Creating Sparklines with Google Drive Spreadsheets

In my spare time over the last few days, I have been working on my eBook about data analysis apps.  I discovered that Google Drive Spreadsheet allow users to create Sparklines!  Sparklines allow us to visualize trends within a single spreadsheet cell.  For example, you could show a trend for hemaglobin A1C, blood sugars, any blood chemistry value, or body temperature changes.  There is a great video on the topic by Google Gooru on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDB_TKcHh_0&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDB_TKcHh_0&feature=player_embedded

Creating an Excel Chart with a Double Axis

My students are always challenging me and exceeding my expectations in the process. After asking the students to create a combination bar and line chart using Excel, TJ created an awesome chart with a double axis. She gave me permission to share on this blog. Note that the left axis shows the number of falls or pressure ulcers and the right axis shows a comparison with the percent of RNs.
Do learn how to replicate this chart, use the Help button in Excel and search for Secondary Vertical Axis.

Creating a Combination Column & Line Chart

In healthcare we often want to compare data from different sources to see if there is any type of relationship; for example, comparing staffing with patient outcomes.  An activity for the Thede & Sewell Informatics and Nursing textbook, chapter 24, asks the learner to create a chart that compares the number of patient falls and pressure ulcers with staffing using the percentage of registered nurses. The mixed type of chart is not addressed in the textbook and may pose as a challenging task.  The task is easier than it might appear. It is a two step process.

If using Excel 2007

1. Highlight the entire chart and then select the Column Chart type.
2. Right-click on the Percentage of Registered Nurses column and select Change Series Chart Type from the menu - and select Line with Markers

The resulting chart should like like the graphic below.

A website at http://www.techonthenet.com/excel/charts/column_line.php may be helpful for earlier versions of Excel.