Nursing Informatics Competency Essay

Nursing Informatics Competency Essay

Incorporating nursing informatics into nursing practices and procedures emerges as a profound strategy for improving clinical decisions and safeguarding patient safety. McGonigle & Mastrian (2018) define nursing informatics (NI) as “the specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice”(p. 308). In the current healthcare systems, healthcare workers (HCWs) encounter an overarching need to embrace data-driven and evidence-based practices to deliver individualized and population-centered care. As a result, developing nursing informatics (NI) as a specialty equips nurses with relevant skills, knowledge, and competencies to incorporate data and information in clinical practices. Various competencies consistent with nursing informatics include computer skills, knowledge of healthcare systems, quality improvement, data competency, data privacy and security, system designing, fiscal management, and system maintenance and evaluation. Nursing informatics specialists must advance their knowledge and competencies to thrive in ever-dynamic healthcare systems and support the tenets of data-driven nursing practices. This paper elaborates on the most significant nursing informatics competencies, appraises standard 11 of the nursing scope and standards of course, and establishes approaches fie developing nursing informatics skills.

Nursing Competencies that are Beneficial to my Success as a Nursing Informatics Leader

Nurses play a frontline role in safeguarding patient safety and averting health threats that may jeopardize population health and wellness. One of the most profound approaches to improving people’s health and well-being is using advanced health technologies to leverage information and data and improve services’ timeliness, efficacy, and effectiveness. According to Khezri & Abdekhoda (2019), the subsequent nurses’ exposure to complex clinical technologies necessitates them to advance skills and knowledge in informatics, including computer skills. In this sense, computer skills and informatics knowledge are interdependent and equally significant in enabling nurses to incorporate nursing informatics into clinical practices. Consequently, the need to develop nursing informatics as a clinical specialty prompted reputable nursing associations to establish the scope and standards of nursing informatics specialists, including their competencies.

The revised scope and standards of practice in nursing informatics require informatics nurse specialists to be proficient or expert in various standards, including assessment, diagnosis, issues identification, outcomes identification, planning, implementation, coordination of activities, health promotion, consultation, ethics, communication, leadership, collaboration, resource utilization, and environmental health (Hebda et al., 2019). As a nurse informatics specialist, I perceive general computer skills, informatics knowledge, and informatics skills as essential competencies contributing to my leadership success. For example, general computer skills cover multiple components and areas, including creating queries for a database, integrating new systems, applications, and programs, and collecting data to monitor the quality and effectiveness of nursing informatics practice.

On the other hand, informatics knowledge and skills entail fluency in informatics and nursing terminologies, the competence to implement and evaluate system/application training programs for users and clients, assessing clinical workflows, interpreting data privacy and security protocols, applying principles and techniques of systems analysis, and constructing data structures. Also, I am supposed to demonstrate proficiencies in developing screen layouts, ensuring system usability, fiscal management, project management, and applying the principles of computer programming. Undoubtedly, becoming proficient in these competencies requires consistent learning and knowledge advancement.

Besides computer skills, informatics knowledge, and skills, leadership standards like ethics and communication are equally essential to my success as a nursing informatics leader. For example, communication competencies for informatics nurses include assessing their communication skills in encounters with consumers, families, and colleagues, seeking continuous improvement in communication skills and technologies, practical conflict resolution skills, the competence to use appropriate communication formats when conveying information to healthcare consumers, and families, and identifying strategies and technologies to enhance communication (American Nurses Association, 2021). On the other hand, ethics in nurse informatics entail recognizing the centrality of healthcare consumers, evaluating data privacy, security, and confidentiality factors, and resolving ethical issues affecting healthcare consumers, community groups, systems, and other stakeholders. These competencies enable me to spearhead nursing informatics systems, applications, and programs.

