N101 Nursing Informatics AY 2024-2025

Nurse informaticists are crucial in leveraging technology to improve healthcare delivery, making significant contributions across education, practice, and research to advance patient outcomes and care efficiency.

In nursing education, nurse informaticists are instrumental in shaping curricula to include informatics principles. They may teach nursing students how to effectively use electronic health records (EHRs) and other technologies, ensuring they are prepared to integrate these tools into their future practice. Moreover, they may also help develop simulation-based learning experiences, allowing students to apply informatics skills in realistic scenarios. 

In practice, they focus on implementing and optimizing health information systems. Alongside other IT, computer, and data science professionals, they ensure these systems are user-friendly and meet clinical needs, manage and analyze patient data to inform care decisions, and provide training and support to nursing staff. 

In nursing research, nurse informaticists facilitate data collection and analysis using advanced tools like big data analytics. They translate research findings into evidence-based protocols and guidelines

References

American Nurses Association. (2022, June 28). The Scope of Nursing Informatics Practice. American Nurses Association. Retrieved September 15, 2024, from https://www.nursingworld.org/~49c602/globalassets/catalog/book-toc/nursing-informatics-3e-sample-chapter.pdf

Bickford, C. (2021, January 20). SINI 2021: Update on New Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice, Third Edition. Update About New Nursing Informatics Scope and Standards of Practice, Third Edition SINI 2021 July 16, 2021 Session 4C. Retrieved September 15, 2024, from https://archive.hshsl.umaryland.edu/bitstream/handle/10713/16958/SINI2021_BickfordRev2.pdf?sequence=1

NURSING EDUCATION

A nursing informaticist educates the team on the purpose of thorough data collection processes since they understand the weight and possible long term effects when inputs in the system are inaccurate 

NURSING PRACTICE

With new systems being introduced in the hospital, improvement opportunities are endless. However, new systems also introduce learning curves which can discourage team members. An effective nursing informaticist guides the team in adapting to new processes

NURSING RESEARCH

Various systems are ablte to handle huge amounts of data and are able to find patterns and guide nurses to tell a cohesive story on the patient's case. These systems are also able to validate dataa esily. As such, nursing informaticists use these systems as tools to maximize data collection and accelerate innovations in the medical field.

References

Menkiena, C. (2022, January 6). A nurse informaticist: 3 essential responsibilities. Health Catalyst. https://www.healthcatalyst.com/insights/nurse-informaticist-3-essential-responsibilities 

Far from being confined to traditional nursing roles, nurse informaticists redefine the way healthcare is delivered, taught, and studied in the modern era. Behind the scenes of the patient to nurse interactions, the scope of nurse informaticists also spans in nursing education, practice, and research.

According to the American Nurses Association (2022) in page 8, in the field of education, “They help design, develop, and implement learning solutions and educational programs to achieve informatics competencies and meet end-user needs.” In this sense, they may assume the role of an educator and trainer. 

In terms of practice, nurse informaticists are usually deployed in interdisciplinary fields with a lot of healthcare workers involved in the delivery of care. Most of the time, they facilitate in advising, guiding, and leading their patients and colleagues. In this sense, they may assume the role of “management, administration, and leadership, clinical informatics, data management and analytics, patient safety and quality, research and evaluation, compliance and integrity management, coordination, consultation, facilitation, and integration” (American Nurses Association, 2022, p.28).

As per research, they enhance the design, implementation, and utilization of technology, data, information, and communication in the delivery of healthcare (American Nurses Association, 2022, pp. 7-8). More so, evidence-based practices are included in its fruition. The application of various nursing theories are reflected in various data as well (American Nurses Association, 2022, p.6). In this sense, they may assume the role of a researcher.

Reference:

• American Nurses Association. (2022). Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice (3rd ed.). https://www.nursingworld.org/~49c602/globalassets/catalog/book-toc/nursing-informatics-3e-sample-chapter.pdf

The role of a nurse informaticist goes well beyond simply managing electronic health records (EHRs) as it not focuses in including analytics, software engineering, workflow strategies, machine learning, and transcends to further advancements in technology (The Role of a Nurse Informaticist, n.d.) 

In nursing education, they teach fellow nurses and healthcare staff on how to appropriately use new systems and help to fill in technological knowledge gaps that clinicians experience as the evolution of technology is rapid and not everyone is able to keep up or attend to knowledge enrichment efforts to master or even be competent in technologies of healthcare. 

