Proposal: Creation of a Nursing Informaticist Position

Proposal: Creation of a Nursing Informaticist Position
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Due Date Proposal: Creation of a Nursing Informaticist Position

Nurses’ evolving and expanding role in any public health system is highlighted within the ten critical domains of professional nursing practice. While different and independently significant to the nursing profession, each domain feeds into or draws from each and is consistent with emerging or developing aspects such as evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice is an approach to quality and informed decision-making and care provision based on clinical expertise and the utilization of evidence from relevant research. Due to technological development and its impact on the nursing practice, domain 8 of professional nursing development incorporates the concept of informatics. Therefore, evidence-based practice and health informatics go hand in hand. As a result, as part of the evolving role of nurses, there is a need for a new Nurse Informatics Position (NIP) for any organization focusing on improving healthcare outcomes.

Nursing Informatics and Nurse Informaticist

            Due to technological development, how information is collected, stored, and disseminated to the relevant stakeholders within healthcare is also evolving. The emergence of information and computer systems has increased the automation of transactions and nursing processes. However, it has also transformed the collection, analysis, and presentation of data and evidence to support decision-making in the nursing practice. The body of health informatics helps nurses gain the necessary competencies in using these systems. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nursing informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing science with information and analytical sciences (HIMSS, 2019). Nursing informatics aims to define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. In other words, nursing informatics underpins evidence-based practice because it facilitates the flow and application of evidence in the nursing practice.

            Nurses who venture into nursing informatics have three core areas of focus in developing their competencies: computer skills, informatics knowledge, and informatics skills. Nursing informatics is the intersection between the nursing profession and information technology at its core. Therefore, the development of computer skills is a necessity. Competence in informatics knowledge involves the recognition of the importance of nursing data as a means to improving healthcare outcomes. Some of the core skills in nursing informatics include interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, programming knowledge, communication, and working with healthcare systems.

            As already mentioned, the role of nurses is evolving and...