Exploring the Knowledge and Use of Standardised Nursing Terminology Across Australia

Area of Science:

• Nursing Informatics
• Health Information Management

Background:

• Standardised Nursing Terminologies (SNTs) are crucial for documenting nursing practice and enabling data interoperability.
• Visibility of nursing work and data comparison are enhanced through the consistent use of SNTs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Australian nurses' knowledge and current use of SNTs.
• To identify barriers and enablers influencing SNT adoption in Australian healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was conducted among Australian nurses.
• The survey collected data on familiarity, understanding, past use, and current use of SNTs.
• Barriers and enablers to SNT implementation were also investigated.

Main Results:

• Over 50% of nurses were familiar with SNTs, but only 25% had a reasonable understanding.
• Less than 14% of nurses currently use SNTs in their practice.
• Perceived benefits include reduced variation and improved outcome evaluation.
• Key barriers and enablers involve education, national standardization, and electronic medical record integration.

Conclusions:

• Australian nurses demonstrate limited knowledge and current utilization of SNTs.
• A unified, strategic approach is essential for effective SNT implementation nationwide.
• Enhancing nurses' understanding and leveraging SNTs will improve the visibility and standardization of nursing care.