Clinical Informatics in Nursing

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What was a significant change in health care during the 1990s regarding technology?

Wireless technologies facilitated access to applications at the point-of-care. (correct)

Computers became slower and more complex to use.

Nursing informatics was widely adopted as a specialty.

Medical records were exclusively paper-based.

Which concept represents the practical application of knowledge to solve real-world problems in clinical informatics?

Wisdom (correct)

Information

Knowledge

Data

What role does an informatics nurse typically fulfill in the healthcare environment?

To integrate and optimize information technology in nursing practice (correct)

To provide hands-on patient care exclusively

To conduct clinical trials independent of technological support

To manage communications between patients and external healthcare facilities

How did the internet influence clinical practice in healthcare?

It provided a means for web-based clinical applications and communication. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of a system in clinical informatics?

Discharge planning protocols Signup and view all the answers

What was recognized by the American Health Association concerning nursing informatics?

It is a recognized specialty in nursing practice. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines 'information' in the context of clinical informatics?

Formatted data presented in a clinical context. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of hospital information systems did NOT significantly increase their functionality?

Personal communication between patients and nurses Signup and view all the answers

What significant contribution did Florence Nightingale make to nursing informatics?

She collected and analyzed data to identify trends in illnesses. Signup and view all the answers

During the 1950s and 1960s, what was the primary use of computers in healthcare settings?

Basic business, financial, and accounting operations. Signup and view all the answers

What role do 21st century nurses increasingly take on in relation to clinical systems?

They are involved in the design of new clinical systems. Signup and view all the answers

What advancement in technology occurred that affected the role of nurses in the 1950s and 1960s?

The development of real-time processing and desktop terminals. Signup and view all the answers

What did the increasing complexity of nursing practices in the mid-20th century imply for information exchange?

Centralization of communication activities at the nurses' station. Signup and view all the answers

The integration of computer systems into nursing practice was a gradual process that took how long to start realizing its benefits?

Decades after Nightingale's contributions. Signup and view all the answers

What impact did advancements in computer technology have on healthcare facilities in the 1950s and 1960s?

Primarily business-related applications. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the key focus of health information management in nursing?

Integrating patient data for improved clinical outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

In which decade did nursing staff begin to recognize the value of integrating computer applications into their practices?

1970s Signup and view all the answers

What advancements in computer technology significantly improved access and usability for nursing professionals in the 1980s?

Personal computers (PCs) Signup and view all the answers

How did the development of internet technology impact nursing practice?

It enabled real-time access to patient data from various locations. Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary function that nursing informatics aimed to automate in the 1970s?

Patient care documentation Signup and view all the answers

What technological advancement in the 1990s had a significant influence on healthcare informatics?

Google search engine Signup and view all the answers

What role did nurses play in the development of hospital information systems?

They were instrumental in developing applications for these systems. Signup and view all the answers

Which advancement directly followed the introduction of integrated circuits in healthcare technology?

Development of microcomputers Signup and view all the answers

What was a key characteristic of the computing technology evolution described from the 1950s to the 2000s?

Movement towards user-friendly technology Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lesson Objectives

Students will review the development of clinical informatics in nursing.
Students will identify key concepts related to clinical informatics.
Students will discuss key concepts related to clinical informatics and information science.
Students will recognize the theoretical framework of clinical informatics in healthcare.
Students will discuss the need for health information management.

Informatics in Nursing Practice

The role of 21st-century nurses is complex.
Nurses interact with multiple medical devices and health IT.
Nurses are increasingly involved in designing new clinical systems.
Technology is essential for all parts of healthcare delivery (healthcare providers, patients, and healthcare settings).

History of Nursing Informatics

Florence Nightingale was an early informatics nurse, using data to inform and change nursing practices (1863).
It took another century for nurses to integrate computer systems into their practice.

History of Nursing Informatics (1950s-1960s)

The image of nurses improved during the 1950s and 1960s.
Nursing practices expanded in scope and complexity.
The number of nurses increased.
Nurses' stations became central communication hubs.
Computer technologies developed, leading to research on their use in healthcare.
Computers were primarily used for business, financial, and accounting tasks in healthcare.

