Information Systems in Nursing

Information technology seems to have defined the future of health system. The healthcare modernization has completely improved care delivery today. In the past decades, healthcare providers and stakeholders have invested in technology expansion; thus, using the computer programs to perform the administrative process. With patient care becoming a primary focus in creating new knowledge and concept, healthcare technology has defined the current trend in healthcare and clinical applications. Given the significance of information technology in healthcare, it becomes critical to discuss how the current information system has helped to deliver quality patient care and improve patient outcomes by assessing the four competencies.

Competency 1:

Nurses are professionals entrusted with offering quality patient care and improve clinical outcome. Based on this function, the nurses rely on the scholarship of application to make it a germane to practice. They are expected to apply their classroom theory into practice. The nursing faculty promotes the scholarship of applications in different ways, such as staff development, consultation work, clinical problem solving, and advanced clinical practice (Cashin & Cook, 2010). Therefore, an effective scholarship and evidence-based information ensure the nursing professional gets the grip and knowledge needed in the field.

The healthcare industry has acknowledged the significance of communication in the delivery of services because healthcare practitioners and information technology personnel must engage and address the issues affecting patient care (Gerrish & Lacey, 2013). With the nurse informatics, the healthcare delivery process can support high-quality, safe, and patient-centered care. The nurse informatics integrates computer science and nursing science to communicate and manage data; thus, utilize the knowledge and information for nursing practice (Campbell, 2013). The nursing informatics ensures nurses utilize information technology to enhance patient outcomes, nursing research, nurse education, and healthcare management. With the information technology, healthcare setting has found it possible to integrate telehealth, mobile laboratories, online appointment scheduling, and electronic medication prescription. The informatics nurses have guaranteed the computerized solutions, therefore, accomplishing information-related activities and assure an efficient workflow.

Competency 2:

The healthcare information has become a vital element in nursing because it involves documentation. The information systems have helped nurses to utilize their knowledge regarding quality patient care. The use of electronic patient record has improved service delivery and quality of nursing care. With the help of these e-patient records, the information workflow has improved because the use of information technology has improved efficiency and patient outcome quality (Al-Rawajfah, Aloush, & Hewitt, 2014). Patient documentation has helped nurses in communicating the conditions of patients and organizes care based on the needs of patients. Therefore, an electronic documentation assembles information about patient needs; hence making it possible for nurses to improve the accuracy of patient’s information leading to quality patient care.

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Studies have demonstrated that a properly designed information system has the potential of facilitating faster and efficient information flow needed for processing documentation (McBride, Delaney, & Tietze, 2012). Without a doubt, nurses continue to play a critical role regarding patient’s safety and this must be supported by quality electronic documentation and nursing environment. According to Al-Rawajfah et al. (2014), the evolution of electronic documentation has guaranteed patients the best care plan because communication between clinicians has improved; hence, improving processes related to direct patient care. The nurse researchers are always diligent and they prefer using the information system to coordinate, monitor, and deliver patient care based on the efficient documentation flow (McBride et al., 2012). The nurse researchers have relied on computer-based software to collect, store, retrieve, and restore data as well as integrate clinical data with available nursing management resources. Nurses need essential data to interpret and make decisions. They can also use the computers to schedule staff, order medications, and manage time through electronic medical records.

Competency 3:

The information management technology tools designed for healthcare are unique and complex. They require the nurse to possess relevant skills to handle and interpret them for an efficient delivery of quality patient care. It encompasses the nursing informatics which combines IT and nursing (Schwartz, 2012). With the nursing information management technologies, especially nursing informatics, it has become possible to blend information systems with the nursing expertise to deliver quality patient care. The information technology has helped to improve nursing practice by transforming clinicians’ decision-making process because the information stream is made efficient. The nurse informatics and nurse leaders have to introduce proper information structure, technology, and information processes which can facilitate the integration of data, knowledge, and information; thus, supporting patients (Schwartz, 2012). Therefore, ICTs use in this sector educates patients and health professionals, improves quality patient care, and enhances patience-centered services.

In conclusion, it is undeniable that information technology has transformed healthcare industry by promoting clinical outcomes and quality patient care. Nursing informatics provides an opportunity for clinicians to encompass their inputs in designing information system infrastructure; hence improve patient care. For instance, the electronic health records have enhanced communication workflow; therefore, making it easy for nurses to share relevant information regarding patient’s needs. The nurse leaders and informatics nurses should encourage evidence-based practices among nurses through research and scholarships. This is the only way nurses will fit in the technological era and deliver quality patient care efficiently.