#intro2d

[rfox2-blog]

If I were to market this to an end-user, I would absolutely focus on the user-friendliness of the product.  The idea that a layman could utilize this piece of equipment (with ease) to save a human life, in my opinion, would be an optimal selling point. 

To describe this device, I would say that this is a lightweight, compact, user friendly device.  It is safe, easy to use, using clear and concise language---simple enough for a child to understand.  The AED comes fully ready for use, with pads stored inside.  All you need to do is turn the machine on, apply the pads as shown on the easy to read diagrams, and follow the prompts.  

If I were to choose six images to convey the importance of this device, I would begin with: 1.  Image of a person in cardiac arrest; 2.  Image of ‘layperson’ coming upon said scene; 3. Image of same layperson identifying the brightly colored AED on the wall and securing it; 4. Image of same person opening AED and seeing pictures to guide him; 5. Image of person applying pads and listening for prompts; 6. Image of victim in recovery position.

Objects that might be especially helpful for demonstration to an audience would be:  CPR dummy to demonstrate possible arrest--to assist in the feeling of an actual emergency, AED trainer to practice ease of use---gives user the opportunity to feel the machine and see how it opens, how the pads are positioned, how the stickers indicate the procedure, to hear the machine and follow the prompts without an actual emergency at hand. CPR ‘cheat sheets’ and barrier masks to hand out so that people who are in attendance feel a bit more secure and prepared in the event of an actual emergency.  

As both the DiNardo (2015) and Eagle (2016) articles summarize, nurses are an integral part of designs conducive to the demands of the healthcare professions, the patients and their families. 

[emlaee]

The safety design principle of automate where possible really resonates with me because my home care company uses paper charting. There are numerous problems that have come up with this type of system. First, the paper charts take up a lot of room in my patient’s drawers. Sometimes it monopolizes the entire area leaving no room for anything else. This is troublesome for the family who may want to use that area of space for something besides a mountain of paperwork that they do not use. Second, with so much paper many sheets get lost. This would be an enormous problem if my patient had many different nurses or if a fill in nurse needed to know about specific care. Medication errors and treatment errors are bound to happen with such clutter. The charts sometimes have wrong dates on them and the newest ones are nowhere to be found. Since the paperwork gets mailed to the family, it is up to them to keep track of it until they give it to us. Lastly, the paperwork has to be handed in at the end of the week, every week. Since it has the time sheets on it and the care for the day they are very important. However with so many nurses handing in their paperwork at the same time, some are bound to be lost and as a result paychecks can be incorrect. To fix this problem the conceptualization and exploration phases in the design process would likely be used. This is because the problem has already been identified, but new solutions and prototypes would need to be developed. From SCAMPER, the substitute option would be the best choice since it will fix all of these problems. By replacing these paper charts with IPads or secure applications on cell phones, paperwork would become unnecessary, all the time stamps would be uploaded automatically, treatments, medications, doctors’ appointments, plans of care would all be accessible at the click of a button. In addition, the program would not let the user submit the forms without them being fully completed. It is easy to visually scan a paper chart and think everything is filled out, until the office calls and states one box wasn’t checked off. In conclusion the switch to electronic health record would save everyone time and money.

[mlopes30-blog]

The hospital where I work at has this toilet design that a lot of our patients find convenient  but most chose not to use it becasue they’re not comfortable using it. The patient rooms are very small, and therefore we don’t have enough space for bathrooms. I personally wouldn’t use this toilet if I was a patient there. Our rooms then become even crowded because patient always request bedside commode and that takes extra space. We have patients who come for peritoneal dialysis and these patients can’t use those rooms, so they’re sent to B-side where bathrooms are available to prevent them from acquiring infection. A patient told me that it feels awkward when she washes her hand on that sink, “I feel like my hands are dirty even after I wash them because there is a toilet under the sink”.

To change this design and make our patient more comfortable during their hospital stay, I would use the first step in the SCAMPER and completely substitute this design. A smaller bathroom can perfectly be built in the room that fits just the toilet and a sink. That’s how B-side rooms are. It will also make the room more appealing to patients. 

[kdimascio-blog]

Portfolio #4: Scamper-Elements analysis-redesign

The unit I presently work on is lacking in natural light available to staff and patients. Due to the location of my unit, there are only windows present in each patient’s room. However, the windows are completely frosted which allows some natural light to enter, but feels very confining to the outside world. As referenced by Naccarella, 2016, the aesthetics of the working environment allow nurses to feel a sense of value by their employers. Many employees, including myself and patient’s, have asked why the windows are completely frosted over. The response to our inquiry was that the view from these windows was of duct work and that they felt this would not be aesthetically pleasing to patients. In order to improve this design, I would use the “modify” technique within SCAMPER, and remove the frosted portion of the window on approximately 1/4 of the top section of the window. This would allow individuals to see the sky, and what kind of weather was occurring. I feel this would help staff and patients to feel more connected to the outside world, and eliminate any feelings of being trapped in a stuffy, clinical environment. One of the quotes in the article by Naccarella, 2016, states, “I wouldn’t have a ferret in a box without a window, so why would you have an employee in a box without a window?”. I think this statement is truly reflective of how something as simple as having a window to see the outside world can influence how an employee perceives his or her value or lack of by their employer. 

