Capella 4040 Assessment 1 Nursing Informatics in Health Care

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX 4040 Managing Health Information and Technology

Prof. Name

Date

Nursing Informatics in Health Care

In a medical setting, medication safety is a vital aspect of efficient medical services. Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) are a significant danger, causing recurring hospital stays and deaths. It accounts for 4.2% to 30% of all hospitalizations in the United States, with mortality and morbidity costing $30 to $130 billion annually (Sendekie et al., 2023). Several ADEs are avoidable with effective measures. This proposal calls for integrating a Nurse Informaticist (NI) within our medical institution to improve medication safety and minimize ADEs.

Role of Nurse Informaticists

Nursing informatics is the skill that blends the nursing field with diverse analytical and technological domains to identify, organize, and communicate data in clinical practice (Kleib et al., 2021). This field strives to enhance nursing practices and care provision, enabling medical professionals to make more informed decisions using informatics tools. In today’s healthcare systems, NI plays a diverse and critical function. NIs mediate between nursing staff and Information Technology (IT) sections, guaranteeing that technology meets the nurses’ needs and advances their practices. They perform an essential role in building, deploying, and refining medical data systems to fulfill healthcare demands and improve patient safety, standard of treatment, and workflow productivity (Johnson, 2024).

NIs leverage Electronic Health Records (EHR) to improve workflow and medication security and mitigate ADE. They help to ensure that these systems work seamlessly, resulting in better communication and patient outcomes. NIs work as instructors to educate patients and nurses about tools, investigators, and administrators, cooperating with interdisciplinary teams to develop improved practices (Harerimana et al., 2022). In their instructional dimensions, NIs provide critical insights for pharmaceutical management. NIs design strategies to incorporate technology into safety measures, improving patient care. NIs play a vital part in improving medication safety and minimizing ADEs using various measures.

Capella 4040 Assessment 1 Nursing Informatics in Health Care

For example, NI uses specific medication management systems such as Electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR) and aids nurses in managing drug administration (Owens et al., 2022). They also use Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) and Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) to integrate drug-drug interaction alerts directly into EHRs, which reduces ADEs (Van et al., 2020). Furthermore, NIs plan and manage databases to track prescription mistakes. These databases enable nurses to identify patterns, allowing targeted responses to improve patient safety.

NIs use Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) systems, which scan drug barcodes to ensure adequate drug management. By increasing patient safety through mistake avoidance, NIs using BCMA lower the likelihood of ADEs (Owens et al., 2022). The NI in our medical organization will enhance drug safety, lower ADEs, and improve medication delivery procedures by implementing eMARs and CDSS for drug warnings and interoperable medical data systems to facilitate reconciling medications. While their involvement is crucial, compliance with the American Nurses Association (ANA) guidelines is critical in using informatics to promote healthcare outcomes (Kleib et al., 2021). 

Nurse Informaticists and Health Care Organizations

Several medical facilities incorporate NI into the workforce and have reported favorable outcomes. For instance, New York-Presbyterian (NYP) has considerably impacted patient care standards and security. NI from New York-Presbyterian acknowledges her contributions by stating that their work with information tools like management systems has significantly impacted medical processes, optimizing the systems’ long-term impact (NYP, n.d.). Furthermore, these specialists improved clinical procedures and provided training and assistance to nursing personnel at the facility. However, multiple organizations face challenges, like reluctance to change, limited resources, and incorporating systems issues. NI has a positive role in medical organizations, fostering creativity, productivity, and excellence in healthcare delivery (Kleib et al., 2021).

NI can employ medical technology to affect patient care, data management, operation, and financial elements of medical service delivery. NIs ensure patients receive safe and quality treatment by improving communication, documenting accurately, and providing prompt access to medical information, medication reconciliation tools, and management systems like eMAR (Ashawan & Sagar, 2020). This decreases ADEs by boosting pharmaceutical security procedures and enables proactive responses, improving patient care results.

