Nursing Informatics in Health Care

Nursing Informatics in Health Care

Informatics is a field that is relevant and applicable to healthcare practice. It entails representing, processing, and conveying information using both engineered and natural systems (Saputra & Arif, 2019). Implementing informatics in the healthcare sector can significantly improve the quality of service delivery, patient safety, and patient outcomes (Saputra & Arif, 2019). Accordingly, this paper proposes the relevance and need for a nurse informaticist in a healthcare organization and evaluates how this will improve healthcare outcomes.

Nursing Informatics and the Nurse Informaticist

According to Zareshahi et al. (2022), nursing informatics refers to the field that incorporates nursing science with other analytical and informational sciences to facilitate the identification, definition, management, and data and information communication. Accordingly, nursing informatics increases the knowledge base of all stakeholders involved in nursing practice (Peltonen et al., 2019). Consequently, this creates a competent and skilled workforce and increases the quality-of-service provision hence better patient outcomes. Notably, the key aspects are data and information (Saputra & Arif, 2019). Data refers to raw facts that do not necessitate interpretation, whereas information results from the processing or interpretation of data (Saputra & Arif, 2019). Nurse informatics has led to the evolution of technologies such as electronic health record systems (Saputra & Arif, 2019).

Furthermore, nurse informaticists play a key role in the healthcare sector. They are involved in interpreting and analyzing medical data (Saputra & Arif, 2019). Information from this analysis forms the basis for creating plans and strategies to increase the quality of nursing service delivery and improve patient outcomes (Zareshahi et al., 2022). This is accomplished via computer science and information technology. By interpreting and analyzing medical data, nurse informatics accomplishes three main roles. The first role is the utility of the information to communicate the new plans or modifications of the existing plans (Saputra & Arif, 2019). An example is a need for staff to record specific patient biodata such as weight to increase the accuracy of dosing medications like insulin. The second role is the implementation of new technologies that promote better nursing practice and patent care. The third role is data validation and stewardship (Peltonen et al., 2019). Therefore, nurse informaticists utilize medical data to optimize the operations of healthcare facilities and improve patient outcomes (Saputra & Arif, 2019).

Nurse Informaticists and Other Health Care Organizations

Different healthcare organizations have used nurse informatics to optimize services and improve patient outcomes. Data demonstrates that in 2022, the number of informatics nurses working in various health care organizations in the USA will be approximately 489 (Zippia.com, n.d.); about 73 percent work in the private sector and 15 percent in the public sector (Zippia.com, n.d.). Those found in the educational sector and government account for six percent each (Zippia.com, n.d.). These facilities have reported numerous benefits. Nursing informaticists use information technology to analyze and interpret medical data. As a result, they improve clinical workflows by incorporating evidence-based nursing practice (Saputra & Arif, 2019). This is accomplished by using the processed data to design review workflows and propose alternative diagnostics to modify treatment plans (Peltonen et al., 2019). Accordingly, the policies, processes, and protocols of the organizations are optimized, increasing the quality-of-service delivery and patient outcomes.

According to Peltonen et al. (2019), reports from the organizations also demonstrate that nurse informatics are involved in staff training. The training is designed based on the information obtained from data processing. This training helps address endemic shortcomings in the organizations (Peltonen et al., 2019). In addition, these targeted learning programs equip staff with relevant knowledge and skills and increase their productivity. Nurse informaticists also spearhead the selection, piloting, and implementation of new medical technologies and devices (Peltonen et al., 2019). These nurses provide pertinent information on the new technologies that can transform diagnostics and clinical decisions. Additionally, nurse informaticists play a key role in minimizing medication errors and treatment costs (Peltonen et al., 2019). This is accomplished via the targeted training sessions and process and policy optimization (Peltonen et al., 2019).

The nurse informaticists collaborate with the rest of the nursing staff and members of the interdisciplinary team. The interaction is both face-to-face and virtual. They interact with nursing staff to discuss the potential modifications in their workflows to improve the quality-of-service provision (Konttila et al., 2019). They interact with other members such as physicians, pharmacists, and laboratory technicians to optimize targeted clinical workflows. Similarly, collaboration with physicians optimizes treatment plans and enforces comprehensive use of computerized physician order entries (Konttila et al., 2019). In addition, collaboration with pharmacists ensures adequate patient counseling and promotes pharmacist-led interventions to minimize medication errors (Konttila et al., 2019). Lastly, interaction with laboratory technicians guarantees adequate use of the technology to transmit accurate results (Konttila et al., 2019).

