Title: Challenges in Nursing Informatics
Headings: Challenges in Nursing Informatics
Challenges in Nursing Informatics
Introduction
Evolution of Nursing Documentation
Background
Challenges for Nursing
Future Generations
Summary
References

Content: Langowski (2005) further explains that with this technology, software programs can be designed to assist health care providers in making decisions for individual patients, as data are entered for analysis by the computer software, and recommendations are made so decisions can be made quickly, with minimal errors. The HIMSS Nursing Informatics Awareness Task Force (2007) explains that when evidence-based practice is coded to an appropriate taxonomy system, the computerized nursing documentation will allow nurses to track their care and improve patient outcomes by implementing appropriate interventions for identified problems. While electronic health records are designed to provide access to information compiled from various providers, regardless of their physical location or healthcare system, this network will provide access to healthcare information for clinical decision making nationwide. Thede (2008) reports that data stored electronically is increasingly available to identify patterns of health care provided and subsequent outcomes among large groups of people. Often, nursing care data does not go beyond what’s required of the employing institution or accrediting bodies. Thus, Thede (2008) explains that the electronic health record will contain no data about the decisions nurses make and data will not be used in healthcare planning. The nurse’s role in healthcare will remain indiscernible and not considered in healthcare policy. Nursing documentation is a dynamic and complex process. As an educator of nursing students, the writer is concerned not only with the present gaps in nursing documentation to the electronic record, but with abilities of nursing students to learn the skill. Because institutions providing clinical experience to students utilize varying charting methods, students cannot become proficient at documentation.