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Appraising Leadership Strategies Addressed in Standard 11

Establishing a culture that anchors nursing informatics and new information technologies requires applying appropriate leadership skills, especially communication competencies. According to Rajamani et al. (2021), aspects of a supportive culture include the implementation climate, readiness to implement nursing informatics projects and technologies, leadership commitment, engagement, and available resources. Standard 11 of the nursing informatics scope and standards of practice entails competencies for effective communication. According to the American Nurses Association (2021), the communication competencies of informatics nurse specialists include supporting the communication preferences of healthcare consumers, families, and colleagues, seeking continuous improvement on conflict resolution skills, enhancing the value of documentation, using appropriate strategies and technologies for sharing information with consumers, families, and colleagues, and using suitable communication formats. These competencies enable nurse informatics specialists to address chasms in sharing information, dismantle bureaucracies, and promote service accuracy and accessibility.

Besides enabling nurse informatics specialists to address communication barriers and improve process accuracy and care accessibility, communication competencies enshrined in standard 11 can allow nurse informatics specialists to establish a culture that supports new information technology initiatives. For example, they can effectively communicate projects’ missions, objectives, and desired outcomes by using appropriate communication formats and technologies to address the restraining factors for change and cultivate a culture of collective responsibility. Equally, adopting communication strategies to improve and enhance the value of documentation and embracing interprofessional team communication promote the development of clinical guidelines, encourage accuracy process, and anchor interprofessional collaboration relevant to the implementation of nursing informatics projects and technologies.

Recommendations for Becoming Competent or More Proficient in these Leadership Skills

Based on the nursing informatics competency assessment survey, I realized that I am proficient in various nursing informatics communication competencies, including developing collegial relationships with information system technical support personnel, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to accomplish information management work, acting as a liaison to support communication among providers, clients, and technical communities, and disseminating new knowledge by informing colleagues of new developments and applications in nursing or healthcare informatics. These competencies enable the development of meaningful relationships with colleagues, influence change and the implementation of nursing informatics projects, and communicate the missions and objectives of nursing informatics initiatives.

Although I am proficient in these communication competencies, I can advance my skills and knowledge to become an expert or more competent. Effective strategies for advancing these competencies include treating colleagues with respect, trust, and dignity, demonstrating a commitment to continuous education and lifelong learning, and modeling expert nursing informatics practice to interprofessional team members. Leonard et al. (2022) recommend self-directed learning and ongoing self-assessment as ideal strategies for enhancing communication skills. I can apply these approaches to develop communication competencies and influence the implementation of nursing informatics initiatives.

Conclusion

Nursing informatics competencies enable informatics nurse specialists to incorporate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practices. The primary competencies for nurse informaticists are general computer skills and informatics knowledge. Equally, nurse informatics specialists should adhere to various standards of practice, including issue identification, planning, resource utilization, coordination of activities, ethics, leadership, and collaboration. Notably, being proficient or expert in all nursing informatics competencies and skills is complex. As a result, it is vital to upgrade and advance skills through ongoing learning and self-assessment consistently.

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References

American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing informatics: Scope and standards of practice. (3rd ed.). American Nurses Association.

Hebda, T., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare professionals (6th ed.). Pearson.

Khezri, H., & Abdekhoda, M. (2019). Assessing nurses’ informatics competency and identifying its related factors. Journal of Research in Nursing, 24(7), 529–538. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987119839453

Leonard, J., Whiteman, K., Stephens, K., Henry, C., & Swanson-Biermann, B. (2022). Improving communication and collaboration skills in graduate nurses: An evidence-based approach. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. https://ojin.nursingworld.org/table-of-contents/volume-27-2022/number-2-may-2022/improving-communication-and-collaboration-skills-in-graduate-nurses/

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Rajamani, S., Hultman, G., Bakker, C., & Melton, G. B. (2021). The role of organizational culture in health information technology implementations: A scoping review. Learning Health Systems. https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10299

 

WEEK 10 ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS  (DUE 11/7: MONDAY)

Assignment: Competencies

How do you determine what skills or qualities will benefit you as a leader in your healthcare organization or nursing practice?

