Transforming nursing practice: clinical systems and the nursing unit of the future

The healthcare industry has historically focused information system expenditures on financial systems. Finally, enabling the practice of clinicians through information systems is beginning to be viewed as a strategic initiative for hospitals and health systems. Vendor applications are now better able to support clinician workflow. Infrastructure is better able to support mobile devices, which bring information to the bedside. Implementation of nursing applications provides a unique opportunity to redesign inefficient and redundant documentation, thereby enabling greater efficiency. Healthcare organizations can jump-start nursing automation by setting a finite and clear tactical plan for initiatives to be rolled out within a year in a single location. The single location enables the organization to experience how well the initiatives integrate to support optimal delivery of care. This article explores nursing information technology initiatives planned to be deployed at a 1,000-bed teaching facility through the use of a Nursing Unit of the Future.