Strategic Reshaping of the Nursing Informatics Team to Drive Impactful Changes at an Organizational Level

Evidence demonstrates that nursing informatics (NI) operates in close collaboration with the department of information technology (IT), guided by overarching strategic goals. However, the non-traditional approach is more focused on bedside nursing practices, aligning with the strategic goals and initiatives of nursing leadership. In an acute care community hospital, the NI functions in tandem with nursing leaders, jointly planning, designing, educating, and implementing nursing programs and technology. These collaborative initiatives significantly enhance the quality and safe delivery of patient care. Clinical inquiries, such as quality improvement and evidence-based practice, are methodologies used to enhance patients' and nurses' outcomes, as well as patients' satisfaction and positive experiences. For instance, optimizing the EPIC brain has reduced the lack of adherence to standard documentation in accordance with regulatory requirements. It has also enhanced safety by ensuring the timely implementation of all providers' orders, including medications. In response to the growing concerns about workplace violence, the NI has played a pivotal role in collaborating with IT and security to review and select a cost-effective and efficient staff duress system. This wearable device is set up for each nursing staff and is considered part of the uniform.

Evidence has consistently shown that the role of NI as a nursing liaison to IT significantly improves problem identification, analysis, and resolution. The restructuring of IT and NI framework significantly increased positive communication, collaboration, team building and decision-making. This structure supported the common goals and processes driving positive changes in the health care organization, inspiring and motivating all those involved.

From a bedside perspective, the value of NI is evident in the increased confidence it instills in nurses for more efficient problem-solving with IT. With the visibility of NI at the bedside, nurses are more engaged and empowered to discuss problems and propose solutions that can alleviate the burden of documentation. NI facilitates the timely reporting of nursing device issues, allowing nurses to spend more time with their patients, thereby enhancing staff satisfaction. Nursing informatics (NI) also serves as a valuable resource for the Joint Commission, providing guidance in navigating electronic health records (EHR), policy, procedure, protocol, and guidelines.

From an organizational perspective, NI serves as an advisor and reports any organizational issues and plans for resolutions with either short- or long-term approaches. There is NI visibility at the nursing leadership level, unit shared governance, and council meetings. NI is also involved in nursing general orientation, externship program, nursing residency program, and recruitment activities. The information sharing from bedside to the leaders and educators enhances the effective ways of teaching nurses in a timely manner leading to successful outcomes. Another example of the nursing organization program is the use of virtual nurse for patient admission and discharge. This program was initiated by executive leaders to alleviate documentation burden and redirect time to patient care. The NI served as a vital key participant in the planning, designing, implementing, evaluating, and educating nurses.