White Paper Nursing Informatics and Their Influence on Health Consumers/Alanna Schauer 12 7 13

Lessons Learned :

            This was a challenging assignment from the start because I could not locate the White Paper template in Microsoft Word or online. I had to purchase the templates from Microsoft.com.  After purchasing the templates I had to purchase WinZip to open the template.  Then I was able to pick from five samples.  

            The content was different from most scholarly articles as this was a persuasive type of material with more opinion than is normally present in our APA papers.  It did not call for many quotes; more paraphrasing was appropriate.

            I initially attempted to write directly into the template but the spacing and font was a mess and I had to add text boxes. So I decided to write the paper in Microsoft word and then fit it into the template and move things as needed.  This made the paper more manageable and organized.

            It was interesting and looked pretty good when complete.

 

Introduction

            Nurses in general have many different skills sets with various specialties. Computers and informatics is something that evolved over the last twenty years in the practice of nursing. Informatics developed into a specialty that required nursing input and advisement especially when it pertained to patient care and outcomes.  

            Nursing informatics incorporates the science of nursing, computers and information into one practice. This practice collects, manages and communicates data merged with the expertise of nursing theory and clinical practice. Nursing informatics practice can assist with increasing the health of populations and families through the collection and analysis of data and making the appropriate changes to rectify the health issue (Bickford, 2008).   

            Nurses with informatics knowledge are current with the technology that is being utilized they can navigate the web and assist consumers in locating viable credible sources. They have blended their clinical expertise with the advances in technology and information to create and advocate for their patients well being. Nurses with informatics education produce a unique knowledge base, shred light to the core of nursing values and beliefs, and provide content and clarity to a much needed nursing language and the relationship between the technological words as they correlate to health (Bickford, 2008).

Background

.

            Florence Nightingale was the original nurse to chart information, collect data, record it and review the results.  She saw the benefit of collecting and monitoring all the tasks completed and the observations seen s part of providing nursing care. Nursing informatics was recognized as a specialty in 1992 by the American Nurses Association (ANA). Nurse with informatics experience and training are able to incorporate their years of nursing practice and intertwine this insight with the technology available while providing care for patients. 

            Nurses with informatics experience work in many venues. These venues include hospitals, educational institutions, consultants, and vendors selling new information technology products (Hebda & Czar, 2013).  As the practice of nursing informatics progressed there was a lack of standardized language and data and this made functionality a problem with limited use. Standardization of language and scope of practice was developed and this led to powerful nursing informatics tool formation with interoperability. With the practice of nursing informatics nurses can help to transform health care and improve patient outcomes. "Nurses are developing and applying informatics methods and tools to discover knowledge and improve health from the molecular to the global level and are seeking the collective wisdom of interdisciplinary and interorganizational collaboration to effect the necessary change," (Ozbolt & Saba, 2008, pg. 199). These skills can directly influence health consumers with their quest for health information and personal health management.

Consumer Health Contribution

Overview

Nurses with informatics knowledge and experience contribute in various ways. These contributions are displayed through analysis, consultation, education, research and evaluation and integrated functional areas (Bickford, 2008).

Analysis

            They are able to analyze the data that is on many of the health and medical websites. The internet can assist in disseminating health information to the public and improve health information education. Many websites available attempt to educate the public with illness management, diet education, and On-Line Chat rooms.  Some professionals feel the internet does not provide quality information but other feel it compares equally to the information provided by the media. Nurses with informatics education can clarify the internet information and determine its accuracy for consumers. Nurses can educate the consumer in the correct manner to research the efficacy and accuracy of a website. "The rapid development of medical information on the Internet raises the issue of its quality and of potential dangers related to its erroneous or unsuitable use," (Benigeri & Pluye, 2003, pg. 382).  Analysis of consumer's website content is an important function easily done by a nurse with informatics experience. Analysis of outcomes as they relate to consumers is related to clinical, education, and research. Benigeri & Pluye, (2003), support the concept that the internet has potential dangers with incorrect information and that analysis is crucial to ensure consumer safety.

Consultation/Advocate

            Nurses with informatics experience are an excellent resource for consumers because of their combined knowledge and skills in and out of the hospital environment.  With informatics experience the nurse has an innate sense what health information can be helpful to patients while allaying their fears and confusion.  Healthcare consumers look to nurses as a reliable source of health information on many illnesses and disease processes (Perry, & King, June, 2009). Nurses are very capable of disseminating information and acting as a guide for their patients and health consumers. They are advocates for consumers who are searching for correct medical information.  Nurses with informatics experience and understanding are savvy in locating the appropriate information for consumers with the increased use of information technology tools and websites. Perry, & King, (June, 2009), supports the construct that nurses are a viewed as a trustworthy consultant by healthy consumers and are valuable healthcare consultants. 

