| What is Nursing Informatics? | | | | using technology |
| Nursing Informatics is the integration of clinical | | | | - Increasing the accuracy and completeness of |
| nursing with information management and | | | | nursing documentation |
| computer processes. It is a relatively new focus in | | | | - Improving the nurse's workflow |
| health care that combines nursing skills with | | | | - Automating the collection and reuse of nursing |
| information technology expertise. Nurse | | | | data |
| informatics specialists manage and communicate | | | | - Facilitating analysis of clinical data |
| nursing data and information to improve decision | | | | - Providing nursing content to standardized |
| making by consumers, patients, nurses and other | | | | languages |
| health care providers. | | | | HIMSS and RHIO |
| The nursing process has four main steps: planning, | | | | To provide some background on the field of |
| implementation, evaluation, and assessment. | | | | healthcare/nursing informatics, there are some |
| However, because information management is | | | | governing bodies for this field. The Healthcare |
| integrated into the nursing process and practice, | | | | Information and Management Systems Society |
| some nursing communities identify a fifth step in | | | | (HIMSS) is the main governing body for health |
| the nursing process: documentation. | | | | care and nursing informatics professionals. This |
| Documentation and patient-centered care are the | | | | group, formed in 2004, has the following four |
| core components of the nursing process. | | | | goals: NI awareness, education, resources |
| Automated documentation is vitally important, not | | | | (including websites), and RHIO (Regional Health |
| just for nursing, but for all patient care. | | | | Information Organization). |
| Up-to-date, accurate information at each step of | | | | RHIOs are also known as Community Health |
| the nursing process is the key to safe, high quality | | | | Information Networks (CHINs). These are the |
| patient-centered care. | | | | networks that connect physicians, hospitals, |
| The successful implementation of information | | | | laboratories, radiology centers and insurance |
| systems in nursing and health care requires the | | | | companies.They all share and transmit patient |
| following: First, it is necessary to have well | | | | information electronically through a secure system. |
| designed systems that support the nursing | | | | Those organizations that are a part of RHIOs |
| process within the culture of an organization. The | | | | have a business interest in improving the quality |
| second requirement is having the acceptance and | | | | of healthcare being administered. |
| integration of information systems into the regular | | | | Steps to a Job in This Field |
| workflow of the nursing process and patient care. | | | | To enter into the nursing informatics field, typically |
| Finally, it is important to have resources that can | | | | you need a minimum of a four year degree. |
| support the previously mentioned factors. One of | | | | There are specific health informatics degrees |
| the most effective and valuable resources a | | | | available. Earning your Bachelor's of Science in |
| healthcare organization can add is a Nurse | | | | Nursing (BSN) is also a requirement before sitting |
| informatics specialists. | | | | for the ANCC certifications test for Nursing |
| Nursing Informatics Specialists | | | | Informatics. Some individuals start with just a two |
| Nursing Informatics Specialists are expert clinicians | | | | year degree or diploma, but continue on to earn |
| with an extensive clinical practice background. | | | | their BSN before becoming certified. Although |
| These individuals have experience in utilizing and | | | | there are several different routes for getting into |
| implementing the nursing process. These nurses | | | | the field, the most favored manner is to earn a |
| have excellent analytical and critical thinking skills. | | | | Master's in Nursing Informatics from the start, |
| They also understand the patient care delivery | | | | however, most individuals start their career prior |
| workflow and integration points for automated | | | | to earning their master's degree. |
| documentation. Having additional education and | | | | Most nurses who are in the informatics field start |
| experience with information systems is also | | | | in a specialty area, such as the Intensive Care |
| important for this occupation. Finally, Nursing | | | | Unit (ICU), Perioperative Services (OR), Med-Surg, |
| Informaticists are excellent project managers | | | | Orthopedic Nursing, or Oncology, just to name a |
| because of the similarity between the project | | | | few, and work in that specialty field for an |
| management process and the nursing process. | | | | extended period. Working in a specialty area helps |
| To be competitive in this field one should become | | | | nurses get to know the normal working |
| familiar with relational databases by taking a class | | | | processes and routines as well as understand the |
| about database structure. They should also | | | | patient care process in their specialty. They |
| become competent and comfortable with MS | | | | usually are experts at their specialty and then |
| Office, especially Excel, Access and Visio. | | | | develop interests in computerized documentation |
| Why these jobs are Important to Healthcare? | | | | or some other technological healthcare focus. |
| Nurse and health informatics bring a great deal of | | | | They then tend to gradually move into an |
| value to patients and the health care system. | | | | information systems clinical support role. |
| Some examples of how they provide value | | | | If you have an interest in nursing and technology, |
| include: | | | | this might be a career that can match both of |
| - Provide Support to the nursing work processes | | | | these skills into one rewarding job. |