A proposed expert system for nursing practice. A springboard to nursing science

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Health Informatics
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

Background:

• Nursing knowledge primarily relies on traditional sources and expert experience.
• A gap exists between nursing research findings and their timely implementation in practice.
• Current nursing information systems lack robust mechanisms for knowledge retrieval and evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a novel expert system for nursing practice.
• To explore how such a system can enhance nursing knowledge and practice.
• To demonstrate the potential of expert systems in building nursing science.

Main Methods:

• Development of an expert system prototype with defined taxonomies for data, diagnoses, objectives, and interventions.
• Incorporation of a built-in evaluation component for feedback and correction.
• Utilizing prototype programs to illustrate system capabilities.

Main Results:

• The proposed system enables comparison of patients and assessment of nursing intervention effectiveness.
• It facilitates the immediate integration of research findings into everyday nursing practice.
• The system transforms daily practice into a research field, fostering continuous knowledge improvement.

Conclusions:

• Expert systems offer a pathway to enhance nursing practice by bridging the research-practice gap.
• The developed system supports individualized care and provides a framework for nursing research.
• Implementation of such systems is crucial for advancing nursing science and improving client outcomes.