Clinical Information Systems Nurse
Job Description
DEPARTMENT:
RESPONSIBLE TO:
FLSA:
APPROVAL
Clinical Information Systems
Director of Clinical Information Systems Services
Exempt
DATE
APPROVAL
DATE
POSITION PURPOSE:
The Clinical Information Systems Nurse will perform all aspects of his/her role consistent with the
American Nurses Association Scope & Standards for Nursing Informatics Practice (White Paper,
October 2001). The Clinical Information Systems Nurse is responsible to ensure all clinical
information system implementations are consistent with our belief in providing compassionate nursing
care based on current standards of practice. The Clinical Information Systems Nurse is responsible for
the providing feedback of clinical system implementations relative to functions for patient care services.
S/he supports a shared leadership philosophy and advances the professional practice model for patient
care services.
The Clinical Information Systems Nurse integrates nursing science, computer science, and information
science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice. S/he
facilitates the integration of data, information, and knowledge to support patients, nurses, and other
providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings. This support is accomplished through the
use of information structures, information processes, and information technology.
The Clinical Information Systems Nurse strives to provide support to improve the health of populations,
communities, families, and individuals by optimizing information management and communication.
This includes the use of technology in the direct provision of care, in supporting effective administrative
systems, in supporting educational experiences, in supporting life-long learning, and in supporting
nursing research.
The Clinical Information Systems Nurse will practice within the standards of practice for the informatics
nurse specialist. These standards are organized around a general problem-solving framework that
closely resembles the familiar nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, identification of outcomes,
planning, implementation, and evaluation. The problem-solving framework supports all facets of
informatics practice, including those without technology, and all areas of nursing practice. Informatics
nurse specialists and other informaticians use a structured problem-solving method to identify and
clarify issues and develop, implement, and evaluate informatics solutions. These steps are not mutually
exclusive and topics may overlap multiple identified steps.
The Clinical Information Systems Nurse is responsible to be an integral part of the implementation and
support team, so as to enhance implementation of all technology affecting patient care. S/he enhances
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the practice environment, consistent with Magnet hospital criteria, encouraging staff accountability for
their own practice.
The Clinical Information Systems Nurse is responsible for identifying and analyzing issues. An
Informatics solution may encompass technology and non-technology products such as developing a
database, participating in the design of informatics curricula, creating a spreadsheet, tailoring an
application to a particular environment, designing a research study to describe required informatics
competencies, describing information flow in a process redesign, or participating in the creation of a
structure for information presentation.
The Clinical Information Systems Nurse incorporates theories, principles, and concepts from appropriate
sciences into informatics practice. Examples of theories could include information, systems, and change
theories. Principles and concepts could include support as it relates to project management,
implementation methods, organizational culture, and data-base structures. S/he integrates ergonomics
and human-computer interaction principles into informatics solution design, development, selection,
implementation, and evaluation. S/he systematically determines the social, legal, and ethical impact of
an informatics solution within nursing and health care.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:
________________________ supports a shared leadership philosophy and encourages nursing staff to
demonstrate accountability for their own practice. Therefore, the nursing organization reflects a flat
structure. The Clinical Information Systems Nurse reports to the Director of Clinical Information
Systems Services, who, in turn reports to the Chief Nursing Officer.
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ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
 Assures that individual rights are honored, and that all interactions are respectful and valued.
 Demonstrates ethical conduct and practice consistent with the Code of Ethics for Nurses with
Interpretive Statements (2001).
 Participates in nursing and organizational policy formulation and decision-making, especially as
it relates to technology.
 Synthesizes data, information, and knowledge to clarify informatics issues or problems.
 Analyzes multiple approaches/solutions to the informatics issue or problem.
 Participates in the development of an informatics solution for a specific issue or problem.
 Supports the process for implementing the solution to the informatics issue or problem.
 Works side by side, in collaboration with the staff.
 Participates in the evaluation of all processes and solutions used to address the informatics
problem.
 Evaluates one’s own nursing informatics practice in relation to professional practice standards
and relevant statutes and regulations.
 Maintains knowledge and competency that reflects current nursing informatics practice.
 Collaborates with others in the conduct of nursing informatics practice.
 Contributes to the body of informatics knowledge.
 Considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, costs, and impact in conducting informatics
practice.
 Employs effective communications.
 Mentors and coaches patients, students, new nurses, peers, staff and other colleagues.
 Personally adheres to and holds staff accountable for behaviors that are consistent with standards
of good citizenship.
 Embraces change and lifelong learning, taking personal accountability to seek out experiences
that reflect current practice in order to maintain skills and competence in clinical practice and
role performance.
 Seeks feedback concerning one’s own practice.
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o Competencies:
 Core
 Customer Focused
 Developing Others
 Interdependence (Team Focused)
 Mission Centered
 Open Communication
 Project Leader
 Organizational Knowledge
 Project Methodology
 Project Team Building
 Results Oriented
 Service Delivery Leader
 Building Relationships
 Field & Industry Expertise
 Planning & Prioritizing
 Problem Solving
 Supporting & Implementing Change
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Systems and Integration Leader
 Analytic Decision Making
 Change Agent SIL
 Industry and Regulatory Knowledge
 Managing Projects SIL
 Systems Thinking
o Applicable competencies from Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC), 3rd Edition
(2000):
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Risk Identification
Conflict Mediation
Program Development
Health Policy Monitoring
Fiscal Resource Management
Research Data Collection
Incident Reporting
Consultation
Staff Development
Supply Management
Quality Monitoring
Product Evaluation
Physician Support
Peer Review
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Delegation
Cost Containment
Patient Rights Protection
Decision-Making Support
Cultural Brokerage
Active Listening
WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
1. In an eight-hour day, the Clinical Information Systems Nurse must be able to sit for 3 ½ hours,
stand for 3 ½ hours, and walk for 1 hour.
2. Requires occasional bending/stooping (6-10% of work time).
3. Requires occasional carrying or lifting of objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
4. Requires use of hands for actions such as typing, simple grasping, fine manipulation, and
repetitive actions.
5. Requires the ability to frequently respond to multiple demands and priorities.
6. Has potential for exposure to infectious diseases, hazardous waste and chemicals.
7. Requires visual acuity, the ability to speak and the ability to hear speech.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
The Clinical Information Systems Nurse must hold an active license to practice nursing in the State of
licensure. S/he should be prepared with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in nursing. If s/he does
not have this, s/he will be actively pursuing the baccalaureate degree with a goal to obtain the degree
within four years of moving into the position. National certification is also encouraged. The Clinical
Information Systems Nurse will have clinical nursing experience and experience in a nursing leadership
role. S/he is a member of an appropriate professional nursing organization and seeks continuing
education and professional development opportunities consistent with the annual learning plan.
Original: 05/23/06
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