This question might be answered through the analysis of nursing informatics competencies. The analysis of these competencies provides a context for the qualities needed to effectively lead and implement projects in your healthcare organization or nursing practice.

For this Assignment, complete the nursing informatics competency assessment survey to determine what skills you may or may not have acquired. Utilizing the assessment survey, you will explore the importance of these competencies in nursing practice, as well as in the implementation of nursing informatics projects in your practice.

Photo Credit: Steve Debenport / E+ / Getty Images

To Prepare

• Review the “Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice” learning resource to explore competencies related to nursing practice.
• Consider the role of competencies in nursing practice. Which competencies may be the most beneficial for project management and nursing informatics?
• Reflect on which skills you might currently possess and how you might become competent in others.
• Complete the “Advanced Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment L3/L4 (NICA) Survey” in this week’s Learning Resources to assist you in evaluating the competencies.

The Assignment: (4–5 pages, and completed Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment Survey)

• Explain what competencies are most important and beneficial for your success as a leader in your practice. Be specific and provide examples.
• Appraise the leadership strategies, addressed in Standard 11, that you might employ to establish a culture that supports new information technology initiatives. Be specific.
• Analyze whether or not you currently have these skills. Then, explain approaches you might recommend implementing to become competent or more proficient in this skill.

Note: Be sure to include the completed Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment Survey with your paper.

Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-20293632). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

Submit your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 10.

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LEARNING RESOURCES TO GUIDE THE WRITING ASSIGNMENT.

 

https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1021761&site=eds-live&scope=site&authtype=shib&custid=s6527200

Nursing Informatics : Scope and Standards of Practice

Authors:

R2 Library (Online service)
American Nurses Association

Publication Information:

Ed.: Second edition. Silver Spring, Maryland : American Nurses Association. 2015

Resource Type:

eBook.

 

THE ESSENTIALS: CORE COMPETENCIES FOR PROFESSIONAL NURSING EDUCATION

https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/AcademicNursing/pdf/Essentials-2021.pdf

 

 

Towards the TIGER International Framework for Recommendations of Core Competencies in Health Informatics 2.0: Extending the Scope and the Roles. https://eds.s.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=8b4fbce0-0bc7-45c4-ba6e-1409e79b1a03%40redis&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPXNoaWImc2l0ZT1lZHMtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=31438119&db=mnh

 

https://oce-ovid-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/article/00024665-201908000-00006/HTML

 

https://oce-ovid-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/article/00024665-201908000-00006/HTML

 

https://oce-ovid-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/article/01938924-201906000-00008/HTML

 

Alignment of American Association of Colleges of Nursing Graduate-Level Nursing Informatics Competencies With American Medical Informatics Association Health Informatics Core Competencies

Monsen, Karen A. PhD, RN, FAMIA, FAANBush, Ruth A. PhD, MPH, FAMIAJones, Josette PhD, RNManos, E. LaVerne DNP, RN, FAMIASkiba, Diane J. PhD, FACMI, ANEF, FAANJohnson, Stephen B. PhD, FACMI https://oce.ovid.com/article/00024665-201908000-00003/PDF

 

https://oce-ovid-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/article/00005110-201906000-00009/HTML

 

Informatics competency-based assessment: Evaluations and determination of nursing informatics competency gaps among practicing nurse informaticists

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Author Information

• Author(s)
• Pordeli, Leyla
• Details
• Leyla Pordeli, RN, DNP, lpordel@ju.edu

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Item Information

Item Link – Use this link for citations and online mentions.

http://hdl.handle.net/10755/622563

 

• PLEASE USE HEADINGS FOR EACH BULLET. THIS INSTRUCTOR IS BIG ON HEADINGS FOR EACH TOPIC.

 

• PLEASE PROVIDE EXAMPLES AND DETAILS