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The Challenge of Meeting Patients' Needs with a National Nursing Informatics Agenda

Affiliation of the author: Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland.

Correspondence and reprints: Carole A. Gassert, PhD, RN, Acting Deputy Branch Chief, Division of Nursing, Department of Health and Human Services, 9-36 Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852. e-mail: <cgassert{at}dhhs.hrsa.gov>.

Abstract Information has become a capital good and is focused on outcomes. Clinical guidelines are being developed to standardize care for populations, but patient preferences also need to be known when planning individualized care. Information technologies can be used to retrieve both types of information. The concern is that nurses are not adequately prepared to manage information using technology. This paper presents five strategic directions recommended by the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice (Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Nursing) to enhance nurses' preparation to use and develop information technology. The recommendations are 1) to include core informatics content in nursing curricula, 2) to prepare nurses with specialized skills in informatics, 3) to enhance nursing practice and education through informatics projects, 4) to prepare nursing faculty in informatics, and 5) to increase collaborative efforts in nursing informatics. The potential impact of these strategic directions on patients is discussed.

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