Impact of Full Nurse Engagement in Health Care Technology

Patient Care

The engagement of nurses in health care technology can help improve patient care. Healthcare technology facilitates ease of communication among nurses and interdisciplinary team members (Leonardsen et al., 2020). In addition, this provides an opportunity for consultations and clarifications hence informed clinical decisions (Konttila et al., 2019), which helps to minimize incidences of medication errors and reduce treatment costs that emerge from prolonged hospitalization due to medication errors. Health care technology improves care coordination. Specific procedures and protocols must be followed in the treatment process (Konttila et al., 2019). An example is an interdisciplinary collaboration created by the electronic health record system where each team member plays a unique role (Konttila et al., 2019). This coordinated care ensures that the best clinical decisions are made hence better patient outcomes. Healthcare technology also improves patient education. For instance, telehealth tools such as text messages, audio, or videos are applied to remind patients to take their medication or address their concerns regarding medication use (Leonardsen et al., 2020). This minimizes the likelihood of medication error, hence better patient outcomes.

Protected Health Information

Moreover, healthcare technology can increase the security, privacy, and confidentiality of protected health information. This is per the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Meaningful Use Guidelines (Moore & Frye, 2019).  Nurses and other interdisciplinary team members can utilize various tools of information technology to protect or secure protected health information. The first strategy is data encryption. Data encryption involves using a specific algorithm to translate information and make it unreadable (Kok et al., 2019). A unique decryption code is used to access this information (Kok et al., 2019).

The second technique is password protection. The passwords are unique to each authorized user and are changed periodically (Kok et al., 2019). Furthermore, passwords should utilize numbers, characters, and letters (Kok et al., 2019). The other strategy is identity and access management, which entails regulating and allowing only authorized users to access health information technology (Kok et al., 2019). They should have unique user accounts, and termination of the account should be done when the user is transferred to another facility (Kok et al., 2019). Additionally, cloud data backup is essential to prevent data loss when user accounts are hacked and wiped by computer viruses (Kok et al., 2019).

Workflow

Healthcare technology optimizes workflow. Technology such as the electronic health record system eliminates manual paperwork, avoids data duplication, enhances interprofessional collaboration, and increases the security and privacy of protected patient information (Totten et al., 2019). All these improve nursing activities by ensuring smooth patient admission and reducing medication errors. Furthermore, technology promotes evidence-based practice because members of the interdisciplinary team are involved in the decision-making process (Totten et al., 2019).

Costs and Increases Return on Investment

Healthcare technology minimizes treatment costs and increases return on investment. This is achieved because the workflow and the quality of service delivery are enhanced (Totten et al., 2019). Enhanced workflow processes such as accurate billing and updated patient records minimize human errors (Totten et al., 2019). Consequently, this helps to avert monetary losses. Furthermore, updated patient records ensure accurate records are available to facilitate reimbursements from insurers. Healthcare technology can promote targeted digital advertisements hence accessing many patients (Totten et al., 2019), increasing the return on investment. Additionally, scheduling apps can classify human resources and help to avert extra costs incurred in these activities (Totten et al., 2019).

Opportunities and Challenges

The addition of a nurse informaticist role has various opportunities. Nurses and other interdisciplinary team members will be able to use accurate findings from processed medical data to guide their practice (Peltonen et al., 2019).  Nurses and other multidisciplinary team members will be able to solve endemic organizational issues resulting from the inadequate utility of patient data. The addition of a nurse informaticist role will provide an opportunity for perpetual learning and training (Zareshahi et al., 2022). Nonetheless, nurses and other interprofessional team members may face challenges in the accuracy of patient biodata and other details. Besides, the role of a nurse informaticist relies on data accuracy, which may be a challenge to the other members (Peltonen et al., 2019).

Nurses, physicians, laboratory technologists, pharmacists, and other interdisciplinary team members can utilize technology to improve patient outcomes. Physicians should ensure that relevant and accurate treatment plans and diagnoses are made (Konttila et al., 2019). Pharmacists should ensure that the electronic prescriptions are accurate and devoid of drug interactions and polypharmacy (Konttila et al., 2019). They should also actively counsel patients on proper medication use. Laboratory technologists should perform tests accurately and deliver them timely. Nurses should interact with other team members to ensure that medication administration errors are minimized (Konttila et al., 2019).

