Nursing

Nurse informaticists tie together healthcare, technology

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, May 10, 2007

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As hospitals attempt to bring new technology into patient care, nursing informatics is emerging as a fast-growing nursing career, helping to keep healthcare workers on the cutting edge of information technology.

A nurse informaticist is a nurse with advanced information technology skills, who uses his or her skills to marry healthcare to technology in varying ways, such as providing expertise with the development of electronic health records. The demand for nurse informaticists is increasing as the healthcare industry works toward making electronic health records paperless. In addition to hospitals, these professionals work for clinics, home health agencies, software companies, and nursing homes, among other venues. Many are affiliated with major universities and conduct formal research.

While formal certification is useful, some nurses are able to enter the information technology field without credentials. Nurses will often participate in training courses provided by their companies.

Sources: The Dallas Morning News, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Other articles of interest:

Hospitals adopt handheld devices to improve efficiency

Washable computer gives doctors a clean slate



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