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Nursing-Informatics Middle Tennessee State University

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9. Nursing Informatics LEARNING OUTCOMES After completing this chapter, you will be able to: 1. Define the common components of desktop computers. 2. Recognize the uses of word processing, database, spreadsheet, and communications software in nursing. 3. Describe the uses of computers in nursing education. 4. Discuss the advantages of and concerns about computerized client documentation systems. 5. Identify computer applications used in client assessment and care. 6. List ways computers may be used by nurse administrators in the areas of human resources, facilities management, finance, quality assurance, and accreditation. 7. Identify the role of computers in each step of the research process. KEY TERMS central processing unit (CPU), 144 computer-based patient records (CPRs), 150 data warehousing, 148 database, 145 distance learning, 148 electronic medical records (EMRs), 150 hardware, 144 hospital information system (HIS), 146 Internet, 147 local-area network (LAN), 145 management information system (MIS), 146 network, 145 nurse informaticist, 150 nursing informatics, 144 online, 145 peripherals, 144 personal computers (PCs), 144 random-access memory (RAM), 144 spreadsheets, 145 telemedicine, 152 wide-area network (WAN), 145 World Wide Web (WWW), 147 INTRODUCTION Computers have become a part of everyday life for many people, including nurses. Computers are used for educating nursing students and clients; assessing, documenting, and testing clients' health conditions; managing medical records; communicating among health care providers and with clients; and conducting nursing research. All nurses must have a basic level of computer literacy in order to perform their jobs. GENERAL CONCEPTS Informatics refers to the science of computer information systems. Nursing informatics is the science of using computer information systems in the practice of nursing. It is defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2001) as "A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice... to support patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings" (p. 46). This is a relatively young sciencethe first Nursing Information Systems conference was held in the United States in 1977. Nurses have taken significant strides since then to design and adapt computer processes to enhance client care, education, administration and management, and nursing research. Advanced practice in nursing informatics is a growing specialty. The first ANA certification examination in nursing informatics was given in October 1995. The terminology used to describe the parts and functions of computer systems can be confusing. New terms emerge daily and it is a challenge to keep up with them. This section describes the most common computer hardware and software nurses may come across in the work setting

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