While in nursing practice, they coordinate nursing information services, establish electronic information systems, assess technological needs  to improve efficiency, train staff in digital health care systems, and improve the use of technology in clinical practice and set ups. The role of a nurse informaticist is multifaceted. It is not to be boxed in a singular responsibility as it overlaps with other responsibilities especially in the nursing field of practice. 

A nurse informaticist in nursing research conducts “basic and applied research to improve the design implementation, and use of technology, data, information, and communication solutions in healthcare delivery” (American Nurses Association, 2021). Through their work, they aim to produce information and knowledge that would help them advocate for the ethical standards and principles in policy development for a more efficient and client-centered nursing care. 

References: 

American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing informatics: scope and standards of practice. https://www.nursingworld.org/~49c602/globalassets/catalog/book-toc/nursing-informatics-3e-sample-chapter.pdf

The Role of a Nurse Informaticist. (n.d.). Regis College Online. https://online.regiscollege.edu/online-doctoral-programs/bsn-to-doctor-of-nursing-practice/careers/nurse-informaticist/

In Darvish et al.’s (2014) study, the role of informatics and its associated competencies were delineated. From their study, it can be considered that nursing informaticists play crucial roles in nursing education, practice, and research by ensuring the effective integration of technology and information management.

In nursing education, they help students develop essential computer skills, such as retrieving patient data, using telecommunication devices, documenting care, and leveraging technology to enhance nursing practices. These skills are vital for preparing nurses to use health information technologies safely and effectively.

In nursing practice, informaticists focus on fostering informatics knowledge by highlighting the importance of nursing data to improve care and the role of human judgment alongside computerized systems. They help nurses understand the impact of computerized information management on their roles, promote ethical decision-making in the use of technology, and advocate for clinician involvement in designing and implementing health systems.

In nursing research, informaticists contribute by enhancing informatics skills that allow for the development of new methods for organizing data and conducting scientific inquiries. They create standards, database structures, and innovative techniques for research in nursing informatics. This helps examine the effects of technology on nursing and supports the theoretical foundations of informatics. Through their expertise, informaticists enable research that advances knowledge on how technology can be best used to improve patient care and inform evidence-based practices.

Overall, nursing informaticists bridge technology and clinical expertise to enhance education, optimize patient care, and drive research, ensuring nursing professionals are equipped to navigate and shape the evolving digital landscape in healthcare.

Reference:

• Darvish, A., Bahramnezhad, F., Keyhanian, S., & Navidhamidi, M. (2014). The role of nursing informatics on promoting quality of health care and the need for appropriate education. Global journal of health science, 6(6), 11.

Nursing informatics is a field that links nursing with computer and information sciences with the goal of developing and using technology for improving nursing care and patient outcomes (Guzzetti, 2024). In line with this, nursing informaticists contribute to the computerized collection, organization, and interpretation of health data that helps other fields of nursing evolve.

In nursing education that prepares students to provide holistic and evidence-based nursing care, nursing informaticists directly contribute to the “evidence” or information on which nursing education is based. Nursing informaticists’ research and data collection contributes to the constant refinement of what is considered the “best practice” in nursing, allowing nursing students to learn updated information and skills.

In practice, especially in the hospital setting, nursing informaticists have developed various technologies such as electronic medical records (EMRs) and computerized provider order entry (CPOE) that allow for improved access to information and seamless communication amongst the members of the healthcare team (Guzzetti, 2024). As such, nursing informaticists’ role in nursing practice is working towards technology that helps make patient care safer, more efficient, and more holistic. Nurses can then use these software to access patients’ medical information, updated lab and imaging results, and physician’s orders, so they can incorporate this information into their care plans.

Finally, in research, where their role is arguably most defined, nursing informaticists look into various health topics such as methods in conducting patient care and how nursing practices affect patient outcomes (American Nurses Association, 2022). Their research can then be utilized by nurses of various specialties in order to improve their practice.

Thus, the overall role of nursing informaticists in my view is to contribute to both the nursing field and general healthcare through the contribution of information collected through technology.

