Incident in the ER   A nurse executive’s leadership in ethical decision making is vital. This is true across the board but never more so than in situations where competing voices and priorities and a sense that timing is critical converge in ways that may be detrimental for a patient and staff.   This Discussion […]

The Use of Clinical Systems to Improve Outcomes and Efficiencies   New technology—and the application of existing technology—only appears in healthcare settings after careful and significant research. The stakes are high, and new clinical systems need to offer evidence of positive impact on outcomes or efficiencies.   Nurse informaticists and healthcare leaders formulate clinical system […]

The Impact of Nursing Informatics on Patient Outcomes and Patient Care Efficiencies   In the Discussion for this module, you considered the interaction of nurse informaticists with other specialists to ensure successful care. How is that success determined?   Patient outcomes and the fulfillment of care goals is one of the major ways that healthcare […]

The term “knowledge worker” was first coined by management consultant and author Peter Drucker in his book, The Landmarks of Tomorrow (1959). Drucker defined knowledge workers as high-level workers who apply theoretical and analytical knowledge, acquired through formal training, to develop products and services. Does this sound familiar?   Nurses are very much knowledge workers. […]

In the modern era, there are few professions that do not to some extent rely on data. Stockbrokers rely on market data to advise clients on financial matters. Meteorologists rely on weather data to forecast weather conditions, while realtors rely on data to advise on the purchase and sale of property. In these and other […]

The Inclusion of Nurses in the Systems Development Life Cycle   In the media introduction to this module, it was suggested that you as a nurse have an important role in the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC). With a focus on patient care and outcomes, nurses may not always see themselves as contributors to the […]

Healthcare Information Technology Trends   Throughout history, technological advancements have appeared for one purpose before finding applications elsewhere that lead to spikes in its usage and development. The internet, for example, was originally developed to share research before becoming a staple of work and entertainment. But technology—new and repurposed—will undoubtedly continue to be a driver […]

When you wake in the morning, you may reach for your cell phone to reply to a few text or email messages that you missed overnight. On your drive to work, you may stop to refuel your car. Upon your arrival, you might swipe a key card at the door to gain entrance to the […]

Interaction Between Nurse Informaticists and Other Specialists   Nature offers many examples of specialization and collaboration. Ant colonies and bee hives are but two examples of nature’s sophisticated organizations. Each thrives because their members specialize by tasks, divide labor, and collaborate to ensure food, safety, and general well-being of the colony or hive.   Of […]

The Application of Data to Problem-Solving   In the modern era, there are few professions that do not to some extent rely on data. Stockbrokers rely on market data to advise clients on financial matters. Meteorologists rely on weather data to forecast weather conditions, while realtors rely on data to advise on the purchase and […]