Assessment 3: Nursing Informatics and EHR Implementation

Course: NURS-FPX6412 – Nursing Informatics and Technology Integration in Healthcare

Level: APRN (Master of Science in Nursing – Informatics Track) | Length: 3–4 pages | Weight: 30% of final grade

Overview

This assessment challenges you to evaluate how nursing informatics enhances clinical decision-making, patient outcomes, and healthcare system efficiency. You will analyze the implementation of an electronic health record (EHR) system within a clinical setting, emphasizing the nurse’s role in technology integration, interprofessional collaboration, and patient safety improvement.

Assessment Context

Nursing informatics bridges clinical expertise with digital health systems to optimize patient care. Advanced practice nurses must assess the impact of data-driven tools on workflow, documentation accuracy, and quality metrics. This task aligns with AACN Essentials for informatics competency and Capella’s focus on evidence-based practice and systems leadership.

Assessment Instructions

1. Select a healthcare setting (acute care unit, outpatient clinic, or community health center) implementing or upgrading an EHR system.
2. Evaluate the purpose, scope, and goals of the EHR implementation initiative.
3. Identify three potential barriers to successful integration (e.g., user resistance, interoperability, or data privacy concerns).
4. Discuss nursing informatics competencies required for effective EHR use and patient data management.
5. Analyze how EHR data improves clinical decision-making and patient safety outcomes.
6. Propose strategies for nurse leaders to foster adoption, training, and continuous improvement of digital health technologies.

Formatting and Submission Requirements

• Length: 3–4 double-spaced pages (excluding title and reference pages).
• Format: APA 7th edition, academic tone, logical structure.
• Sources: Minimum of 5 peer-reviewed publications (2018–2026).
• Submission: Upload to the Capella Courseroom under Assessment 3.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze nursing informatics principles and their influence on clinical outcomes.
• Evaluate EHR implementation strategies that enhance data accuracy and usability.
• Integrate evidence-based informatics tools to improve care coordination and safety.
• Develop leadership strategies for fostering technology acceptance and digital literacy among nursing teams.

Assessment Criteria (Grading Rubric)

Criteria	Distinguished (90–100%)	Proficient (80–89%)	Basic (70–79%)	Below Expectations (<70%)
Evaluation of Informatics Integration	Comprehensively evaluates EHR integration using current informatics frameworks; analysis demonstrates advanced synthesis and systems thinking.	Clearly evaluates EHR integration with supporting evidence and logical structure.	Provides limited or descriptive discussion of informatics without analytical depth.	Fails to accurately explain EHR integration or its nursing relevance.
Application to Nursing Practice	Integrates informatics principles into APRN practice scenarios; recommendations are specific, evidence-based, and realistic.	Applies general principles to nursing practice with some clarity and evidence.	Mentions practice implications superficially; lacks evidence-based grounding.	No meaningful application to advanced nursing practice.
Identification of Barriers and Solutions	Identifies multiple barriers and provides feasible, innovative strategies grounded in literature and informatics leadership models.	Identifies barriers with some practical solutions supported by references.	Lists generic barriers; strategies lack specificity or scholarly support.	Fails to address barriers or propose viable solutions.
Use of Evidence and Scholarly Sources	Integrates ≥5 recent scholarly sources with synthesis across studies.	Uses 3–4 credible sources appropriately.	Includes few or outdated references; minimal synthesis.	Insufficient or irrelevant evidence.
Writing and APA Formatting	Writing is concise, logical, and scholarly; flawless APA 7th edition formatting.	Minor mechanical or formatting issues.	Frequent APA or writing errors but understandable.	Poorly written or formatted submission impairs comprehension.

Electronic Health Records enhance patient safety by reducing medication errors and enabling real-time access to clinical data. A robust EHR system allows APRNs to identify adverse trends and apply predictive analytics for early intervention. Nurse leaders can mitigate resistance through phased training programs and shared governance models that empower nurses to participate in system customization (Collins et al., 2022).

References

1. Collins, S., Bakken, S., & Monsen, K. A. (2022). Nursing informatics leadership for digital transformation. Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 40(12), 753–760. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000000864
2. Hebda, T., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of Informatics for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals (6th ed.). Pearson. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2018-0-04348-0
3. McBride, S., & Tietze, M. (2021). Nursing informatics for safe, quality, and evidence-based care. Journal of Nursing Administration, 51(6), 299–305. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000001025
4. Topaz, M., & Pruinelli, L. (2020). Big data and nursing informatics: Opportunities for education and practice. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 24(3). https://www.himss.org/resources/big-data-and-nursing-informatics
5. American Nurses Association (ANA). (2021). Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice (3rd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: ANA Publishing.