References

American Nurses Association. (2022). Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice (3rd ed.). American Nurses Association. https://www.nursingworld.org/~49c602/globalassets/catalog/book-toc/nursing-informatics-3e-sample-chapter.pdf

Guzzetti, J. (2024, May 30). What is Nursing Informatics & How to Become a Nurse Informaticist. Registered Nursing.org. Retrieved September 15, 2024, from https://www.registerednursing.org/nursing-informatics/

Nurse informaticists assume essential roles in the nursing education, practice, and research. In education, they ensure that student nurses are equipped and knowledgeable when it comes to handling electronic health records, in our case as UPCN students, the RADISH system. In practice, they enhance patient care through the utilization of technology in accessing and documenting patient records, all while ensuring accurate data usage. In research, they analyze health data to support evidence-based practices, thus improving patient outcomes. These roles of nurse informaticists integrate healthcare and technology, promoting holistic and efficient care while being able to foster innovation in the nursing discpline.

Reference:

Monteiro, I. (2024). What is a nurse informaticist and what do they do? | indeed.com. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-is-a-nurse-informaticist 

Nurse informaticists play crucial roles in nursing education, nursing practice, and research, contributing significantly to the healthcare industry by improving patient care, increasing efficiency, and advancing the nursing profession.

Nurse informaticists assist in the integration of technology into nursing education, ensuring that students are prepared for the digital healthcare environment. This includes incorporating informatics subjects into the curriculum to ensure graduates' achievement of computer literacy, including knowledge of computer hardware, software, and network systems.

In addition, nurse informaticists play a key role in the management, implementation, and optimization of health-related information. This ensures that the fundamentals of nursing practice, including documentation, communication, and monitoring systems, are efficiently done, improving patient outcomes by allowing more time for nurse-patient interactions.

Lastly, nurse informaticists develop and implement data management strategies to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and security of research data.

References: 

Saba, V. K., & Riley, J. B. (1997). Nursing informatics in nursing education. In Nursing Informatics (pp. 185-190). IOS Press.

Zytkowski, M. E. (2003). Nursing informatics: The key to unlocking contemporary nursing practice. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 14(3), 271-281.

Nurse informaticists play a crucial role in various nursing fields, including education, practice, and research. They are instrumental in collecting, understanding, and sharing data, information, and knowledge within the nursing profession.

In nursing education, informaticists design and implement informatics content into curricula. They share their expertise with students and faculty, training them in informatics applications.

In nursing practice, informaticists encourage colleagues to adopt technology and advocate for data-driven decision-making. They provide consulting services to improve the use of data and technology in nursing practice.

In nursing research, informaticists conduct research on nursing informatics to advance the field and analyze the impact of technology on patient outcomes and care. They collaborate with other researchers, clinicians, nurses, and healthcare providers to disseminate information, share research findings, and participate in interdisciplinary research studies.

Reference: 

Menkiena, C. (2021, February). The Three Essential Responsibilities of a Nurse Informaticist. Health Catalyst. Retrieved September 15, 2024, from https://www.healthcatalyst.com/insights/nurse-informaticist-3-essential-responsibilities

Nurse informaticists are involved in a variety of roles as they have a wide spectrum of applications. In education, for example, they may act as educators for health care professionals, guiding and training them in digital health care systems. They may also help optimize clinical systems to take advantage of emerging technologies. Similarly, nursing practice also greatly benefits from Nurse Informaticists as they are able to monitor and manage systems from users such as nurses and are able to adapt the system accordingly. Lastly, the skills of a nurse informaticist with data management and optimization are advantageous when it comes to research, where data must be interpreted appropriately in order for it to become substantial; thus showing how integral nurse informaticists are with data analysis in nursing research.

REFERENCES:
The Role of a Nurse Informaticist. (n.d.). Regis College Online. Retrieved September 15, 2024, from https://online.regiscollege.edu/online-doctoral-programs/bsn-to-doctor-of-nursing-practice/careers/nurse-informaticist/
What is the Role of Nursing Informatics | Carlow Online. (2021, December 23). Carlow University. https://online.carlow.edu/resources/article/role-of-nursing-informatics/

Computer, information, and nursing sciences are all incorporated in the nursing field of nursing informatics which aims to improve outcomes of patient care through the development and maintenance of medical systems and data. Nursing informaticists therefore enhance communication in the healthcare setting through the use of information technologies may it be in the field of education, practice, and research.  (Guzzetti, 2024). 

