This chapter introduces the specialty of nursing informatics and the relationship between computer technology and nursing practice, patient care, and patient outcomes.

Nursing informatics refers to that component of informatics designed for and relevant to nursing. There are formal and informal opportunities for education in nursing informatics. Formal education programs are described as: category I, graduate programs with a specialist nursing informatics focus; category II, graduate and undergraduate programs and courses that allow students to pursue a “minor” concentration in nursing informatics; and category III, individual courses in nursing informatics at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Informal education includes networking, professional organizations, conferences, and current literature. There are organizational special interest groups, as well. Information science and computer organizations, health computer organizations, user and local groups serve as resources for nurses in the specialty field. Informatics certification is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, recognizing the quality of professional practice and continuing education.

Clinical information systems (CIS) offer mechanisms and applications for delivery of patient centered care through a computer patient record (CPR). These applications can include order entry, results reporting, clinical documentation, care planning, and clinical pathways. CPRs are virtual compilations of health care data about an individual across a lifetime; covering facts, observations, interpretations, plans and outcomes. Data capture is used to collect and enter information into a computer system. The information is often stored across multiple systems at different sites. Information processing provides for retrieval and processing of the data. Information communication refers to system linkages for exchange of data across multiple desperate systems. Computer based patient records systems have security systems established to ensure authorized users have access to the health information.

The Internet serves as a resource to retrieve clinical practice information. Strategies are reviewed to conduct an effective search. One technique through the purpose-focus-approach (P-F-A) while using URL search engines, web browsers, web links and literature search data basis. ? is suggested to use in web site evaluation to determine if one is PLEASED with the site information (P-purpose, L-links, E-editorial, A-author, E-ethical, D-date).