Nursing informatics: It is what we know that matters

In the 2008 ANA Scope and Standards, you will find NI defined as “ Nursing informatics (NI) integrates nursing science, computer and information science, and cognitive science to manage, communicate, and expand the data, information, knowledge, and wisdom of nursing practice. Nurses trained in NI support improved patient outcomes through their expertise in information processes, structures, and technologies, thus helping nurses and other care providers to create and record the evidence of their practice” (ANA, 2008).  As an Informatics Nurse Specialist (INS), I do much more than support patient outcomes through my expertise in information processes, structure, and technologies.  The industry has also recognized that it may be time to revise the current definition.  In the proposed revision, the definition evolves to “Nursing informatics (NI) is a specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information management and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. NI supports consumers, patients, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in their decision-making in all roles and settings to achieve desired outcomes. This support is accomplished through the use of information structures, information processes, and information technology” (ANA, 2013).

This evolution fits with the concept of nurses as knowledge workers. As nurses, INSs do not simply have expertise in data and information processes.  Data capture, management, processing, retrieval, storage and the like are really our tools.  Just like any profession, the tools used do not define a person’s responsibility or contribution.  Rather, it is the outcome. In nursing, our contribution cannot be measured by how much data we capture or how we process it. It is how we use that data and what we learn from it that will move us forward.

For this reason, I think of INSs and nurses alike as being knowledge workers.   A Knowledge worker is someone who advances the overall understanding of a subject through focused analysis, design, and/or development (Tripathi, 2010). They use research skills to define problems and to identify alternatives. This process creates a culture of integrated knowledge management. As INSs, we provide information while thinking about clinical care delivery and ways to expand our knowing in nursing. We establish competencies and practice standards which we apply to nursing care delivery.  New technologies allow easier data capture and analysis. We leverage this to transform nursing practice through better sharing and management of knowledge at the point of care delivery and create a generation of new understanding about nurse’s contribution to clinical outcomes.  In short, it is what we know that matters.

Reference:

Tripathi, K. P. (2010). An Empirical Study of Managing Knowledge Workers. International journal of computer application 12:7 December 2010 Retrieved 1/25/13 from http://www.ijcaonline.org/volume12/number7/pxc3872255.pdf