Summary of Recommendations

According to Zareshahi et al. (2022), nurse informaticists are involved in interpreting and analyzing medical data. Information from this analysis forms the basis for creating plans and strategies to increase the quality of nursing service delivery and improve patient outcomes (Peltonen et al., 2019). Other organizations have benefited from nurse informaticists in various ways: improved clinical workflows, optimized policies, processes, and protocols, staff training, and spearheading of the selection, piloting, and implementation of new medical technologies and devices (Saputra & Arif, 2019; Peltonen et al., 2019). By so doing, the quality of nursing services is improved, and better patient outcomes are achieved. Optimized billing processes minimize monetary losses caused by human errors (Totten et al., 2019). Additionally, the accuracy of patient data increases reimbursements from insurers (Totten et al., 2019). Therefore, nurse informaticists significantly improve the quality of service delivery and patient outcomes and increase return on investment.

References

Kok, S. H., Abdullah, A., Jhanjhi, N. Z., & Supramaniam, M. (2019). Ransomware, Threat and Detection Techniques: A Review. IJCSNS International Journal of Computer Science and Network Security, 19(2), 136–146.

Konttila, J., Siira, H., Kyngäs, H., Lahtinen, M., Elo, S., Kääriäinen, M., Kaakinen, P., Oikarinen, A., Yamakawa, M., Fukui, S., Utsumi, M., Higami, Y., Higuchi, A., & Mikkonen, K. (2019). Healthcare Professionals’ Competence in Digitalisation: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(5–6), 745–761. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14710

Leonardsen, A. C. L., Hardeland, C., Helgesen, A. K., & Grøndahl, V. A. (2020). Patient Experiences with Technology Enabled Care Across Healthcare Settings- A Systematic Review. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05633-4

Moore, W., & Frye, S. (2019). Review of HIPAA, Part 1: History, Protected Health Information, and Privacy and Security Rules. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 47(4), 269–272. https://doi.org/10.2967/JNMT.119.227819

Peltonen, L.-M., Pruinelli, L., Ronquillo, C., Nibber, R., Peresmitre, E. L., Block, L., Deforest, H., Lewis, A., Alhuwail, D., Ali, S., Badger, M. K., Eler, G. J., Georgsson, M., Islam, T., Jeon, E., Jung, H., Kuo, C. H., Sarmiento, R. F. R., Sommer, J. A., … Topaz, M. (2019). The Current State of Nursing Informatics – An International Cross-Sectional Survey. Finnish Journal of EHealth and EWelfare, 11(3), 220–231. https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.77584

Saputra, C., & Arif, Y. (2019). Nursing Informatics System in Health Care Delivery. KnE Life Sciences, 4(10), 38. https://doi.org/10.18502/kls.v4i10.3827

Totten, A., Hansen, R., Wagner, J., Stillman, L., Ivlev, I., Davis-O’Reill, Y., Towle, C., Erickson, J., Erten-Lyons, D., Fu, R., Fann, J., Babigumira, J., Palm-Cruz, K., Avery, M., & McDonagh, M. (2019). Telehealth for Acute and Chronic Care Consultations. In Comparative Effectiveness Review (Issue 216). https://doi.org//10.23970/AHRQEPCCER216

Zareshahi, M., Mirzaei, S., & Nasiriani, K. (2022). Nursing Informatics Competencies in Critical Care Unit. Health Informatics Journal, 28(1), 146045822210838. https://doi.org/10.1177/14604582221083843

Zippia.com. (n.d.). Informatics Nurse Demographics and Statistics in the Us. https://www.zippia.com/informatics-nurse-jobs/demographics/#employment-statistics-section

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Instructions Nursing Informatics in Health Care

Write a 4-5 page evidence-based proposal to support the need for a nurse informaticist in an organization who would focus on improving health care outcomes.

