Nursing Informatics and the Nurse Informaticist

Nursing informatics is a discipline that integrates knowledge, information, and data to support nurses, patients, and other healthcare workers in their decision-making process in various settings. The support is realized via the use of information technology, information processes, and information structures (HIMSS, 2019).  The primary goal of nursing informatics is to enhance the health of populations, individuals, families, and communities by optimizing communication and information management (NLN, n.d). Nurse informaticists are professionals who are competent in both technological use and nursing profession. Their role is to bridge the gap between technological advancement and the clinical staff. Because of their excellent nursing backgrounds, nurse informaticists ensure that the implemented procedures and tools are practical and user friendly for the healthcare staff (ANA, 2016). They also design training programs to help healthcare staff use new technologies to improve care delivery. For instance, nurse informaticists can design a training program for medical-surgical nurses to improve their competence in using a new electronic medication dispensing system. Their other roles include writing policies, improving system performance, assessing clinical statistics, managing IT projects and monitoring the outcomes of quality initiatives.

Also Read: Write my NURSFPX 4000

Nurse Informaticists and Other Health Care Organizations

In epidemiology and public health, Informatics nurses collaborate with scientists to synthesize, obtain, and provide access to knowledge and information that healthcare workers use to promote the health of the population and community (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). Health care organizations involve nurse informaticists in the distinct level of healthcare delivery. These nurses assume leadership positions like Chief Nursing Informatics Officer or Director of Nursing Informatics to oversee the implementation of technology to improve care delivery (Cassano, 2017). For instance, the director directs and advocates the design and adoption of technological changes to boost care experience, quality, and efficiency in medical facilities and across the care continuum. Chief Nursing Informatics Officers (CNIOs), in contrast, manage the development of new technologies, facilitate the adoption of new technologies, and drive innovation (Cassano, 2017). They provide health professionals with the necessary support, like enabling data exchange between various departments and healthcare systems, monitoring of clinical events, and data repositories. Both the Chief Nursing Informatics Officer and Director of Nursing Informatics introduce strategic services in clinical education and encourage professional nursing development.

Nurse Informaticists Interaction in the Healthcare Setting

Providing seamless experience to patients mandates effective communication and collaboration among healthcare workers. Interprofessional collaboration primary objective is to enable nurses and doctors to coordinate in administering the highest- quality of care. The partnership reinforces respect and trust among healthcare providers (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018).  Nurse informaticists use multiple technologies to streamline communication and facilitate collaboration in clinical settings. Their daily workflow entails assisting the nursing staff with challenges in the use of electronic systems (Kelly, 2016). They also monitor automated systems to improve efficiency in health care delivery (HIMSS, 2019).  Nurse informaticists conduct training programs in case a new technology is implemented and informs staff about any modification to the system. They also participate in committees to help members with solutions to any issues that might arise as a result of implementing technological changes in the facility (Kelly, 2016).  The nurse informatics engages in evidence-based projects to translate collected information into electronic format. They also participate in implementing evidence-based projects and monitoring workflow throughout the process. Nurse informaticists work with other medical professionals to solve issues related to the use of the electronic system and support evidence-based projects