NR361: Nursing Informatics in Healthcare – Week 3 Discussion

Topic: Integration of Nursing Informatics into Clinical Decision-Making

Purpose: The goal of this discussion is to explore how nursing informatics enhances clinical judgment, supports evidence-based practice, and contributes to patient-centered outcomes within your practice setting.

Directions

1. Describe a specific instance in your clinical experience where technology or an informatics system (e.g., EHR, decision support tools, or mobile health apps) influenced your decision-making or patient outcomes.
2. Analyze how nursing informatics principles guided the process of interpreting, documenting, or communicating data in that situation.
3. Discuss one challenge you faced in using informatics systems and suggest a feasible solution that could improve workflow efficiency and patient safety.
4. Support your response with at least one scholarly source published within the last five years, following APA 7th edition formatting.

Post Requirements

• Initial Post: 250–350 words, due by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT.
• Responses: Reply substantively to at least two peers (150 words each) by Sunday, 11:59 p.m. MT.
• References: Minimum of one peer-reviewed journal article (2019–2026) in addition to course readings.

Grading Rubric Summary

• Application of Informatics Concepts (40 pts): Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of informatics and its clinical application.
• Integration of Scholarly Sources (30 pts): Uses current evidence effectively with proper citation.
• Engagement and Professional Tone (20 pts): Maintains respectful dialogue and professional writing standards.
• Timeliness and Word Count (10 pts): Meets deadlines and required post length.

In my clinical practice, the use of electronic health records streamlined patient data retrieval and improved medication reconciliation accuracy. Applying nursing informatics principles allowed more efficient communication with interdisciplinary teams, leading to fewer documentation errors and stronger patient engagement in care planning.

References

• Topaz, M., & Bowles, K.H. (2023). Informatics in nursing practice: Trends and challenges. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 55(1), 14–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12861

• Sensmeier, J. (2021). Advancing nursing informatics competence in practice. Nursing Management, 52(7), 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000763093.68942.d8

• Kowitlawakul, Y., & Wang, W. (2020). The use of nursing informatics to enhance patient safety. Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 38(6), 267–273. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000000608

• Nelson, R., & Staggers, N. (2022). Health Informatics: An Interprofessional Approach (3rd ed.). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2020-0-03155-9

• Weston, M.J. (2019). The role of informatics in evidence-based nursing practice. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol24No02Man04