Nursing informatics refers to data collection and how it supports the work of nursing staff in healthcare settings. This involves developing digital tools to guide interventions and provide improved patient care. Advances in technology have changed clinical care, and informatics have become increasingly important to the healthcare industry. Nurses provide quality patient care with the backing and support of modern technology, which contributes to high standards of nursing practice. Common nursing informatics examples include clinical decision support systems, electronic health records, telemedicine, and wearable devices. Technological advances continue, and informatics plays an essential role in nursing today and will do so in the future.

Nursing informatics changes how nurses gather and use information and ultimately ensures better patient health outcomes. Informatics collects data from numerous sources, such as reports and digitized patient records. Computers are used to compile and analyze this data, identifying any patterns or insights. For example, information on accidents in hospital wards could be gathered to identify ways to reduce their occurrence. Data collection can also mean communication between healthcare facilities is more efficient.

Informatics gives nurses better access to educational tools and evidence-based information. With new technological features, nurses can develop their practice and increase their expertise. Nurses have quick and easy access to a wealth of information, which helps them monitor and manage their patients. Nurses can use informatics to promote health education to their patients and show how to get more information about their illnesses or conditions. Nursing informatics mixes medical science with analytical science so nurses can make effective decisions.

Building skills

Nurses who wish to advance their careers and earn a full-time nurse practitioner salary in Texas can study the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program offered by Texas Woman’s University. This advanced qualification equips nurses with the knowledge and skills to make valid assessments and deliver effective treatments. It is predicted that there will be a high job growth rate for nurse practitioners, which is attributed to several factors, including an aging population and more emphasis on preventative care.

An FNP is an advanced practice registered nurse who provides family healthcare services to patients of all ages. FNPs develop treatment plans, maintain patient records, prescribe medications, perform physical exams, order or perform diagnostic tests, and treat acute and chronic illnesses. They work in different healthcare settings, including community health centers, private practice, healthcare systems, and universities. FNPs undertake a wide range of work, from treating serious illnesses to educating patients on preventative measures. They also gain further certification in areas such as diabetes and pain management. They understand health in the communities they serve and have knowledge that is indispensable to other healthcare professionals. Nurses use electronic health records and other digital resources to implement advanced preventative methods and treatments. Nurse practitioners are in great demand by healthcare organizations, and many of these occupational groups are FNPs.

Types of informatics

There are many ways nurses are using informatics to streamline and optimize healthcare. Some examples of nursing informatics include clinical decision support systems, electronic health records, telemedicine, and wearable technologies. These modern healthcare tools can refine workflows, optimize care and improve patient outcomes. Nurses are being proactive at incorporating technology into their practice and recognizing the benefits to patients.

Clinical decision support systems

A clinical decision support system (CDSS) is an example of nursing informatics that improves patient care. Software tools provide nurses with evidence-based information and patient data to support decision-making. Patient data is collected and analyzed to understand the healthcare situation. The analysis of patient data results in decreased errors, fewer readmissions and more accurate identification of people at risk. The patient data in these analyses includes temperature, blood test results, blood sugar level and the patient’s requirements. A CDSS analyzes patient data and delivers reminders, alerts, recommendations and guidelines to improve patient outcomes. Clinical decision support systems assess clinical observations, vital signs and laboratory results to identify risks and deliver timely alerts to healthcare professionals.

Clinical decision support systems offer many benefits that support nurses while improving patient care. One benefit is easy access to evidence-based guidelines, best practices and protocols. Nurses can make informed decisions influenced by current research and clinical knowledge. CDSS technology generates reminders and alerts for medication related to patient data. These alerts relate to allergies, sensitivities, dosage adjustments and drug interactions. These safeguards help minimize the risk of errors while supporting the safe administration of medication. Clinical decision support systems can help nurses to manage chronic conditions and create personalized care plans. Patient-generated data, analysis of lab results, and social factors reduce the risk of long-term illness, improve patient outcomes and lower costs. These systems support nurses in following care pathways and clinical guidelines. This technology prompts patient follow-ups, preventative care and screenings.

