Healthcare-centered digital technologies have experienced significant growth and transformation with the goal of providing safer healthcare and increasing efficiency. As a result, health informatics has expanded to include nursing informatics, which combines nursing, information and communication technology, and professional expertise to improve patient outcomes. Informatics often remains a shroud of mystery, not only to the layperson but to those working in the healthcare field as well. In this article, we’ll dive into the fundamentals of nursing informatics.

Here are some key aspects of nursing informatics:

1. Definition:

Nursing informatics is a merging of nursing science, computer science, and information science that manages and communicates data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice.

2. Role of Nursing Informatics:

Informatics nurses play a critical role in promoting the use of technology to improve healthcare delivery. They are tasked with optimizing the use of health information systems, managing data, and promoting the interoperability of health information.

3. Electronic Health Records (EHRs):

EHRs organize patient data, making it easier for healthcare providers to make informed decisions and collect discrete documentation. One of the most common applications of nursing informatics is the implementation and maintenance of electronic health records.

4. Decision Support Systems:

Nursing informatics contributes to the development and implementation of clinical decision-support systems. These technologies help clinicians make evidence-based decisions, resulting in improved care, safety, and satisfaction for patients.

5. Patient Safety and Quality Improvement:

Nurses often leverage informatics to improve patient safety and care quality. This involves analyzing data, recognizing trends, and developing processes to avert negative outcomes. Informatics nurses are often involved with quality initiatives from a data standpoint.

6. Education and Training:

Nursing informatics additionally serves to educate healthcare professionals. It aids in training clinicians to successfully use technology in their profession and to stay current on the latest innovations and evidence-based practices. Additionally, informatics nurses often collaborate with health service lines to streamline workflows, reduce “clicks,” and reduce alert fatigue.

7. Telehealth and Telemedicine:

With increasing demand and interest in telehealth services, nursing informatics has played a vital part in enabling remote patient health monitoring, virtual consultations, and the exchange of healthcare information via digital platforms.

8. Research and Data Analysis:

Nursing informatics facilitates healthcare research by offering tools for data collection, analysis, and interpretation. This facilitates evidence-based practice and advances nursing knowledge.

9. Interprofessional Collaboration:

Informatics significantly improves collaboration among healthcare professionals. It enables smooth interaction and the sharing of knowledge among members of the healthcare team.

10. Regulatory Compliance:

Nursing informatics professionals help to ensure healthcare organizations conform to regulatory standards governing the use and security of health information (HIMSS,2020). In addition, as health information technology advances, nursing informatics will undoubtedly play a larger role in defining the future of healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes.

References:

Admin. (2023, February 27). What is Nursing Informatics? HIMSS. https://www.himss.org/resources/what-nursing-informatics

Clinical Decision Support | HealthIT.gov. (n.d.). https://www.healthit.gov/topic/safety/clinical-decision-support

Schoenbaum, A. E., DNP, MS, RN-BC, FHIMSS, & Carroll, W., MS, RN-BC. (2020, September 30). Nursing Informatics Key Role in Defining Clinical Workflow, Increasing Efficiency and Improving Quality. HIMSS. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://www.himss.org/resources/nursing-informatics-key-role-defining-clinical-workflow-increasing-efficiency