Nursing Informatics, Thesis Paper Example

The information contained in nursing informatics impacts positively on one’s understanding and hence attitude on the point of convergence between nursing and technology. It also impacts positively on the need to know when, why and how technology can best be used in nursing in order to increase productivity and efficiency.

Nursing informatics is an integral part of any operating system that is needed in the field of nursing. There are many risks that require assessing and managing. There are also strategies to be drawn, projects to be managed, needs to be assessed and more importantly, goals and objectives to be clearly defined. Considerations on all these areas of information technology implementation shed light on exactly where technology should come in and where it should not. This makes nursing informatics a very interesting area of academic focus.

Nursing informatics is not a general-level concept. It entails proper selection of technology within the scope of careful planning, build-up of support and determination of all stakeholders’ needs. In light of this, nursing informatics seems like an indispensable element to be considered if nursing practitioners are to succeed in their work in an increasingly technological world.

Confusion sometimes arises from the use of different terms by different information technology experts with reference to nursing informatics concepts. In this regard, Hunt et al (2004) seem to shed some light when they assert that the steps and names used can sometimes differ because of professional orientation although they might be describing the same things. The assertion is also made to the effect that the phrases and words used in nursing technology do not matter a lot; what matters more is the content.

Nursing informatics literature handles the intricacies of information technology as applied in nursing in a highly specialized point of view. For this reason, some basic principles that are core to understanding core principles seem to have been left out. This makes the literature seem needlessly confusing, thereby requiring some clarifications on the meaning of concepts.  However, a major exception is the proper manner in which the strategic planning process of putting a nursing informatics system in place is addressed. Every step is outlined clearly, from the initial step of defining goals to the last one, which is getting feedback.

The most useful information for people who want to implement nursing informatics is strategic planning continually. This is because, all areas of an organization are considered. Additionally, goals, objectives and missions are defined. Policy guidelines are considered and therefore, only relevant goals and objectives are achieved through various elements of nursing informatics (Hebda et al, 2005).

When deciding on long-term use of nursing informatics expertise, the best insight that is highlighted concerns relevance. Every technology comes with some bits that are relevant and others that are not. In order to come up with a list on priority technology areas as well as those areas to be avoided, the goals and objectives of the professional establishment are the best reference point.

It follows from this argument that a proper definition of goals, objectives and missions is required for the priorities to be set and applied in a harmonized manner. Determination of harmony in nursing informatics expertise that is being continually used will be realized when evaluation tasks are carried out as well as when feedback is received from both within and without the organization.

References

Hebda, T. & Mascara, P.C. (2005). Handbook of informatics for nurses & health Care Professionals (3rd Ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

Hunt, et al. (2004). The Nursing Informatics Implementation Guide. New York: Springer.