Informatics issues for nursing's future

Automated clinical databases are crucial to the future of nursing but presently are not meeting the needs of clinicians, administrators, educators, or researchers. This article examines theoretical, empirical, and practical issues relating to the development of automated nursing clinical databases that will foster safe, effective practice and further nursing's knowledgebase. A series of key questions are identified relevant to each issue. These issues must be resolved if nurses are to take full advantage of the possibilities inherent in the evolving information technology.