Question 3 Assignment
Nursing informatics and competencies required
Nursing is a rapidly changing profession that is continuously having an increase in the
need for innovative and effective technology. Consequently, nurses must remain up-to-date on
the latest technology and are required to adapt to these changes in order provide optimal care for
their patients. Nursing informatics, according to Nelson, is a specialty form of nursing that
employs the use of tools and processes that are automatic in nature in order to achieve the goals
of nursing (Nelson, 2020). The field of nursing informatics is a broad discipline that draws on the
use of nursing science, computer science, and information science to enhance nursing practice
and optimize overall patient outcomes. As per Sensmeier, nurse informaticists are essential in
developing the devices utilized by clinicians to track data and deliver safe and efficient care
(Sensmeier & Anderson, 2020). Nursing informaticists work to not only improve patient care,
but nursing practice. It is important to keep in mind that the constantly evolving capabilities of
computer do not define the scope of practice for nursing informatics, rather it is the way in which
nurses use these tools to their advantage and define their practice. It’s crucial to gain an in-depth
understanding of how nurses from all various scopes of practice utilize computer technology in
their workflow to create automated systems that enhance as well as support the goals of the
nursing workforce.
Just as the advances of nursing technology are quickly changing, so are the competencies
required in response to those changes. The nursing informatic competencies are one of the most
crucial categories of competencies in modern health care systems considering the recent heavy
reliance on electronic health records, clinical documentation systems, and telehealth systems (et.,
al, Borycki, 2017). Since the introduction of such technological advances in health care systems,
a significant reduction has been observed in medical errors, however, there has been the
introduction of technology-induced errors. These technology-induced errors have had significant
impact on patient safety and can sometimes stem from the government level. According to
Boriycki, nursing informatics competencies need to encompass those that are specific to HIT
(health information technology) safety (et., al, Borycki, 2017). These competencies include skills
related to information management data analysis, technology management, and system
evaluation. As per Sensmeier, the required competencies include three skill sets those of which
include basic computer skills, informatics knowledge, and informatic skills (Sensmeier &
Anderson, 2020). Adequate support and training are essential to healthcare providers in order to
be successful in these competencies.
Personal role in nursing informatics and health information technology safety
As both an ICU nurse and a surgical outpatient nurse, I have witnessed personally the
vital role of which technology plays in modern healthcare. Nurses need the most advanced and
up-to-date technology in order to ensure safe and efficient patient care. The advent of both
electronic health records (EMR) and patient monitoring systems has revolutionized the delivery
of healthcare and management of confidential health information. As the reliance on health
information technology increases, the need for attention to safety measures to ensure patient
privacy becomes greater. In the daily operations at my facility, the proficiency of computer skills
is essential. The charting system we had been using was in both paper and computerized form,
but as of recently we converted to a full computerized charting software. Computers are required
for practically everything on a daily basis at my facility and understanding how these systems
work is essential. By improving my technology skills, I can continue playing a crucial role in the
integration and utilization of nursing informatics in the delivery of patient care.
References
Borycki, E. M., Cummings, E., Kushniruk, A. W., & Saranto, K. (2017) Integrating health
information technology safety into nursing informatics competencies. Studies in Health
Technology & Informatics. 10(3), p. 222-228. 10.3233/978-1-61499-738-2-222
Nelson, R., (2020) Informatics: evolution of the nelson data, information, knowledge and
wisdom model: part 2. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. 25(3).
10.3912/OJIN.Vol25No03InfoCol01
Sensmeier, J. & Anderson, C. (2020) Tracking the impact of nursing informatics. Nursing
Management. 51(9). p. 50-53. 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000694880.86685.c1.