Nursing Informatics

Nursing informatics is defined as the combination of computer science, information and communication technology and nursing science to enhance nursing informational processes in the field of care, administration, research and education. It deals with the study of how healthcare data, information, knowledge and probably wisdom are electronically collected, stored, processed, communicated and used to support the process of healthcare delivery to clients by the providers, administrators and other participants of healthcare organization.

Conceptualization of automated nursing information process may have started as early as late 1950's in the US where few pioneering hospitals made use of computers in feasibility studies to computerize their information system that includes the non-clinical and clinical areas.

With computerization, you can easily transmit a laboratory results or medication order with 4 to 5 clicks or keys starting form main menu. Electronic database in automated information system displays data in variety of forms and correlates them with other data.

The Origin of Healthcare Informatics

For decades, in healthcare, the increase in knowledge has led to the development of many specialties and sub specialties. Treatment becomes better but fractional causing difficulty in overview of the entire patient. The number of health cases increased exponentially  with increase in population,discovery of more diseases and extension of life expectancy. There are simply so much data in so many places that it is difficult to merge the data that we find and the knowledge that we already have. We are putting so much data but lack the time to channel them into useful information or knowledge.This led to the development of healthcare informatics. 
Healthcare informatics can help the top four problems of local nurses in the workplace (excessive documentation, long turnaround times, inaccurate nursing processes, and poor documentation).

The Nurse-Computer Interface

A nurse-computer interface is a part of a workplace where nurse’s modified activity meets with a computer adapted for human use for enhanced productivity while maintaining harmony with nature.

Digital environment of high speed electrons flowing through circuits and manipulated with microscopic switches has to interact with a user environment composed of people of an organization of entirely different nature and character and thus requires an interface to connect effectively. Much consideration is given by computer manufactures by making ergonomic (design to fit for natural human interaction) hardware. Ergonomics is the application of physiological, psychological and engineering principles to interactions between people and machines. Software developers are striving hard to make the computer programs as user –friendly as possible.