Nursing informatics: scope and standards of practice.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Informatics
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The American Nurses Association (ANA) has published evolving standards for nursing informatics.
• Previous iterations were released in 1994 (scope) and 1995 (standards).
• The 2008 publication represents the third iteration of these crucial practice guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the evolution of nursing informatics scope and standards of practice.
• To highlight key changes and continuities in the ANA's publications.
• To examine the significance of updated terminology, such as the inclusion of "wisdom."

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of the ANA's nursing informatics scope and standards documents from 1994, 1995, and 2008.
• Comparative review of definitions and key concepts across different publication years.
• Interpretation of the implications of updated standards for the nursing profession.

Main Results:

• The 2008 standards reflect significant advancements in the field of nursing informatics since 1994.
• The core definition of nursing informatics has remained consistent since 2001.
• The term "wisdom" was newly incorporated, emphasizing evidence-based practice and decision support.

Conclusions:

• The 2008 ANA nursing informatics scope and standards of practice signify the specialty's maturation.
• The inclusion of "wisdom" aligns with current healthcare demands for knowledge workers utilizing decision support.
• These standards provide a framework for the evolving role of informatics in nursing.