INFORMATICS NURSE AS A CHANGE AGENT

Informatics Nurse as a Change Agent



Informatics' Nurse as a Change Agent

Introduction

The nurse best prepared to take on such a role is a nurse specifically educated in informatics. In 1992, the American Nurses Association (ANA) recognized the specialty of nursing informatics (NI). According to the Scope and Standards of Nursing Informatics Practice, NI focuses on the representation of nursing data, information, and knowledge and the management and communication of nursing information within the broader context of health informatics. Elements of interest to the nurse informaticist are data, information, and knowledge; nursing science, information science, and computer science; nurse, patient, environment, and health; decision-making; and information structures, information management and communication, and information technology.

Analysis

Because this is a specialized and advanced field within nursing, master's or doctorally prepared nurse informaticists should be sought to fill these positions. Competencies for the informatics nurse specialist (master's prepared) and informatics innovator (doctorally prepared) have been defined. Competition for nurses with advanced degrees in informatics is intense. Skilled nurse informaticians effectively compete for jobs in information systems departments, business (for clinical information system vendors), academia, quality management, and many other data management-related roles.

The informatics nurse ensures that the information systems that are in place or under consideration support the practice of nursing. She or he analyzes existing data and processes, eliminates unnecessary work, and revises work processes to increase efficiency wherever possible before automation. The informatics nurse also provides informatics tools for nurses to effectively do their jobs. Computers, whether mobile or stationary, are one of these tools. When computers are used correctly, they encourage a more analytical, abstract, and conceptual use of knowledge on behalf of the patient.

With access to computers, computer networks, and the Internet, nurses have the opportunity—and obligation—to consider more relevant knowledge when making decisions about patient care. Computers must facilitate retrieval of the best evidence available for care. Evidence-based practices must be found, understood, and disseminated to drive desired clinician and patient behavior. These efforts are facilitated by an informatics nurse.

Moreover, the role of the informatics nurse involves project management, consultation, education, research, system assessment, development and support, decision support, outcomes management, policy development, and presentation of data, information, and knowledge. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act has many implications for managing health-related information. As such, informatics nurses can provide expertise to the CNO about privacy, security, and regulatory aspects of information as well. The concept of the informatics nurse as a change agent is integral to all these components of the role.

Additionally, informatics nurses collaborate with staff in other information-focused roles within the organization, such as information systems, quality management, and marketing. Nursing vision for information and the knowledge necessary to support nursing practice may depend in part on other areas to produce data for use. Data may be available but are unknown until these relationships are established and subsequent discussions occur.

Theoretical models are available to help the CNO develop a vision for nursing informatics with both the strategic and tactical plans for ...