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
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 in