The Role of the Nurse Informaticist in Systems Development and Implementation

The integration of health information technology (HIT) systems requires structured planning, multidisciplinary collaboration, and active engagement from nurse leaders. A graduate-level nurse informaticist is a valuable asset in the systems development and implementation process as they bring the clinical perspective, promote the usability perspective, and ensure buy-in to the process. This paper identifies specific tasks performed by the nurse informaticist in the context of each stage of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) – Planning, Analysis, Design, Implementation, and Post-Implementation Support – to ensure that nursing documentation systems meet clinical, operational, and quality requirements: The Role of the Nurse Informaticist in Systems Development and Implementation.

Planning and Requirements Definition

In the planning phase, the nurse informaticist assesses the current documentation workflow, identifies gaps, and collaborates with stakeholders to define functional requirements. This involves comprehensive needs assessments, feedback data from the nurses and assessment of patient safety information. They stand to guarantee it meets the practice requirement, is efficient and complies with the regulatory requirement (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2022). This includes looking for compatibility and simplicity, as well as using evaluated information on documentation to make the vendors’ decisions.

Analysis

During analysis, the nurse informaticist evaluates how current documentation practices influence care outcomes and maps out how the new system will fit into the workflow. They are responsible for the process of identifying the needs of the users, describing them in terms of user stories, and defining the risks and issues that may arise during implementation. They consider the goals of an organization and the capabilities of the system to guarantee that the features in the system correspond with tasks that bedside nurses encounter daily (Shafiee et al., 2022). It also reduces the level of data redundancy, helps standardize data and enriches clinical decision-making instruments.

Design of the New System

In the design phase, the nurse informaticist collaborates with developers and system architects to ensure interface usability and functionality. They provide insight into screen layouts, documentation templates, and data input structures. Through the creation of prototypes that mimic nursing workflows, they point out problems and recommend appropriate navigation and paperwork concerns (Nashwan et al., 2025). Achieving timely, accurate, and complete documentation is well-supported through the system, with high backing from the users.

Implementation

The nurse informaticist plays a central role during implementation by coordinating user training, workflow adjustments, and change management. Nurse informatics specialists work to translate technical changes between technical teams and nursing staff. They engage in pilot testing, reviewing the first set of outcome data, and gathering user feedback to facilitate smooth go-live (Javaid et al., 2024). Also, they support a focus on clinicians, as well as flexibility in implementation approaches based on unit requirements.

Post-Implementation Support

Following implementation, the nurse informaticist monitors system performance, evaluates its impact on care quality, and facilitates iterative improvements. They analyze user satisfaction surveys, error reports, and data utilization trends. Their permanent availability helps in building users’ confidence and provides continuous support for system evolution and regulatory compliance. They also assist in creating education materials and performance reports to promote a culture of quality improvement and evidence-based practice (Zhai et al., 2022).

Conclusion

The nurse informaticist is a critical member of the SDLC implementation team, bridging the gap between clinical expertise and informatics. Their participation from the planning phase right through to the post-implementation phase guarantees not only that the system is technically correct but also contributes to the care of the patient and improvements in the work of the nurse. This suggests that to support comprehensive health information system implementation and lasting clinical change, it is crucial to involve such an expert in the facility as a graduate-level nurse leader.

References

Javaid, M., Haleem, A., & Singh, R. P. (2024). Health informatics to enhance the healthcare industry’s culture: An extensive analysis of its features, contributions, applications and limitations. Informatics and Health, 1(2), 123–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infoh.2024.05.001

Nashwan, A. J., Cabrega, J. A., Othman, M. I., Khedr, M. A., Osman, Y. M., El‐Ashry, A. M., Naif, R., & Mousa, A. A. (2025). The evolving role of nursing informatics in the era of artificial intelligence. International Nursing Review, 72(1), e13084. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.13084

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2022). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Shafiee, M., Shanbehzadeh, M., Nassari, Z., & Kazemi-Arpanahi, H. (2022). Development and evaluation of an electronic nursing documentation system. BMC Nursing, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00790-1

Zhai, Y., Yu, Z., Zhang, Q., Qin, W., Yang, C., & Zhang, Y. (2022). Transition to a new nursing information system embedded with clinical decision support: A mixed-method study using the HOT-fit framework. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-022-02041-y

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The Role of the Nurse Informaticist in Systems Development and Implementation

Assume you are a nurse manager on a unit where a new nursing documentation system is to be implemented. You want to ensure that the system will be usable and acceptable for the nurses impacted. You realize a nurse leader must be on the implementation team.

Resources

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

• McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2022). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
  • Chapter 9, “Systems Development Life Cycle: Nursing Informatics and Organizational Decision Making” (pp. 191–204)
  • Chapter 12, “Electronic Security” (pp. 251–265)
  • Chapter 13, “Achieving Excellence by Managing Workflow and Initiating Quality Projects”
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.a). Health IT evaluation toolkit and evaluation measures quick reference guideLinks to an external site.. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://digital.ahrq.gov/health-it-evaluation-toolkit
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.b). Workflow assessment for health IT toolkitLinks to an external site.. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://digital.ahrq.gov/health-it-tools-and-resources/evaluation-resources/workflow-assessment-health-it-toolkit
  

  The Role of the Nurse Informaticist in Systems Development and Implementation

To Prepare:

• Review the steps of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and reflect on the scenario presented.
• Consider the benefits and challenges associated with involving a nurse leader on an implementation team for health information technology.

The Assignment: (2-3 pages not including the title and reference page)

In preparation of filling this role, develop a 2- to 3-page role description for a graduate-level nurse to guide his/her participation on the implementation team. The role description should be based on the SDLC stages and tasks and should clearly define how this individual will participate in and impact each of the following steps:

• Planning and requirements definition
• Analysis
• Design of the new system
• Implementation
• Post-implementation support
• Use APA format and include a title page and reference page.
• Use the Turnitin Drafts to check your match percentage before submitting your work.