Nursing Informatics

NUR 155

What is it anyway?

Nursing Informatics
A field that combines
nursing and computers
Informatics is computer
science plus information
science

A model of Nursing Informatics

Nursing Informatics
management and processing of nursing data,
information, and knowledge to support the
practice of nursing and the delivery of nursing
care.
Data-objective entry without interpretation
Information- data that is interpreted
organized, or structured
Knowledge- information that has been
synthesized so that interrelationships are
identified and formalized.

Example
Data= 9:00 am -100, 4:00 am 180
time
glucose
100
Information= 9:00 AM
4:00 PM

180

Knowledge= My clients glucose level rises

in the late afternoon. His insulin dose
needs to be adjusted

NUR 155 Course Outline

Course (Catalog) Description:

This course introduces the knowledge and skills necessary for the
use of information technology by nurses in relation to patient
care, health care facility administration , and the education of
nurses and clients. It is designed to make students aware of legal
and ethical issues associated with the use of nursing informatics.
The course explores information technology related to clinical
bedside practice, inpatient and outpatient
monitoring,documentation, accessing research findings,
education, health promotion, patient teaching and ergonomics.

Course Objectives

Upon completion, the student is prepared to:

1.Describe the role of information and information technology in the
nursing profession.
2.Discuss the distinction between data, information, and knowledge.
3.Identify the importance of ergonomics in the prevention of health care
problems using computers.
4. Describe the ethical and legal responsibilities of the nurse in relation to
information systems.
5. Employ healthcare informatics applications designed for clinical
practice of nursing in simulated patient care projects.
6. Demonstrate the ability to use technology of the Internet/Web for health
care information access, communication and interactivity

 Outline of Topics
Methods of Evaluation
6 quizzes (open-book based on study guides)
6 projects (computer applications)
1 presentation (using computer applications)

See Guidelines for Computer Enhanced Student Presentations

Class Schedule
(note one day is at St. Francis Hospital)

Careers In Nursing Informatics

Health Care Institutions

User liason- between nurses, vendors & Information Technology

Manages nursing applications
Head of Computer Committee
Manage Data Systems
Training users

Vendors

Product Development
Marketing
Training
Consulting

Education
Teaching
Research
Consulting

Standards of Practice
Nursing Informatics is a specialty in
ANA with its own Standards of Practice

Use of Computers in Nursing

Education

Literature Access and Retrieval

Computer Assisted Instruction
Classroom Technology
Distance Learning
Testing
Student and Course Record Management

Use of Computers in Nursing Practice

Bedside Data Entry (medication record
etc)
Computer-Based Patient Records
Client Monitoring- Local and Distant
Telenursing
Practice Management
(scheduling)

Use of Computers in Nursing

Administration

Human Resources
Medical Records
Quality Assurance
Accreditation
Budget and Finance

Use of Computers in Nursing

Research
Literature Search
Data Collection
Data Analysis

Research Dissemination

Issues Related to Computers in

Nursing
Legal/Ethical Issues

privacy/confidentiality
access to data for research and other purposes
informed consent
License issues with telenursing
Copy right of materials on the Web

ErgonomicsMost common injuries- muscle and eye strain

Proper Posture