Nursing Informatics in Health Care

Introduction
As you begin to prepare this assessment, you are encouraged to complete the Team Perspectives of the Nurse Informaticist activity. Completion of this will help you succeed with the assessment as you explore the nurse informaticist’s role from the different perspectives of the health care team. Completing activities is also a way to demonstrate engagement.
Nurses at the baccalaureate level in all practice areas are involved in nursing informatics through interaction with information management and patient care technologies. Nurses must not only demonstrate knowledge of and skills in health information and patient care technologies, but also how to use these tools at the bedside and organizational levels. Moreover, nurses need to recognize how information gathered from various health information sources can impact decision making at the national and state regulatory levels.
Scenario
For this assessment, assume you are a nurse attending a meeting of your state’s nurses association. A nurse informaticist conducted a presentation on her role and its impact on positive patient and organizational outcomes in her workplace. You realize that your organization is undergoing many technological changes. You believe this type of role could provide many benefits to your organization.
You decide to pursue proposing a nurse informaticist role in your organization. You speak to your chief nursing officer (CNO) and human resources (HR) manager, who ask you to prepare a 4–5 page evidence-based proposal to support the new role. In this way, they can make an informed decision as to whether the addition of such a role could justify the return on investment (ROI). They need your proposal before an upcoming fiscal meeting. This is not an essay, but instead, it is a proposal to create a new Nurse Informaticist position.
One important part of this assessment is the justification of the need for a nurse informaticist in a health care organization and references from relevant and timely scholarly or professional resources to support the justification for creating this nurse informaticist position. The term justify means to show or prove that the nurse informaticist position brings value to the organization. This justification must include evidence from the literature to support that this position will provide a return on investment for the organization.
Preparation
To successfully prepare for this assessment, you will need to complete these preparatory activities:
• Review assessment resources and activities.
• Conduct independent research on the nursing knowledge and skills necessary to interact with health information and patient care technology.
• Focus your research on current resources available through peer-reviewed articles, professional websites, government websites, professional blogs, wikis, job boards, and so on.
• Consult the BSN Program Library Research Guide for help in identifying scholarly and authoritative sources.
• Interview peers in your network who are considered information technology experts.
• Ask them about how information technology advances are impacting patient care at the bedside, at the organizational level, and beyond.
Proposal Format
The chief nursing officer (CNO) and human resources (HR) manager have asked you to include the following headings in your proposal and to be sure to address the bullets following each heading:
Nursing Informatics and the Nurse Informaticist
• What is nursing informatics?
• What is the role of the nurse informaticist?
Nurse Informaticists and Other Health Care Organizations
• What is the experience of other health care organizations with nurse informaticists?
• How do these nurse informaticists interact with the rest of the nursing staff and the interdisciplinary team?
Impact of Full Nurse Engagement in Health Care Technology
• How does fully engaging nurses in health care technology impact:
• Patient care?
• Protected health information (security, privacy, and confidentiality)?
 In this section, you will explain evidence-based strategies that the nurse informaticist and interdisciplinary team can use to effectively manage patients’ protected health information, particularly privacy, security, and confidentiality. Evidence-based means that they are supported by evidence from scholarly sources.
o Workflow?
o Costs and return on investment?
Opportunities and Challenges
• What are the opportunities and challenges for nurses and the interdisciplinary team with the addition of a nurse informaticist role?
• How can the interdisciplinary team collaborate to improve quality care outcomes through technology?
Summary of Recommendations
• What are 3–4 key takeaways from your proposal about the recommended nurse informaticist role that you want the CNO and the HR manager to remember?
• This is the section where the justification for the implementation of the nursing informaticist role is addressed. Remember to include evidence from the literature to support your recommendation.
Additional Requirements
• Written communication: Ensure written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• Submission length: 4–5 double-spaced pages, in addition to title and references pages.
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• Citations and References: Cite a minimum of three current scholarly and/or authoritative sources to support your ideas. In addition, cite a minimum of one current professional blog or website to support your central ideas. Current means no more than five years old.
• APA formatting: Be sure to follow APA formatting and style guidelines for citations and references. For an APA refresher, consult the Evidence and APA page on Campus.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
• Competency 1: Describe nurses’ and the interdisciplinary team’s role in informatics with a focus on electronic health information and patient care technology to support decision making.
• Define nursing informatics and the role of the nurse informaticist.
• Explain how the nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, including technologists, to improve the quality of patient care.
• Justify the need for a nurse informaticist in a health care organization.
• Competency 2: Implement evidence-based strategies to effectively manage protected health information.
• Explain evidence-based strategies that the nurse and interdisciplinary team can use to effectively manage patients’ protected health information (privacy, security, and confidentiality).
• Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly communication to facilitate use of health information and patient care technologies.
• Follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references.
• Create a clear, well-organized, and professional proposal that is generally free from errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
•