Blog: How Has Nursing Informatics and Technology Impacted Your Practice?
For this Discussion, you will explore the impact of digital technology on nursing practice. Consider the influence these technologies may have on nursing practice, and what skills you might need to hone in on in order to address these needs.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
Learning Resources
· Sipes, C. (2025).
Project management for the advanced practice nurse (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing.
· Chapter 4, “Planning: Project Management—Phase 2” (pp. 85–130)
· American Nurses Association. (2015).
Nursing informaticsLinks to an external site.
: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.).
· “Evolution of Nursing Informatics Competencies” (pp. 37–41)
· “The Future of Nursing Informatics” (pp. 52–62)
· “Standard 3: Outcomes Identification” (p. 71)
· “Standard 4: Planning” (p. 72)
· American Hospital Association. (n.d.).
Innovative models of care delivery: Addressing transitions across the care continuumLinks to an external site.
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· Guest in VSee. (2020).
7 ways technology is transforming the nursing field Links to an external site.
. VSee.com.
· The Medical Futurist. (2020).
10 ways technology is changing healthcare Links to an external site.
.
· Schade, M. (2016, January 11).
How to do a GAP Analysis Links to an external site.
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· Project Manager. (2014, June 2).
What is a work breakdown structureLinks to an external site.
? [Video]. YouTube.
· Project Manager. (2016, March 11).
Gantt Charts, Simplified – The Project Management TrainingLinks to an external site.
. [Video]. YouTube.
· Rew, L., Cauvin, S., Cengiz, A., Pretorius, K., & Johnson, K. (2020).
Application of project management tools and techniques to support nursing intervention researchLinks to an external site..
Nursing Outlook, 68 (4), 396–405.
To Prepare
· Consider your nursing background and professional interests as you view the video.
· What potential skills, knowledge, or competencies to ensure quality of care and safety improvements, might you need to develop for your healthcare organization or nursing practice to ensure continued quality care and safety?
By Day 3 of Week 3
Post a blog to address the following:
· Explore the pivotal role of informatics competencies in enhancing the quality of care and safety in your nursing practice.
By Day 6 of Week 3
Read a selection of your colleagues’ blog posts and
respond to
at least two of your colleagues on
two different days by expanding upon their responses or sharing additional or alternative perspectives.
RESPOND TO THIS DISCUSSION POST
Madeleine
The Pivotal Role of Informatics Competencies in Nursing: Ensuring Quality and Safety in the Digital Era
Over the recent years, digital technology integration has radically transformed the nursing profession. Nurses are now working in a complex, data-driven environment, from the use of electronic health records (EHRs) to telehealth platforms and clinical decision support systems. Not only have these changes streamlined workflows and enhanced access to information, but also changed the way safe, high-quality care is provided. Being a nurse by background and having an interest in both patient safety and quality improvement, I have personally witnessed how digital tools can be both an enabler and a challenge. Technology has great potential to raise the bar on patient care, but it comes with a new set of skills and competencies, especially in the area of nursing informatics (Isidori et al., 2022).
The Expanding Impact of Digital Technology on Nursing
Today, digital technology permeates every nursing practice. EHRs provide real-time access to patient histories and reduce the chances of errors, and allow for more coordinated care. Telehealth platforms remove geographic barriers and permit patients to consult and then receive follow-up care in a timely fashion. Smart infusion pumps and barcode medication administration systems are even helping prevent medication errors and adverse events, even at the bedside. That means nurses now have to be clinically skilled but also comfortable with data, devices, and software systems. However, nursing is evolving, and the importance of informatics competencies (the skills of using, analyzing, and interpreting health information) cannot be overemphasized (Kemp et al., 2025).
Essential Informatics Competencies for Nurses
As nurses deliver safe and effective care in a digital landscape, they need to develop several informatics competencies according to Kleib et al. (2021), including:
· Data Literacy: How to collect, interpret, and apply patient data is important. Nurses have to be able to document accurately, identify trends, and utilize data to make clinical decisions.
· Nurses should be proficient with EHR and other clinical systems, accurate documentation, timely documentation, and documentation that is retrievable.
· Patient data is stored electronically, and nurses need to abide by best practices to maintain privacy and confidentiality, and also take into consideration the risk of breaches or unauthorized access.
· Familiarity with tools that provide evidence-based recommendations can be used to support safer medication administration, diagnostic processes, and care planning.
· Continuous learning and adaptability: Nurses are required to keep learning new things and be adaptable to the new systems and processes as technology continues to evolve.
Ensuring Quality and Safety Through Informatics
Informatics competencies are not only technical proficiency, they are ensuring that technology does not interfere with but enhances quality of care. With this confidence in digital systems, nurses are more able to catch potential errors, communicate effectively with interdisciplinary teams and advocate for patient safety. Supporting nurses in developing these competencies is important for healthcare organizations. Structured training, mentorship and a culture that is open to feedback and learning can help do this. Nurses in the process of developing their informatics skills become important partners in system improvement, patient safety, and organizational change (Wynn et al., 2023).
Conclusion
Overall, nurses need to develop informatics competencies in order to manage in the digital healthcare environment. Strengthening these skills will help nurses improve patient safety, provide quality care, and guide the advancement of technology with confidence that will benefit the patients and the healthcare system as a whole.
References
Isidori, V., Diamanti, F., Gios, L., Malfatti, G., Nicolini, A., Perini, F., Forti, S., Gaudino, A., Brancorsini, S., Bizzarri, G., Fraschini, F., & Longhini, J. (2022). Digital technologies and the role of healthcare professionals: A scoping review exploring nurses’ skills in the digital era and in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Preprint).
JMIR Nursing,
5(1).
to an external site.
Kemp, M., Rising, K. L., Laynor, G., Miao, J., Worster, B., Chang, A. M., Monick, A. J., Guth, A., Camacho, T. E., McIntosh, K., Amadio, G., Shughart, L., Hsiao, T., & Leader, A. E. (2025). Barriers to telehealth uptake and use: a scoping review.
JAMIA Open,
8(2).
to an external site.
Kleib, M., Chauvette, A., Furlong, K., Nagle, L., Slater, L., & McCloskey, R. (2021). Approaches for defining and assessing nursing informatics competencies.
JBI Evidence Synthesis,
19(4), 794–841.
to an external site.
Wynn, M., Garwood‐Cross, L., Vasilica, C., Griffiths, M., Heaslip, V., & Phillips, N. (2023). Digitizing nursing: A theoretical and holistic exploration to understand the adoption and use of digital technologies by nurses.
Journal of Advanced Nursing,
79(10).
to an external site.
· Expand discussion thread from Madeleine Raymond