Electronic health records 

When web-based software emerged and computer hardware became more affordable and compact, it became evident that electronic health record (EHR) systems needed to be developed through remotely hosted systems. The limitations of paper medical records had become increasingly apparent. High initial costs for digitizing records were regarded as an obstacle, but the rewards of electronic records were ultimately seen to outweigh these concerns.

EHRs are a significant data source in healthcare and were introduced to increase treatment efficiency and improve patient care. Patients have a digital record with information including:

  • Prescriptions and medication dates.
  • Images, such as CT scans, ultrasounds, X-rays and MRIs.
  • Plans of care, progress notes and outcomes.
  • Medical history, including demographics and immunization records.
  • Clinical data, such as laboratory results and vital signs.

There is a modifiable file that allows records to be updated with no duplication of information or paperwork. The data is mined to find out how care can be improved. For example, the analysis may identify disease development patterns and warn nurses and doctors to act promptly.

Data is added to an EHR when a provider sees a patient. The data is easy to access and share. Providers with a password can pull up the relevant EHR. EHRs can improve patient outcomes, partly by reducing medical errors. They check interactions between medications prescribed and flag medications to which a patient is allergic. EHRs help lower costs by reducing duplicate treatments and tests.

EHRs are quick to access, which helps nurses get the information they need without delay. This can be particularly useful in acute care and emergencies. With data in a structured format, documentation can be easier to access and interpret. Some systems add information automatically, such as a patient’s vital signs. There are fewer medication errors when using EHRs as dosages, times and medications are tracked. The system will alert nurses when a medication is due or has been missed. Systems that use barcodes can alert nurses if the wrong medication is about to be given.

Telehealth

Telehealth uses telecommunication technology to provide health care. Telehealth nursing is any healthcare that nurses provide using remote technologies. Nurses can use these technologies to clarify treatment options and answer medication questions; discuss healthcare issues with patients, such as requests for repeat medication and laboratory test results; and educate patients on self-care, such as dressing a wound or treating a minor burn. They can also assist with appointment scheduling and support patients before and after the procedure.

Telehealth practices must adhere to all healthcare legal and ethical standards. The American Nurses Association Core Principles on Connected Health is a guide for healthcare professionals who use connected health technologies to provide quality care. It states that telehealth care is subject to the same healthcare laws as in-person care and that patient health information, confidentiality and privacy must be maintained throughout electronic communication and transmission.

Nurses use telehealth in various ways. This could involve live video conferencing with a recorded health history sent to a health practitioner or specialist. Remote patient monitoring also involves recording medical and personal health data that can be reviewed by a provider in a different location. Mobile health provides healthcare and health information through mobile devices, including targeted texts and notifications about disease outbreaks.

Telehealth has become an extension of many healthcare services, and it increases patient access to healthcare. Telehealth can be beneficial for both providers and patients. It can increase the efficiency of nursing care, decrease on-call hours for healthcare providers, assist with patient retention, and enable care to be offered at all times.

Telehealth can save money for both patients and the healthcare system. Patients can avoid the expense of visiting the emergency department, while the emergency department has fewer visits from patients. Telehealth reduces overhead costs by requiring fewer patient rooms and front desk staff.

Telehealth nurses can help patients take more responsibility for their health by communicating with them regularly and promoting healthy lifestyles. Fewer people attending appointments in person can mean less spreading of disease. Telehealth can be very convenient for patients, making them more likely to attend their appointments. For people with responsibilities, such as children or elderly relatives, it means they do not need to travel for their appointments or find care for children.

Nurses who work in telehealth usually have experience working with patients in person. They will normally attend training to learn telehealth technologies and practice working with this technology in a supervised environment. Telehealth nurses must communicate effectively with patients, listening closely and making recommendations. They also need strong collaboration skills as they work with other healthcare professionals.

Wearable devices

Wearable devices like smartwatches, smart glasses and fitness trackers allow providers to record activity levels, track vital signs and give personalized feedback. This technology allows more collaboration between patients and providers and more efficient and accurate diagnosis and treatment. Collecting and analyzing data has resulted in more targeted, personalized care. Wearable technology also helps lower costs and improve outcomes by accessing data that can identify medical problems early. Wearable technology can greatly influence healthcare delivery and improve accuracy, collaboration, communication and cost.

Wearable technology can track insulin levels, stress levels, pain, sleep patterns and heartbeat and report these to the healthcare team. The technology provides reliable, real-time information essential to generating personalized insights, treatment and early diagnosis. Healthcare wearables are digital devices with sensors that communicate, monitor and detect performance data and diagnose the health of the user. They can be integrated into daily activity, causing very little disruption. Biological and physiological signs in the body are the focus of these healthcare systems and related applications and services. These vital signs range from commonly observed signs such as respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure and heart rate to more advanced indicators such as pain and level of consciousness. Wearable devices can monitor and sense all of these vital signs.

Wearable healthcare devices, such as continuous glucose monitoring systems, contact lenses and electrocardiograph patches, allow nurses to remotely monitor a patient’s health and vital signs. Alerts are received immediately, much more quickly than it takes for a patient to recognize and report them. This can be beneficial for patients with chronic conditions, such as heart disease, hypertension or diabetes, who need ongoing monitoring and aftercare. Researchers collect data from wearable monitors to inform drug development, clinical trials and healthcare policy. Some studies indicate that wearable technology may forecast health trends and change our understanding of population health.

Medical devices collect large amounts of information, enhancing medical profiles and providing quality care. Personalized forecasting can predict future health concerns and proactively prevent them. Wearable devices are changing the healthcare industry in new and innovative ways. They prevent mental and physical crises, make healthcare available in remote locations, and allow patients to engage in their own healthcare. The devices are taking some of the workload off nurses and giving them more time to provide quality care to patients.

The future of nursing informatics

There is a promising future for informatics when applied to nursing practice. Studies have demonstrated that nursing informatics has a positive impact on patient care. Improvements to nursing information systems include optimized workflows, enhanced patient care planning, and improved quality through better nursing documentation processes.

Increased connectivity enables collaboration and knowledge-sharing between patients, doctors and hospitals to take place worldwide. It will assist the progress of medical research and help prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and global epidemics. Faster systems will be required to enable efficient interaction across the world. There will be security concerns, making data security a priority in nursing informatics in the future. Data breaches in the current climate indicate how important cybersecurity is in nursing. There have been hackers who have broken into a hospital’s infrastructure and made data inaccessible.

The future of nursing informatics will support patient data analysis, with big data science being an important area of interest. Big data computing techniques analyze large data sets to identify trends and patterns. Big data science uses advanced analytics, including data harmonization, natural language processing, and data mining methods. These techniques enable the identification of patterns, the capture of unstructured data, and the integration of data to provide insights. With improved decision-making, there can be better healthcare delivery and more personalized medicine.

The future of nursing informatics requires nursing students to have the knowledge and skills to work with healthcare informatics. Nursing schools teach students to use technology in clinical environments while considering privacy and security, testing and implementation, and policy development. Students learn concepts such as emerging technologies in clinical practice, change management and the use of technology to generate new evidence.

Conclusion

Nursing informatics have permeated the healthcare system and helped nurses to refine and streamline their practice. Nurses have the skills to interact with patients and families and the clinical knowledge to understand various conditions and treatments. With technological advances, they can also use the technology available to improve patient care and health outcomes.

Innovations such as clinical decision support systems, electronic health records, telehealth and wearable devices support nurses in optimizing patient care. Informatics allows nurses to closely monitor patients, be aware of any changes in a patient’s condition, and use preventative care to avoid the onset of long-term illness. Technology is helping nurses to exceed all expectations in the care they provide and is shaping the future of healthcare delivery.