Chapter 9by Lynn M. Nagle

Information and Knowledge Needs of Nurses

in the 21st Century

Key Terms Defined• Clinical information system • Clinical decision support • Evidence-based practice • Nursing informatics • Nursing knowledge• Research utilization

Informatics Defined

• Nursing informatics has evolved over the years

• Nurses focus their efforts on: a) articulating b) identifying c) determining

The Goal of Informatics

• “Informatics” in a broader sense• Those de-emphasizing “nursing informatics” • Health informatics • The umbrella of “health” informatics

The Goal of Informatics• More timely access to data • Healthcare delivery must be: a) safer b) knowledge-based c) cost-effective d) seamless e) timely• Additional challenges in nursing • The focus of IT in nursing • What is the potential of IT?

Nurse – Knowledge Worker

• Knowledge workers • Nurses spending time managing and recording

clinical information• Supporting nurses• Nurses as informaticians• Nurses have overwhelming contribution

power

Creating Clinical Knowledge

• Graves and Corcoran (1989) define nursing knowledge

• Capturing multi-faceted data • Adding new dimensions to information• Emerging capabilities in regards to data

Creating Clinical Knowledge

• Nurses and the use of knowledge • The genesis of using knowledge

– Empirics – Esthetics– Personal – Ethics

Creating Clinical Knowledge

• Nurses will continue to generate information • As nurses build on this knowledge their

practices are affected

Using Clinical Knowledge

• Evidence-based practice• Research utilization • Best practice guidelines • The consensus on the adoption of data

standards • A potential for a more uniform data is on the

horizon

Clinical Decision Support

• Clinical decision support tools

• The simplicity of clinical decision support

Challenges

• The growth of nurse leaders• Nurse informaticians as advocates• Helping the nurse educator succeed• Mentorship programs

Challenges

• Getting support from nurse educators• Implementation of CIS • Nurses know what they need • Nurses know what is required for success

Challenges

• Nurses must be involved in the process • Nurses should : be encouraged demand a standard be provided with necessary material

Challenges

• Identify the core of informatics• Nursing informatics as a specialty• Using informatics as a core piece of curriculum • Inter-professional education and informatics

Challenges

• Will all future graduates be more computer literate?

• Being comfortable with a computer is not the only key to success

A View of the Future

• Informatics is still new • Technology is still not completely understood• The future of nursing is dependent on

informatics• The use and understanding of informatics will

be used in all areas of nursing

A View of the Future

Opportunities exist for :• Further enhancement • Advancing designs • Delivering care • Engaging with others

Thought Provoking Questions

1. What are the possibilities to accelerate the generation and uptake of new nursing knowledge?

2. What should be the areas of priority for the advancement of informatics in nursing?