Nursing informatics: state of the science

Area of Science:

• Nursing Informatics
• Health Information Technology
• Clinical Decision Support

Background:

• Nursing informatics focuses on nursing data, information, and knowledge.
• Existing research links nurse knowledge and experience to care quality.
• Knowledge is often task-specific, highlighting the need for accessible resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore implications for developing nursing information systems.
• To identify how technology can support nursing assessment, diagnosis, and care planning.
• To examine the relationship between clinical decision-making processes and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on nursing informatics phenomena and system development.
• Analysis of research on knowledge, experience, and care quality.
• Discussion of decision support tools like decision analysis and utility theory.

Main Results:

• Information technology can enhance nurse knowledge through access to knowledge bases and decision support systems.
• Structured assessment forms linked to diagnostic knowledge bases can improve accuracy.
• Model-based decision support aids in analyzing complex care planning options.

Conclusions:

• Nursing informatics systems have the potential to improve nursing practice.
• Enhanced access to knowledge and decision support tools are crucial.
• Further research using large nursing data databases is needed to understand decision-making relationships.