The Need for an Educational Program in Nursing Informatics

Nursing informatics is defined as the use of information technologies in relation to the functions that are within the purview of nursing and are carried out by the nurse in the care of patients or in the educational preparation of individuals to practice the discipline (Hannah et al, 1985). It encompasses the wide range of activities relating to use of information management technologies to facilitate the conduct of nursing practice, education, administration, and research (Schwirian, 1986). According to Schwirian, the development of nursing informatics as a critical specialized professional focus is appropriate because the field of informatics contributes to the development of knowledge in the discipline of nursing enhances the communication of knowledge to present and new generations of nurses enhances use of knowledge in nursing practice.