References:

Guzzetti, J. (2024, May 30). Nursing Informatics. 

https://www.registerednursing.org/nursing-informatics/

In nursing education, nurse informaticists play essential roles in helping transform organizations into dynamic learning health systems. Their responsibilities include designing, developing, and implementing educational programs that address informatics competencies. The goal of these programs is to train healthcare professionals with the necessary skills to navigate and utilize healthcare technologies effectively.

In nursing practice, the role of nurse informaticists is the application of clinical context to the development of information systems. They ensure that technological solutions are designed to improve the quality of healthcare. Also, they act as lead innovators for the advancement of nursing practice through technology, in which they oversee and refine technological solutions in enhancing patient outcomes.

In nursing research, nurse informaticists are the ones who conduct basic and applied research to advance healthcare technology and data management. They explore ways to improve the design, implementation, and utilization of technological solutions in healthcare delivery. Moreover, they apply current evidence into the development and evaluation of solutions, which ensures that their research findings contribute to practical improvements in patient care.

To conlcude, nurse informaticists are responsible for many important aspects in healthcare. They are essential for developing the nursing profession and improving healthcare delivery through effective use of information and technology.

References:

• American Nurses Association. (2022). Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd Edition. https://www.nursingworld.org/~49c602/globalassets/catalog/book-toc/nursing-informatics-3e-sample-chapter.pdf

In nursing education, nurse informaticists provide professors, preceptors, and students with digital tools and technology, such as electronic medical records, to support them in their role as clinicians. They formulate and design programs, offer training, and integrate these tools into simulations and clinical experiences to help students effectively make use of the technology in their career.

During nursing practice, nurse informaticists focus on quality assurance by analyzing data outcomes from the technology they develop. They also provide ongoing support to clinicians, helping them effectively utilize these technologies to improve patient care.

As for nursing research, nurse informaticists evaluate the effectiveness of the technologies they create and apply research methodologies to advance their field. This ongoing research helps refine tools and ensures they meet the evolving needs of healthcare practice.

While the roles of the nurse informaticists remain diverse, its role of enhancing efficiency in the workplace has been noted in terms of nursing education and practice. The role of the nursing informaticists in education paves the way for the efficiency of nursing education achieved through the utilization of tools centered on computer-based learning. In addition to this, the nurse informaticist also contributes to the work force in the role of an analyst and a consultant. With this, the primary role of the nurse informaticist is to guarantee adherence to particular laws and regulations set by different institutions including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

On the other hand, the role of the nurse informaticists in the discipline of research elevates the quality of care while simultaneously reducing the total costing of treatment received and paid for by the client. In the area of research, the nurse informaticist also assumes the role of identifying the necessities that are missing in the institution and implementing teaching programs for health care practitioners including nurses. 

Reference:

What is the role of Nursing Informatics: Carlow Online. Carlow University. (2022, August 5). https://online.carlow.edu/resources/article/role-of-nursing-informatics/#:~:text=They%20work%20with%20other%20health,business%20partners%20and%20senior%20leadership. 

Nurse informaticists can take on diverse and impactful roles across nursing education, practice, and research. In nursing education, they can implement and manage educational technologies such as learning management systems (LMS), virtual simulation platforms, and other digital tools that support nursing education. While in nursing practice, informaticists can act as nurse managers in system designing processes and as a liaison between IT and healthcare professionals, facilitating technological advancements such as electronic medical records, patient monitoring systems, and telemedicine, which collectively contribute to better patient care. Lastly, within nursing research, their scope of work can include coordinating and streamlining research efforts that span different medical fields. By fostering collaboration among researchers, healthcare professionals, and IT specialists, they ensure that studies are comprehensive and address issues relevant to a broader range of medical disciplines.

References:

• Booth, R. G., Strudwick, G., McBride, S., O’Connor, S., & López, A. L. S. (2021). How the nursing profession should adapt for a digital future. BMJ, n1190. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1190
• Darvish, A., Bahramnezhad, F., Keyhanian, S., & Navidhamidi, M. (2014). The role of nursing informatics on promoting quality of health care and the need for appropriate education. Global Journal of Health Science, 6(6). https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v6n6p11

Roles that nurse informaticists assume in:

• Nursing education: He/she could develop courses on nursing informatics topics and teach them to practicing nurses or student nurses.
• Nursing practice: He/she could develop and implement training on guiding nurses in the use of electronic health records for instance.
• Nursing research: He/she could conduct research to explore how technology can further improve patient care.