A Critical Change in a Day in the Life of Intensive Care Nurses Rising to the e-Challenge of an Integrated Clinical Information System

Critical care nurses in a large academic, tertiary care trauma center have adapted to a major system change since the implementation of a fully integrated Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) system, an automated process of order entry. Working in a rapidly changing environment, clinicians are accustomed to viewing real-time discrete data and then using that data to provide safe, effective, and efficient intensive care to critically ill patients. This article describes how the implementation of the CPOE system from a major healthcare software vendor has changed the life of critical care nurses and the perceptions of the experience 1 year after the new technology was initiated. Through experience sharing, perhaps others may gain knowledge to ease their transition to CPOE.