BEFORE

AFTER

[kbrunette21-blog]

For this weeks portfolio assignment I have chosen my apartment kitchen. While it has all of the elements needed for kitchen usage, I feel the design has a major flaw - space. With the window wall separating the kitchen and dining room, it limits the amount of space in the kitchen. This firstly limits cabinet space for organizational needs. It also limits the amount of counter space needed to cook meals. As most individuals living in apartments can not afford the costs of owning a home, cooking at home to save money is a must. My first step in designing a solution to this problem is first identifying the problem and brainstorming how to correct it. Then using conceptualization I would design a way to implement addressing the problem. My design solution would envolve knocking out the window wall, as it is non-weight bearing. This would allow for a more open concept where more cabinets and counter space could flow into an eat in kitchen as opposed to two individual rooms for cooking and eating. This would help with physical ergonomics as it would allow more space for movement as well as more space for additional persons in the kitchen to assist with cooking. This would also help with organizational ergonomics as it would organize the kitchen to be more functional.

[katcrn2019-blog]

This photo of my front door of a 3 story apartment building with the door handle on the left is simple. The door swings in and to the right. My apartment is on the first floor and the door to get into the living room in my apartment is on the right behind the front door while it is open and the staircase is on the left side of the entryway and there is only room for the door to swing open. There is another door on the left but it goes into the bedroom and is not functional. 

The simple fix to this design problem could be to switch the door so it opens to the left. When designing apartments out of 200-year-old homes, there may have been the utility to have the front door open in this way and over the course of the years, the tenants may have changed and had different needs. I know now that it is a struggle for more than one person/animal to get in the door around the door with your hands full or empty. 

[rfox2-blog]

So, if you didn’t already know from my profile, I work in a prison.  That being said, I am unable to photograph my facility or our detainees.  This, however, is a fabulous depiction of what ‘med line’ looks like.  To elaborate, a med cart, topped with a jug of water, drinking cups, and a book of MARs is rolled into each housing unit, twice daily.  The detainees line up, get their cups of water, their meds and carry on with their days.  The problems with this system are numerous.  I will focus on two:  Identification of detainees and legibility of MARs.

As you might imagine, this process is lengthy.  We are a facility of 500+ at this time and have an ever-changing staff (people don’t like to be incarcerated---even ‘on the clock’).  Med line procedures dictate that the nurse/med tech on med line check each ID, and match it to the MAR before administering meds.  Sounds quite obvious, right?  Here’s the issue...there are many people that have similar names....sometimes the same name...and sometimes they live in the same housing unit....ugh.

Now, while the name issue is quite challenging at times, there is also the issue of the half hand-written (by multiple staff---some of us have horrible penmanship), half computer generated (only as good as those entering the orders) MARs.  Needless to say, this can be quite taxing on an employee, as they are trying to ensure they are delivering the right meds, in the right amount, to the right person at the right time.  Oh, yeah, under not so fantastic lighting (save this issue for another post).  

In my opinion, this issue could be solved with automation.  A simple program in which the detainee could scan his badge, subsequently having his name, picture and current meds and allergies appear.  It could drastically reduce the incidence of the wrong person getting meds, or the right person getting the wrong dose or at the wrong time.  A system in which the person is identified and the meds are summoned would, from the SCAMPER model, demonstrate ‘Combine’, as we are taking two tasks and making them one. 

Taking the hierarchy of needs into consideration, our current system is stuck at ‘functionality’ at best.  It doesn’t even climb one rung to ‘reliability’, as the errors are quite common, indicating flaws.

For the design process, I would begin at conceptualization, as the inspiration for a change and the identification for the need is present.  Now, it’s time to get admin on board....

[rfox2-blog]

RN Portfolio 7-Period style (2)

Lastly, the hippies, beatniks...the counterculture...

Per Merriam-Webster, the raw definition of ‘beatnik’ reads:  a young person who was part of a social group in the 1950s and early 1960s that rejected the traditional rules of society and encouraged people to express themselves through art.  

Above is an accurate depiction of the counterculture of the 50s/60s.  The young people of the time were challenging social mores and redefining norms and expectations of the time.  It didn’t all work out well, but I believe that these movement did a lot more good for society than bad.  

This outfit, although a modern depiction of a vintage style expresses a sense of freedom and expression...the exact message that the youth of the time was trying to convey.  Kind of a ‘take me as I am’ message.  

This period has always fascinated me, as I was born right after its peak.  Some of the styles I wore as a child in the early 70s still bore a resemblance to my Peace, Love and Harmony preaching brothers and sisters.