An advantage of automated or computerized patient care system is

• A. Information concerning the client can be easily updated
• B. The nursing diagnosis for a client's data can be accurately determined
• C. Cost of confinement will be reduced
• D. The number of people to take care of the client will be reduced

Answer: (A)

Automated patient care systems improve how easily a patient’s information can be kept current. With electronic records, updates to a patient’s data—such as new medications, allergies, diagnoses, or test results—can be entered once and become immediately accessible to all members of the care team, across shifts and departments. This ensures that care decisions are based on the most up-to-date information and reduces the risk of relying on outdated or conflicting records.

While these systems can support accurate data analysis and aid in forming nursing diagnoses, the final diagnosis still depends on clinician judgment and input, not automatic determination. Likewise, cost of confinement and the number of staff needed are influenced by many factors beyond the presence of computerized records, such as workflow design, staffing policies, and overall resource management.

So the clear advantage is the ease and immediacy of updating client information, which promotes accuracy and continuity of care.