Running head: INFORMATICS IN THE CLINICAL SETTING

Informatics in the Clinical Setting

South University
INFORMATICS IN THE CLINICAL SETTING 2

Role and Education

Nursing informatics has been traditionally defined as a specialty that integrates nursing

science, computer science, and information science to manage, define and communicate data,

information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. All nurses, regardless of their practice

setting, must use informatics and technology to inform and support their practice (McGonigle,

2018). The American Nurses Association Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice

states that nursing informatics supports nurses, consumers, patients, the interprofessional

healthcare team, and other stakeholders in their decision-making in all roles and settings to

achieve desired outcomes (“What is Nursing Informatics?”, 2019). This support is accomplished

through the use of information structures, information processes, and information technology.

The education level required for the informatics nurse is to have at least a bachelor of science

degree in nursing and additional knowledge and expertise in the informatics field (“What is

Nursing Informatics?”, 2019). The informatics nurse specialist holds an advanced degree or a

post-master’s certificate and is prepared to assume roles requiring this advanced knowledge

(McGonigle, 2018).

Views on Patient Safety and Care

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing profession is

growing at a rapid rate. Due to improved technology, the nurses play a role in informatics. Now,

informatics nurse is responsible for patient safety and improvement of the quality of patient care.

In today’s world the potential for information and communication technology application is

increasing so that it can enhance the quality of nursing domains outcome. Nurses have the most

communication with patients, and interact with technology more frequently. Using technology

should create a positive attitude in nursing productivity. It is essential for nurses to be involved
INFORMATICS IN THE CLINICAL SETTING 3

in the initial design of systems to improve the quality of health care and change their culture in

this regard (Darvish, Bahramnezhad, Keyhanian, & Navidhamidi, 2014).

Nurses have got more authority in decision-making with the use of new technologies such as

improved documentation using electronic records; reduced medical errors by using informatics

to promote safe practices; coordination of care by sharing information properly with those part of

the interdisciplinary team.

Human Factors Challenges

Faced with a number of challenges the informatics nurse has to understand the barriers in

the information system. Studies have found that rapid implementation of new medical

technology—electronic health records and patient monitoring devices can lead to adverse patient

events when it is not thoughtfully integrated into workflow. The right processes require

understanding the devices and the users. Testing in controlled environments often does not

adequately consider the “human factor,” or how people interact with technology in high-

pressure, real-life situations (McGonigle, 2018). The Human factors influence the health and

well being of the patient. On the other hand, the physiological and psychological aspect of

human factors makes the error in patient safety (McGonigle, 2018).

Gained Insights

During the interview, I understood the challenging situations and changing of practice in

health informatics. Nursing informatics is a growing field. As nurses, we face ever changing

and challenging practice situations; competency in nursing informatics promises to strengthen

our clinical decision-making skills. Although new technology may be a challenge for some,

informatics will enhance nursing practice. We'll have quicker access to patient information,

improve overall efficiency, and see a reduction in potential errors (Lee, 2014).
INFORMATICS IN THE CLINICAL SETTING 4

The nurse informatics strengthens the skills through clinical decision-making. They help to

assess the patient information quickly and to improve the efficiency and thereby reducing the

errors. Nurse informatics makes our profession continue to advance and for better practices

(Darvish, Bahramnezhad, Keyhanian, & Navidhamidi, 2014).

Impact Delivery of Direct Patient Care

Improving healthcare quality has been an ongoing challenge in the United States. According to

the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), quality health care is care that is

“safe, timely, patient centered, efficient, and equitable” (McGonigle, 2018). The glossary at the

AHRQ Patient Safety Network Web site expands upon the definition of prevention of harm:

“freedom from accidental or preventable injuries produced by medical care.” Agency for

Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) believes in the patient-centered outcome. The

AHRQ’s key areas of focus include: reduce the risk of harm by promoting safety and quality

healthcare, use of evidence in health informed decisions to improve the health outcomes and to

improve, effective healthcare by transformation of research into practice and to avoid

unnecessary costs (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2019).

The purpose of the National Patient Safety Goals is to improve patient safety. The Joint

Commission established its National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) in order to help accredited

organizations address specific areas of concern in regard to health care safety, and to focus on

how to solve them ("The Joint Commission's Hospital National Patient Safety Goals for 2018",

2018).

TIGER

In 2004, a group of nurses came together after attending a national informatics conference to

ensure that nursing was equally recognized in the national informatics movement. This so-called
INFORMATICS IN THE CLINICAL SETTING 5

Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform team determined that using informatics was

a core competency for all healthcare workers. They also determined that many nurses lack

information technology skills, which limits their ability to access evidence-based information

that could otherwise be incorporated into their daily practice (McGonigle, 2018).

Information Technology (IT) continues to evolve and develop with electronic devices and

systems becoming integral to healthcare in every country. This has led to an urgent need for all

professions working in healthcare to be knowledgeable and skilled in informatics. The

Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform (TIGER) Initiative was established in 2006

in the United States to develop key areas of informatics in nursing. (Oconnor, Hubner, Shaw,

Blake, & Ball, 2017). Nurses are directly involved in health information systems and

technologies. The nurses must have the knowledge, expand of data, and practice.
INFORMATICS IN THE CLINICAL SETTING 6

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (2019, March 08). Retrieved from

https://www.aafp.org/advocacy/informed/research/ahrq.html

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). doi:10.5539/gjhs.v6n6p11

Lee, A. (2014). The role of informatics in nursing. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!,12(4), 55.

doi:10.1097/01.nme.0000450294.60987.00

McGonigle, D. Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge. [South University].

Retrieved from https://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/#/books/9781284142990/

Oconnor, S., Hubner, U., Shaw, T., Blake, R., & Ball, M. (2017). Time for TIGER to ROAR!

Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform.Nurse Education Today,58, 78-81.

doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2017.07.014

The Joint Commission's Hospital National Patient Safety Goals for 2018. (2018, October 09).

Retrieved from https://www.compass-clinical.com/the-joint-commission-national-patient-

safety-goals-for-2018/

What is Nursing Informatics? (2019, March 18). Retrieved from https://www.himss.org/what-

nursing-informatics