GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF NURSING INFORMATICS

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF NURSING INFORMATICS

Nursing informatics (NI)

Traditional definition: A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. Our definition: The synthesis of nursing science, information science, computer science, and cognitive science for the purpose of managing, disseminating, and enhancing healthcare data, information, knowledge, and wisdom to improve collaboration and decision making; provide high quality patient care; and advance the profession of nursing. NI is the specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information management and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. NI supports nurses, consumers, patients, the interprofessional healthcare team, and other stakeholders in their decision making in all roles and settings to achieve desired outcomes. This support is accomplished through the use of information structures, information processes, and information technology.

The information-processing functions of the brain are frequently compared to those of a computer, and vice versa (see a discussion of cognitive informatics for more information). Humans can be thought of as organic information systems that are constantly acquiring, processing, and generating information or knowledge in their professional and personal lives.

Nursing science

The ethical application of knowledge acquired through education, research, and practice to provide services and interventions to patients so as to maintain, enhance, or restore their health; to advocate for health; and to acquire, process, generate, and disseminate nursing knowledge to advance the nursing profession.