Capella 4040 Assessment 1 Nursing Informatics in Health Care

 In collaboration with interprofessional teams like pharmacists, nurses, and physicians, NI promotes medication safety and limits the rate of ADEs. They collaborate with pharmacists to verify the accuracy of pharmaceutical prescriptions and dosages via computerized ordering systems. They also collaborate with physicians and pharmacists to track and revise drug inventories in eMARs, reducing errors. In collaboration with nurses, NI implements eMAR, CPOE, and CDSS systems to ensure the accurate delivery of medicines to patients. NIs promote safety and accountability through interdisciplinary teamwork by applying drug protocols and reducing ADEs. Shahmoradi et al. (2021), stated that CDSS improves patient care by making efficient medical decisions during drug distribution.

Moreover, Karnehed et al. (2022), showed that the eMAR enhances drug administration accuracy by offering real-time data and security checks, thereby reducing ADEs. NIs cooperate with IT experts, executives, and data analysts to reduce ADEs. NIs collaborate with IT experts to create, implement, and improve management systems like EHR and eMAR, resulting in accurate medicine delivery, continuous tracking, and reduced ADEs. NI can effectively manage patient data privacy and confidentiality by working with executives and IT experts to adopt Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) such as authentication, encryption, and role-based access control procedures, with staff training and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance.

Capella 4040 Assessment 1 Nursing Informatics in Health Care

Omotunde and Ahmed (2023), state that authentication, encryption, and role-based access controls limit system accessibility to authorized persons, reducing data breaches. Partnering with administrators helps to streamline processes and enhance resource distribution, which impacts the Return on Investment (ROI). EBP driven by NI can enhance technology adoption and ROI and aid in financial sustainability of medical facilities. Saxena et al. (2023), asserted that NI, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, manages and analyzes data, improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs. 

Opportunities and Challenges

By integrating NI, nurses can utilize advanced systems like EHR, BCMA, and CDSS to improve drug management and avoid ADEs. As Abebe et al. (2024), state, these advances deliver immediate notifications and drug reconciliation attributes, allowing physicians to make educated decisions, uncover errors, and respond quickly to pharmaceutical safety hazards. Furthermore, NI will provide efficient communication and data interchange via digital systems. NI working with these tools improves coordinated care, prevents medication errors, and ensures patient safety (Ashawan & Sagar, 2020).

Through collaboration, NI offers opportunities to employ technologies to streamline operations, increase communication, and offer efficient and secure care. However, integrating the NI role can cause organizational issues, such as reluctance to modify among nurses and other medical personnel. Overcoming this reluctance requires efficient communication and training to assist personnel in understanding the technology’s benefits and NI impact. Data breaches can occur in managing patient data in EMARs, EHR, CDSS, and other systems (Shaikh et al., 2022). To meet this problem, NIs should work with IT experts and multidisciplinary groups to create robust safety protocols. 

Capella 4040 Assessment 1 Nursing Informatics in Health Care

NI can collaborate with multidisciplinary groups like Nurses, doctors, IT staff, and hospital managers utilizing several approaches. NI can engage with nurses by successfully providing training and instruction about technological resources, improving their proficiency (Johnson, 2024). This training may involve practical workshops and ongoing assistance to address their concerns and respond during the system integration phase. Furthermore, they can collaborate with IT staff to tailor CDSS and eMARs to fulfill the needs of nurses and improve workflow.

Understanding the clinical requirements and problems allows NIs to guarantee that technologies complement the operations and improve rather than disturb the clinical process. Finally, NIs can promote transparent communication and coordination. They can ensure that these systems are designed and executed cooperatively, with suggestions from stakeholders (Harerimana et al., 2022). This collaborative approach encourages accountability, involvement, and buy-in from the multidisciplinary group and improves drug security and ADE prevention.

Summary of Recommendation 

The proposed NI role improves patient care by improving drug safety and reducing ADEs. The proposal’s key takeaways include, firstly, NI can fill the gap between clinical practices and informatics, improving drug safety using EMARs, EHR, and CDSS. Secondly, NI’s skills enable medical staff to use tools, improving patient outcomes and hospital productivity. Thirdly, NIs protect patient data, maintain HIPAA compliance, and reduce security threats. The NI function is justified by evidence that it has a favorable impact on medical care, patient results, and organizational efficacy.

