NURSING INFORMATICS

Historical perspective  In mid- 1960s, nurses are required to become super

Nurses are becoming computer literate and the nursing users of computer technology as there is an increase
profession is implementing practice students for its clinical in number of intensive care units
care and data standards for its nursing information 1970’s
technology systems  Hospitals began to develop computer-based
 NI represents the transition of data, information and information system
knowledge into ACTION 1980’s
 The field of nursing informatics became visible in the
Informatics healthcare industry and nursing
 Is the science ans art of turning data into information  Microcomputer or PC(personal computer) emerged:
(Bemmel and Musen, 1997) accessible, affordable and usable by nurses
 French term : informatique or computer science 1990’s
 Computer hardware continued to get smaller ans
Nursing informatics computer notebooks were becoming more affordable
 The importance of computer as an essential tool in  In 1995, the internet began providing access to
HIT systems and in the delivery of contemporary information and knowledge databses (e-mail and
healthcare is INDISPUTABLE WWW)
 It also enhances nursing education and distance  In 1997, ANA developed Nursing Information and
learning Data Set Evaluation Center (NIDEC) to evaluate and
 ENIAC (Electrical numerical integrator and recognize nursing information system
calculator)  Purpose: to guide development and selection of
 The first substantial computer was the giant ENIAC nursing sys tems that includes standardized
machine by John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert nursing terminologies
at the University of Pennsylvania. (1946, February  As hospitals become paperless, they began
15) employing new nurses who had never charted on
paper. – Telehealth applications provided a means
PRIOR TO THE 1960’S for nurses to monitor patients at home and support
 There were only few experts nationally and consultation in rural and underserved areas.
internationally who formed pioneers that attempted 2010’s
to adapt computers to healthcare settings  National Committee of Health Standards designed
Function: Administrative, accounting, business purposes Meaningful Use (MU) legislation.
 Nursing is undergoing major changes Ultimate goal: Implement a complete interoperable EHR
 Image of nursing is evolving in all US hospitals.
 Number of educational programs and nurses
are increasing LANDMARK EVENTS IN NURSING AND COMPUTERS
 Autonomy and complexity from physician’s Major Milestones
handmaiden to professional status 1. Computers introduced over 40 years ago
1960’s 2. Major milestones in nursing and computers
 Uses of computer technology in healthcare settings interwoven
began to be explored 3. Increased need for nursing data makes nursing
 “why use computers if we can write” profession an autonomous discipline
 The nurses’ station in the hospital was viewed as the 4. Conferences and symposia provide chances for
hub of information exchange, the most appropriate nursing informatics to network
center of development of computer applications

1 historical perspective