Nursing Informatics

NI

Nursing

• Nursing is an information intensive profession.• The steps of utilizing information, applying

knowledge to a problem, and acting with wisdom form the basis of nursing practice science.

• We acquire data and information in bits and pieces and then transform the information into knowledge.

Nursing and Knowledge

• Nurses are knowledge workers, working with information and generating information and knowledge as a product.

• We are knowledge acquirers, providing convenient and efficient means of capturing and storing knowledge.

• We are knowledge users, individuals or groups who benefit from valuable, viable knowledge.

• Nurses are knowledge engineers, designing, developing, implementing and maintaining knowledge.

Nursing and Knowledge

• We are knowledge managers, capturing and processing collective expertise and distributing it where it can create the largest benefit.

• We are knowledge developers or generators, changing and evolving knowledge based on the tasks at hand and information available.

Use of Knowledge

• All nurses have the opportunity to be involved in the formal dissemination of knowledge via their participation in professional conferences either as presenters or attendees.

• All nurses regardless of the practice arena must use informatics and technology to inform and support that practice.

Key Terms Defined• Nursing informatics – • A specialty that integrates– nursing science, – computer science, – cognitive science, and – information science to manage and communicate

data, information, knowledge and wisdom in nursing practice.

Key Terms Defined

• Nursing informatics – • Nursing informatics facilitates the

integration of data, information, and knowledge to support patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings.

First Definition: Nursing Informatics

“The application of computer technology to all fields of nursing—nursing service, nurse education, and nursing research.”

(Scholes and Barber, 1980, p. 70)

Definition: Nursing Informatics

Nursing informatics is a combination of nursing science, information science, and computer science to manage and process nursing data, information and knowledge to facilitate the delivery of health care.

(Graves & Corcoran, 1989)

Nursing Informatics (cont'd)Nursing Informatics (cont'd)

• Part of the larger field of health care and medical informatics

• Mechanism to collect and analyze data from nursing care

• Establish and maintain computerized documentation systems

Introduction to NI

• NI supports consumers, patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings.

• The goal of NI is to improve the health of populations, communities, families, and individuals by optimizing information management and communication.

Introduction to NI

• NI is one example of a discipline-specific informatics practice within the broader category of health informatics.

• NI has become well established within nursing since its recognition as a specialty for registered nurses by the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1992.

Sciences Underpinning Nursing Informatics

• The combination of sciences creates a unique blend that is greater than the sum of its parts, a unique combination that creates the definitive specialty of NI.

nursing science

computer scienceinformation science

Nursing Informatics

Nursing informatics (NI)

information science

computer science

nursing science

NI

Wisdom

knowledge

information

Data

Use of Wisdom

• Wisdom is the application of knowledge to an appropriate situation.

• In the practice of nursing science, we expect action and/or actions directed by wisdom.

• Wisdom uses knowledge and experience to heighten common sense and insight to exercise sound judgment in practical matters.

• It is developed through knowledge, experience, insight and reflection.

Nursing Informati cs

Nursing Informatics is the "science and practice (that) integrates nursing, its information and knowledge, with management of information and communication technologies to promote the health of people, families, and communities worldwide." (IMIA Special Interest Group on Nursing Informatics 2009). The application of nursing informatics knowledge is empowering for all healthcare practitioners in achieving patient centered care.

Strategic Directions for Nursing Informatics

• Include informatics in nursing education

• Prepare nurses with specialized informatics skills

• Enhance nursing practice and education through informatics projects

• Increase nursing faculty preparation in informatics

• Encourage collaboration

Goal of Nursing Informatics

“The goal of nursing informatics is to improve the health of populations, communities, families and individuals by optimizing information management and communication.

This includes the use of technology in the direct provision of care, in establishing effective administrative systems managing and delivering educational experiences, supporting life-long learning and supporting nursing research.”

Source: ANA. (2001, proposed). The Scope of Practice of Nursing Informatics and the Standards of Practice and Professional Performance for the Informatics Nurse Specialist

NI future

• promises increased saturation of informatics concepts and solutions into mainstream nursing and health care practices.

• As informatics solutions become as common a tool as the stethoscope, each nurse may be considered, in part, an informatics nurse.

• New materials and concepts will evolve in the future.

NI Standards of Practice

Standard I. Identify the Issue or ProblemStandard II. Identify Alternatives Standard III. Choose and Develop a Solution Standard IV. Implement the SolutionStandard V. Evaluate and Adjust Solutions

Source: ANA. (2001, proposed). The Scope of Practice of Nursing Informatics and the Standards of Practice and Professional Performance for the Informatics Nurse Specialist

NI Standards of Professional Performance

Standard I. Quality of Nursing Informatics Practice Standard II. Performance Appraisal Standard III. Education Standard IV. Collegiality [the cooperative relationship of

colleagues]Standard V. Ethics Standard VI. Collaboration Standard VII. ResearchStandards VIII. Resource Utilization Standard IX. Communication

Source: ANA. (2001, proposed). The Scope of Practice of Nursing Informatics and the Standards of Practice and Professional Performance for the Informatics Nurse Specialist

Informatics Competencies

• Levels of Competency– Beginning Nurse– Experienced Nurse– Informatics Nurse Specialist– Informatics Innovator

• Types– Computer Skills– Informatics Knowledge– Informatics Skills

Informatics Competencies: Three Areas

• Computer Literacy– a set of skills that allow individuals to use computer technology to

accomplish tasks.

• Informatics Knowledge– a set of cognitive processes that allows the individual to recognize

what, when, and where information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and use that information appropriately.

• Informatics Skills– the technical ability to use tools and techniques to improve

information and knowledge access, integration, management and use.

Beginning Nurse: Informatics Competencies

• Has basic computer skills• Uses applications• Uses sources of data• Uses technology for care delivery,

communication, and decision support• Respects and protects patients’ rights to

privacy and confidentiality of information

Experienced Nurse:Informatics Competencies

• Understands the value of data and information

• Uses technology to trend and aggregate individual and population-based patient information for decision support and communication

Experienced Nurse:Informatics Competencies

• Evaluates quality of information sources

• Advocates for technology solutions that improve care delivery

NI Competencies

• Uses advanced systems and tools to manage, evaluate, integrate, and communicate data, information and knowledge

• Assesses current capabilities and limitations of technology and their impact on users and organizations

NI Competencies

• Manages IT projects across the systems life cycle• Actively seeks to improve the

information and knowledge available for clinical decision-making