blogging.  A patient who is blogging might want to keep the full names of providers/care takers private.  You should always check with someone before you post information about them.  Providers who blog should follow HIPAA standards. Patient names and conditions should not be used.  Public blogs can be viewed by anyone and this should always be kept in mind when blogging.

Module 4

How did the readings influence your perception of your own clinical decision-making?
The reading in this module made me examine how I make clinical decisions. I have worked in the resource pool for the past few years and so there are often times when I am in unfamiliar territory. I always share my "hunches" about patients with a colleague since I might not be so familiar with what is "normal".  Part of the good thing about being a seasoned nurse is having lots of experience under your belt. I would never wholly rely on experience though as there are too many individual factors which play a part in patient care. 
I was unaware of clinical decision support systems prior to this module.  I learned a lot of interesting information from choosing a CDSS to critique.  The more evidence based they are the more useful they can be. Especially when it comes to point of care practice!