Using the Electronic Health Record in Nursing Research: Challenges and Opportunities.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Health Informatics
• Data Science

Background:

• The transition from paper-based patient records to electronic health records (EHRs) presents significant challenges and opportunities for nurse researchers.
• Current utilization of EHR data within nursing research is evolving and not yet standardized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the challenges and opportunities associated with using electronic health records (EHRs) in nursing research.
• To identify strategies for nurse researchers to leverage novel data analytic techniques and large datasets.
• To emphasize the need for addressing system operability, data presentation, and privacy concerns for robust electronic data output.

Main Methods:

• This study is a conceptual analysis and synthesis of current trends and future directions in EHR data utilization for nursing research.
• It involves reviewing the implications of technological advancements and data management practices.

Main Results:

• Electronic health records (EHRs) offer new avenues for nursing science through advanced analytics and big data.
• Successful integration requires overcoming challenges in system usability, data visualization, and patient privacy.
• Nurse researchers must adapt proposal development and actively participate in national initiatives.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities presented by EHRs is crucial for the advancement of nursing science.
• Collaboration and proactive engagement in shaping data systems will enhance the capacity of nursing research to answer critical patient care questions.