Use of nursing informatics in advanced nursing practice roles for building healthier populations

Dynamic changes in health care delivery organization, financing, and role of the consumer present an unprecedented opportunity for advanced practice nurses (APNs) to provide quality care to individuals and aggregates that emphasize health promotion, disease prevention, and health care management at a reasonable cost. APNs can use nursing informatics to help build healthier populations. This article outlines the major information needs dictated by the complex changes in health care, the power of information, and the strategies for ensuring access to information by APNs to meet the goal of building healthier populations.