Transforming Healthcare:
The Nurse Informatics Specialist [NIS]
What is Nursing Informatics?
“Nursing informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice.
Nursing informatics facilitates the integration of data, information, and knowledge to support patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision making in all roles and settings.
This support is accomplished through the use of information structures, information processes, and information technology” (Staggers & Thompson, 2002, p. 260)
Nurse Informatics Specialists
are also known as informatics nurse specialists, clinical informatics nurse specialists, and nurse informaticists.
Staggers, Gassert, and Curan (2001) identified nursing informatics specialists as:
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An RN with advanced preparation possessing additional knowledge and skills specific to information management and computer technology.
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Focuses on information needs for the practice of nursing, which includes education, administration, research, and clinical practice.
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Practice is built on the integration and application of information science, computer science, and nursing science.
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Uses the tools of critical thinking, process skills, data management skills (including identifying, acquiring, preserving, retrieving, aggregating, analyzing, and transmitting data), systems development life cycle, and computer skills. (p. 306).