Computers (Timeline)

1950s: Prototypes
1960s: Transistors
1970s: Integrated circuits
1980s: Microcomputers; Windows
1990s: Internet; Web
2000s: Google

History of Nursing Informatics (1970s)

Nurses recognized the value of integrating computer applications into their practices and processes.
Documenting care, evaluating care, and automating functions (e.g., staff scheduling, statistics) became more common.
Nurses played a crucial role in developing nursing applications for hospital information systems.

History of Nursing Informatics (1980s)

Personal computers (PCs) with improved power became more accessible to nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Hospital information systems (HIS) improved in functionality.
Records (e.g., Kardex, vital signs, narrative notes, discharge plans) were increasingly documented in systems.
Nursing informatics emerged as a recognized specialty in the US.

History of Nursing Informatics (1990s and Beyond)

Computer technology significantly impacted healthcare.
Computers became smaller, faster, and easier to use.
The internet became a tool for web-based clinical applications, communication, and access to evidence-based resources.
Wireless technologies facilitated point-of-care access to applications.
Nursing informatics became approved as a new nursing specialty by the American Health Association (ANA).

Clinical Informatics Concepts

Data: Collected information used to answer questions.
Information: Data assembled in a clinical context.
Knowledge: Understanding how data and information are used.
Wisdom: Using knowledge to solve real-world problems.

Clinical Informatics Concepts (Systems)

Information systems: Support transferring data to information.
Decision-support systems: Support transition from information to knowledge.
Expert systems: Apply knowledge through wisdom.
Informatics tools: Clinical guidelines, medical terminologies, computers, information and communication systems—used to capture and present information.

Theories in Nursing Informatics (1)

Change theories (Lewin):
- Kurt Lewin's theory involves three stages: Unfreezing, Change, and Refreezing.
- Unfreezing involves preparing for change.
- Change involves implementing the intended change.
- Refreezing involves making the change permanent.

Theories in Nursing Informatics (2)

Unfreezing: Addressing issues that hinder change; an example includes switching from paper-based documentation to electronic documentation.
Moving stage: The change happens; all parties involved are convinced the new way is better than the old.
Refreezing stage: The change is now standard operating procedure. Reinforcing the change is crucial to prevent backsliding.

Theories in Nursing Informatics (3)

Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation:
- Categorizing those who adopt innovations (Innovators, Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, and Laggards).
- Identifying those who adopt innovations quickly and others who approach innovations with skepticism (Innovators, Early adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, Laggards).

The Need for Health Information Management

Impact of fragmentation: Patients with multiple or chronic conditions, childhood immunizations, and transfers from inpatient to home care pose risks for poor outcomes.
Promises of clinical informatics systems: Improved efficiency and better care for older adults.
Challenges in clinical informatics:
- Lack of system interoperability.
- Poor usability of health IT.
- Failure to design health IT for human factors to prevent errors

Challenges in Clinical Informatics (Examples)

Lack of system interoperability: Problems like patients receiving duplicate chemotherapy doses.
Poor usability of health IT: Inaccessible information leading to inappropriate drug administrations, for example, nurses being unable to access drug dose information.
Failure to design health IT for human factors: Errors in data entry, handoff processes, and lack of consideration for human behavior contributing to patient care errors, such as missing vital information due to a lack of a detailed handover.

Health Informatics / Best Practice (2005)

Countries like Denmark and New Zealand showed strong integration of health sectors within their single systems.

Summary

The objectives were to review the history of clinical informatics, explain key concepts, and recognize the theoretical framework in healthcare.
Discuss the need for health information management. Explain why nursing informatics is key to effective 21st-century nursing.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores the development and key concepts of clinical informatics within the nursing profession. Students will learn about the historical evolution of nursing informatics, the role of technology, and the importance of health information management in improving patient care. Engage with theories and practices relevant to modern nursing informatics.