In 1991, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) first recognized that informatics must be an essential technology for healthcare. However, the IOM’s recommendation brought about questions regarding how to integrate it with science, clinical practice, and health systems management.
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In 2006, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) championed the DNP for providing innovative, practice-focused leadership for advanced nursing practice and pushed to integrate health information management into the DNP curriculum. The IOM agreed, recommending the systematic integration of informatics knowledge across the DNP curriculum. The implementation of health informatics into the DNP curriculum prepares advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and other nurse leaders to use a variety of information resources to retrieve data, information, and knowledge. For example, in statistics, epidemiology, and research courses, students use informatics tools to evaluate knowledge for evidence-based practice and investigate population health. Health informatics in DNP programs prepares advanced practice nurses, nurse executives, and other nurse leaders to:
  • Assess current practices and design new models
  • Capture, retrieve, and analyze clinical, management, and educational data to evaluate and improve care processes and patient outcomes
  • Search knowledge bases and retrieve relevant scientific evidence, guidelines, and protocols
  • Synthesize evidence and knowledge, track trends, and recommend policies