According to studies, combining health IT platforms with NI improves pharmaceutical safety, minimizes ADEs, and improves medical outcomes (Kleib et al., 2021; Van et al., 2020). Johnson’s (2024), study further supports the importance of NI in advancing healthcare equity by ensuring that technologies are accessible and adaptable for various patient groups. By leveraging NI skills and technology adoption, organizations can boost drug safety and overcome inequities by offering drug administration tools. Lastly, the role is justified by educating and training nursing staff on technology tools like EMARs, resulting in improved drug safety and patient outcomes through a collaborative approach.

Conclusion

NIs play an essential role in improving drug security and minimizing ADEs through cutting-edge technology and multidisciplinary partnerships. Utilizing resources such as eMAR and CDSS systems, NIs improve patient outcomes and foster a safe setting. NIs overcome the gap between informatics and medical care by applying EBP and tools to protect patient data and their wellness.

References

Abebe, E., Cooper, R. L., Zink, R. J., DeLaurentis, P., Degnan, D., & Barach, P. (2024). Enhancing medication safety during the perioperative period. In Handbook of Perioperative and Procedural Patient Safety, 165-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-66179-9.00015-4

Ashawan, S., & Sagar, R. (2020). Uses of computer applications for patient care delivery and nursing practice. International Journal of Nursing Education and Research, 8(4), 543-553. http://dx.doi.org/10.5958/2454-2660.2020.00121.0

Harerimana, A., Wicking, K., Biedermann, N., & Yates, K. (2022). Nursing informatics in undergraduate nursing education in Australia before COVID-19: A scoping review. Collegian, 29(4), 527–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2021.11.004

Johnson, C. B. (2024). Nurse informaticists’ role in promoting health equity. Nursing2024, 54(5), 38-44. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0001007640.39208.74

Karnehed, S., Erlandsson, L. K., & Norell Pejner, M. (2022). Nurses’ perspectives on an electronic medication administration record in home health care: Qualitative interview study. Journal of Medical Internet Research Nursing, 5(1), e35363. https://doi.org/10.2196/35363

Capella 4040 Assessment 1 Nursing Informatics in Health Care

Kleib, M., Chauvette, A., Furlong, K., Nagle, L., Slater, L., & McCloskey, R. (2021). Approaches for defining and assessing nursing informatics competencies: A scoping review. Journal of Biomedical Informatics Evidence Synthesis, 19(4), 794-841. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-20-00100

NYP. (n.d.). Rosemary Ventura named NewYork-Presbyterian’s first Chief Nursing Informatics Officer. nyp.org. https://www.nyp.org/news/rosemary-ventura-named-nyp-1st-chief-nursing-informatics-officer

Omotunde, H., & Ahmed, M. (2023). A comprehensive review of security measures in database systems: assessing authentication, access control, and beyond. Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity, 2023, 115-133. https://doi.org/10.58496/MJCSC/2023/016

Owens, K., Palmore, M., Penoyer, D., & Viers, P. (2020). The effect of implementing bar-code medication administration in an emergency department on medication administration errors and nursing satisfaction. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 46(6), 884-891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2020.07.004

Saxena, P. D., Mayi, K., Arun, R., Kumar, S. S., Mishra, B. R., & Praveen, K. B. (2023). Impact of artificial intelligence on healthcare informatics: opportunities and challenges. Journal of Informatics Education and Research, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.52783/jier.v3i2.384

Sendekie, A. K., Kasahun, A. E., Limenh, L. W., Dagnaw, A. D., & Belachew, E. A. (2023). Clinical and economic impact of adverse drug reactions in hospitalised patients: Prospective matched nested case–control study in Ethiopia. British Medical Journal Open, 13(6), e073777. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073777

Capella 4040 Assessment 1 Nursing Informatics in Health Care

Shahmoradi, L., Safdari, R., Ahmadi, H., & Zahmatkeshan, M. (2021). Clinical decision support systems-based interventions to improve medication outcomes: A systematic literature review on features and effects. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran. https://doi.org/10.47176/mjiri.35.27

Shaikh, M., Vayani, A. H., Akram, S., & Qamar, N. (2022). Open-source electronic health record systems: A systematic review of most recent advances. Health Informatics Journal, 28(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/14604582221099828

Van, B. A., Wu Yi Zheng, Sundar, V., & Baysari, M. T. (2020). Optimizing clinical decision support alerts in electronic medical records: A systematic review of reported strategies adopted by hospitals. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(1), 177–183. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocaa279