Developing clinical practice environments supporting the knowledge work of nurses

Registered nurses represent the largest group of healthcare knowledge workers. They accomplish their knowledge work by engaging in the roles of data gatherer, information user, knowledge user, and knowledge builder. To successfully implement these roles, nurses rely on healthcare settings to provide supportive clinical practice environments that recognize their information and knowledge management needs. The authors describe the various knowledge-worker roles, delineate computerized mechanisms that can support these roles, and examine the ability of current healthcare settings to provide an environment conducive to successful knowledge-worker role performance. The article concludes with specific recommendations for development of clinical practice environments supportive of nurses' knowledge work.