Education

            Nursing professional with informatics education can instruct patients on assessing internet health information.  Part of the informatics education would be to teach consumers the way to identify a credible and reputable website. Using the acronym GATOR and explaining what each letter equates to can make it simple for the consumer to remember.  Genuine, accurate, trustworthy, origin, and readability are the terms which a nurse can explain and reinforce to a consumer (Weber et al, 2009).  The critical nature of the health oriented Web Site being credible and reputable is that the information is often utilized to make a medical decision and assist consumers with managing their personal health care treatment.  If they are not accessing the correct information their decisions can be seriously impaired and harm may come to them.  Clines and Haynes, (2001) supports the opinion that there is poor quality information on the internet and if this information is accessed and reviewed it can lead to improper decision making.  Consumers can base their medical decisions on inaccurate information and have serious consequences.  With health consumer not being skilled enough to locate accurate websites there needs to be education and insight given to these people.  A nurse with informatics experience has the knowledge to inform, guide and encourage consumer to choose the proper websites to view and when it is necessary for medical intervention.

Research and Evaluation

            The emerging trends for information technology and the improvement of health issues include the thrust for patient safety, reduction in error, and clarity in healthcare organizations with increased efficiency. Nurses as an advocate for consumers ensure health care is safe. Medication administration programs are an example of information technology that protects patient and ensure the correct medication is given to the right patient.   Experienced informatics nurses are involved with the design, development and implementation of many research projects that influence patient outcomes and improve patient care (Bickford, 2008).  Utilizing the results from the research obtained by nurses with informatics experience changes can be implemented to provide better care.  Evaluation is done on the system and processes in place so changes can be executed as needed.  Nurses with an informatics background are vital to data collection and analysis of the data as this information needs to be reviewed, reported, and benchmarked. Research with nursing informatics background can be utilized for process improvement, quality assurance, and informal evaluation while maintaining evidence based practice theory. Bickford, (2008) supports the idea that nurses with informatics education can help to develop and define the standard nursing language needed to create continuity of care and nursing practice. Research can also include results from consumer interactions with website searches of older consumers. It can monitor the results from consumers having email based interactions with their physicians or utilizing the patient portal.

Integrated Functional Areas: Telehealth and Telenursing

            There are many areas of the country that are rural and have less access to specialists and primary physicians. Nurses with informatics knowledge have a strong role in the delivery of healthcare in rural areas utilizing information technology programs and web tools. Many of these areas do not have the financial resources to implement strong information technology programs and qualified nurses are a solution to this shortage (Effken, & Abbott, 2009).  

            Nurses with informatics experience are at the center of integrated healthcare delivery. With integrated healthcare system information technology and clinical situations intersect for the benefit of patient care and quality outcomes.  The greatest example of integrated healthcare is the conception and advancement of telehealth and telenursing. Telehealth is a combination of electronic information through telecommunications channels that provide patient care long distance or remotely. Telenursing is utilizing telecommunications to audit public health and consumer issues (Bickford, 2008).   Nurses can monitor patients at home to ensure their vital signs; blood sugar and weight are with the appropriate parameters to reduce hospital readmissions for illness like congestive heart failure.  This is where informatics based nursing can really produce significant data points with outcomes that can be benchmarked and compared to other organizations.

Conclusion

  Conclusion

            Nurses have always been patient advocates, consultants and educators. Nurses with informatics experience create a unique niche in patient care with the aggregation of clinical expertise and technology. There will continue to be advancement in information science and technology with more roles for nursing to employ. As the federal government and regulatory agencies continue to create more requirements nurses with the informatics background will be in demand. Their knowledge and expertise will benefit health consumers and welfare of all people (Effken, & Abbott, 2009). 

References

Benigeri, M., & Pluye, P. (2003). Shortcomings of health information on the internet.

            Oxford Journals, 18(4), Retrieved from

            http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/4/381.full

Bickford, C. J. (2008). The scope of nursing informatics practice. Nursing informatics Silver Spring,        

              MD:American Nurses Association.

Hebda, T., & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of informatics. (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson 

              Education.

Ozbolt, J. G., & Saba, V. K. (2008). A brief history of nursing informatics in the United States of America.  

             Nursing Outlook , 56(5), Retrieved from        http://www.nursingoutlook.org/article

             /S0029-6554(08)00159-0/

Perry, P. & King, M. (June, 2009). Course development: Nursing informatics. OnlineJournal of Nursing 

            Informatics (OJNI), 13, (2). Available at        http://ojni.org/13_2/Perry_King,pdf

Weber, B., Derrico, D. J., Yoon, S. L., & Sherwill-Navarro, P. (2010). Educating patients to evaluate 

            web-based health care information: The GATOR approach to healthy surfing. Journal of 

            Clinical Nursing, 19(9/10). doi:10.1111/j.1365-     2702.2008.02762.x