In the book “Nursing Informatics and The Foundation of Knowledge” (2021) by McGonigle and Mastrian, nursing informatics is elucidated as the amalgamation of nursing, computer, and information science. This convergence aims to effectively handle and convey data, information, and knowledge within nursing practice, elevating care quality, optimizing patient results, and reinforcing the foundation for evidence-based choices.
Role of the Nurse Informaticist
A nurse informaticist is a specialized nursing professional with clinical practice and information technology expertise. The role encompasses using data and technology to streamline nursing workflows, optimize patient care processes, and enhance clinical outcomes. Nurse informaticists bridge clinical practice and technology solutions, ensuring effective implementation and utilization of health information systems (Kleib & Nagle, 2018). They collaborate with healthcare teams, translating their clinical needs into technology requirements while also aiding in interpreting technological advances for nursing colleagues.
Nurse Informaticists and Other Stakeholders
Numerous healthcare organizations have recognized the value of nurse informaticists in optimizing care delivery and technology integration. For instance, the HIMSS Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey highlighted the presence of nurse informaticists in various healthcare settings, showcasing their role in improving patient outcomes by driving evidence-based technology implementations (Garcia-Dia, 2021).
Nurse informaticists collaborate extensively with interdisciplinary teams, including technologists, to enhance patient care. They liaise with nursing staff and IT professionals, ensuring seamless integration of electronic health records (EHRs), clinical decision support systems, and telehealth solutions. In their journal, Kreitzer et al. (2022) emphasize the collaborative nature of the role in enhancing communication and cooperation between clinical, administrative, and technical teams.
The Need for a Nurse Informaticist Position
Patient Care
Full nurse engagement in healthcare technology has a profound impact on patient care. Nurse informaticists empower nurses to provide more personalized and efficient care through evidence-based clinical decision-support tools, enabling timely interventions and reducing adverse events. The positive correlation between nurse informaticists’ involvement in implementing EHRs improves patient care outcomes (Yen et al., 2017).
Protected Health Information
Managing protected health information (PHI) is critical to healthcare technology. Nurse informaticists are pivotal in developing and enforcing strategies to ensure patient data privacy, security, and confidentiality. By adhering to standards such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and leveraging encryption, access controls, and audit trails, nurse informaticists safeguard PHI. Nurse informaticists and interdisciplinary teams can employ various methods to ensure privacy, security, and confidentiality. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) assigns specific permissions based on roles, reducing unauthorized access risks (de Carvalho Junior & Bandiera-Paiva, 2018). Encryption safeguards data at rest and in transit, while regular staff education minimizes accidental breaches. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security, and regular auditing detects and prevents unauthorized access. Secure Mobile Device Management (MDM) is essential for data accessed from mobile devices (Sisala & Othman, 2020). These approaches improve patient care, reduce data breaches, and improve organizational efficiency.
Workflow
The integration of nurses in health care technology significantly enhances workflow efficiency. Nurse informaticists design and implement technology solutions that streamline nursing processes, reducing redundant tasks and administrative burdens. These streamlined workflows contribute to improved nurse satisfaction, enhanced patient care experiences, and more time spent at the bedside. Informaticists optimize workflows through EHR customization and interoperability enhancements.
Costs and Return on Investment
While investing in nurse informaticists incurs initial costs, the long-term benefits far outweigh the expenses. Nurse informaticists contribute to reduced medication errors, shorter hospital stays, and enhanced care coordination, resulting in cost savings for healthcare organizations.
Opportunities and Challenges
The addition of a nurse informaticist role presents numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. By collaborating with nursing staff, IT professionals, and clinicians, nurse informaticists can facilitate the development and implementation of innovative solutions that address clinical challenges. This collaboration leads to improved patient care outcomes and fosters a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
Introducing nurse informaticists into the healthcare workforce may have challenges, such as resistance to change, workflow disruptions, and technology adoption barriers (Al-Hawamdih & Ahmad, 2018). To overcome these challenges, organizations can invest in robust training programs for nursing and technical staff, promote open communication channels, and establish change management strategies. Additionally, nurse informaticists can serve as educators and champions, advocating for technology adoption while addressing concerns and facilitating a smoother transition.
Key Takeaways
- Implementing a nurse informaticist role bridges the gap between nursing practice and health care technology, enhancing patient care outcomes through evidence-based technology integration.
- Nurse informaticists collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to optimize workflows, safeguard PHI, and drive cost-effective technology implementations.
- ROI is demonstrated through improved patient care quality, reduced adverse events, streamlined workflows, and cost savings by utilizing nurse informaticists.
In conclusion, including nurse informaticists can enhance technological capabilities, foster interdisciplinary teamwork, and ultimately improve patient care quality while realizing substantial returns on investment.
References
Al-Hawamdih, S., & Ahmad, M. M. (2018). Examining the Relationship Between Nursing Informatics Competency and the Quality of Information Processing. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 36(3), 154–159. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000000379
de Carvalho Junior, M. A., & Bandiera-Paiva, P. (2018, February 19). Health Information System Role-Based Access Control Current Security Trends and Challenges. Journal of Healthcare Engineering. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jhe/2018/6510249/
Garcia-Dia, M. J. (2021). Nursing informatics: An evolving specialty. Nursing Management, 52(5), 56. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000743444.08164.b4
Kleib, M., & Nagle, L. (2018). Factors Associated With Canadian Nursesʼ Informatics Competency. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 1. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000000434
Kreitzer, M. J., Koithan, M., Sullivan, S. D., Nunez, M., & Voss, M. (2022). Integrative Nursing and the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice: Expanding the Reach of Nursing for Families and Society. Creative Nursing, 28(4), 228–233. https://doi.org/10.1891/CN-2022-0041
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2021). Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge. In Google Books. Jones & Bartlett Learning. https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=d94XEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Nurse+Informaticist+definition&ots=NjHPuHOBlV&sig=IsQIxH1Ty4AskIYNb1lB0OJiflw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Nurse%20Informaticist%20definition&f=false
Sisala, S., & Othman, S. H. (2020). Developing a Mobile Device Management (MDM) Security Metamodel for Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD) in Hospitals. International Journal of Innovative Computing, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.11113/ijic.v10n2.273
Yen, P.-Y., Phillips, A., Kennedy, M. K., & Collins, S. (2017). Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment for the Nurse Leader: Instrument Refinement, Validation, and Psychometric Analysis. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 47(5), 271–277. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26813836
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