Same system---different experiences: physicians' and nurses' experiences in using IT systems

In this paper we use a sociotechnical approach and theories about group processes to analyse how two main clinician groups, nurses and physicians, are influenced by their main IT tool, the Electronic Patient Record (EPR), in their clinical practice. The paper is based on interviews with 19 physicians and 17 nurses that work at a Swedish university hospital. The clinicians considered the use of an EPR system necessary, but experienced the need to change their clinical practice to less efficient work routines in order for the EPR system to support them. The main result of the paper is that the EPR system affected nurses and physicians differently. The physicians were more frustrated and experienced that the EPR system worsened their clinical practice and a decreased status among the other clinical professions. The nurses on the other hand experienced that their work became more visible than before and found it easier to claim the importance of their work towards the physicians.