Nursing informaticists use science, including, information, computer and nursing to provide support to health care providers and facilitate care of patients. Communication is not only key, its vitals when it comes to the provision of health care to an individual and their families. Anyone involved in a patient’s health and well-being, whether it’s a social worker, counselor, nurse or provider needs to have updated and accurate patient information in order to develop a plan of care. Nursing informaticists make it possible to have this information by creating a technology driven environment where data can be inputted, extracted and/or reviewed in real time (Nurse Journal, 2020).

In an ideal workplace, the interactions between the nurse informaticist and other specialists should be evident. The nurse informaticists works with administration to create and/or improve certain policies and procedures, financial officers in relation to keeping costs reasonable, new staff to provide training, and the health care team with not only the maintenance of technology such as the electronic health records (EHR) and equipment such as vital sign machines but also to monitor for effectiveness and areas of improvement (All Nursing Schools, 2020).

Because I work nights at a psych facility and am unable to observe or witness any of the above interactions, I can only assume that that is what happens on a day to day basis. The only issues overnight nurses can be assisted with when it comes to information technology (IT) is logging back into the computer after a lock out and that is through the use of a 3^rdparty vendor. For all other IT issues, a request would be placed with the human rights officer. As a new hire, training on the EHR and/or equipment and any updates or changes thereafter is completed by by either the nurse educator, staff nurse or an instructional email.

During my time at my workplace I have witnessed several areas where nursing skills are lacking. One of the issues is that abnormal vital are taken and documented in the EHR but further assessment or a plan of care is either not completed, documented or both. The current EHR we used in called Carevue which is an excellent system except for the fact that in order for you to see an abnormal value you would have to go into specific tabs. It would be helpful if abnormal values are flagged as soon as a patient profile is accessed, and this is a project that the nurse informaticist can help with. A good way to improve the interactions or lack thereof between the nurse informaticists and the night nurses is to develop a communication tool and or allotted time to meet so we can be able to have input on ways to improve use of the EHR.

The future of nursing informatics will not only continue to improve the ability to retrieve data in a quick efficient manner but may possibly include improvements in health care delivery on a global level (Norwich University, 2019). I believe that with the advancement of technology healthcare delivery will become more effective, safe, precise and cost effective and will call for an increase in nursing informatics positions. There is a fear that the more technology savvy and focused we become the less professional to professional and provider to patient interactions will take place so interventions need to be put in place so that does not happen.

References

All Nursing Schools. (2020). What’s It Like to Work as a Nurse Informaticist? Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://www.allnursingschools.com/nursing-informatics/job-description/

Norwich University. (2019, October 21). Preparing for the Future of Nursing Informatics. Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://online.norwich.edu/academic-programs/resources/future-of-nursing-informatics

Nurse Journal. (2020, December 04). Nursing Informatics Career & Salary Guide. Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://nursejournal.org/careers/nurse-informatics/salary/