Foundation of Practice Flashcards
According to Staggers, Gassert, Curran 2002, what are the levels of informatics competencies?
- Beginning nurse
- Experienced nurse
- Informatics nurse specialist
- Innovator
Advanced practice nursing: Discuss ethical principals in practice (Nursing Code of Ethics).
The American Nurses Association developed the Nursing Code of Ethics. There are nine provisions, which are listed below:
- The nurse treats all individuals with respect and consideration, regardless of social circumstances or health condition.
- The nurse’s primary commitment is to the individual regardless of conflicts that may arise.
- The nurse promotes and advocates for the individual’s health, safety, and rights, maintaining privacy and confidentiality and protecting him or her from questionable practices or care.
- The nurse is r_esponsible for his or her own care practices_ and determines appropriate delegation of care.
- The nurse must retain respect for self and his or her own integrity and competence.
- The nurse participates in ensuring that the health care environment is conducive to providing good health care that is consistent with professional and ethical values.
- The nurse participates in education and knowledge development to advance the profession.
- The nurse collaborates with others to promote efforts to meet health needs.
- The nursing profession articulates values and promotes and maintains the integrity of the profession
ANA Competency levels
- Entry level
- Experienced nurse
- The informatics nurse
- “Proficiency with informatics applications to support all areas of nursing practice including quality improvement activities, research, project management, system design, development, analysis, implementation, support, maintenance, and evaluation
- Fiscal management
- Integration of multidisciplinary language/standards of practice
- Skills in critical thinking, data management and processing, decision making, and system development, and computer skills
- Identification and provision of data for decision making” (Hebda, p.13)
- Informatics nurse specialist
- Graduate-level and can conduct informatics research and add information to the field (Scope & Standards; Hebda, p.13)
ANA definition of NI (2008)
Nursing informatics is a specialty that:
A. integrates nursing science
B. Computer science
C. Information science to manage and communicate:
- Data
- Information
- Knowledge and
- Wisdom in nursing practice
NI Supports:
a. consumers
b. patients
c. nurses
d. other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings.
This support is accomplished through:
i. use of information structures
ii. information processes
iii. information technology
ANA definition of NI (2015)
NI is a specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information and analytical sciences to: A. Identify B. Define C. Manage and D. Communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice NI supports: 1. Nurses 2. Consumers 3. Patients 4. Users 5. Interprofessional healthcare team 6. Other stakeholders in their decision-making roles and settings to achieve desired outcomes This support is accomplished through the use of: a. information structures, b. information processes, and c. information technology
ANA Recognized terminologies and data element sets Data Element Sets
ANA-Recognized Informatics System Data Element Sets: 1-Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS) 1-Developed by nursing 1-Contains: Clinical data elements 2-Nursing Manamgnet Minimum Data Set (NMMDS) 2-Developed by all settings 2-Contains: Nursing administrative data elements
Compare electronic medical records and electronic helath records.
electronic medical record (EMR) and electronic health record (EHR)
The EMR is created by a hospital or other health care delivery organization (CDO).
- The CDO owns the information
- Cconsists of clinical documentation, orders, medications, treatments, and other clinical decision support, and is a legal record.
The EHR includes information from EMRs
- The EHR relies on the information from the EMR to complete it.
- Owned by the patient and stakeholders, which could include the government, insurance companies, and healthcare providers among others.
- Needs controlled medical vocabulary so that information will be comparable among providers and other interested stakeholders
- Organizations now receive financial incentives to install EMR and EHR systems from healthcare reform.
Computer science
Branch of engineering (application of science) that studies theoretical foundations of information and computation and their implementation and application in computer systems.
Study of storage/memory, conversion and transformation, and transfer or transmission of information in machines (computers) through both algorithms and practical implementation problems. (McGonigle & Mastrian, Glossary)
Define the steps needed for workgroup formation.
A workgroup is a small number of people working together toward a common goal.
Advantage: the environment allows for increased insight and creativity.
Disadvantage: members of the group allow personal conflicts (in terms of personality and work styles) to interfere with the group’s goal.
A popular concept identifies four stages in group development:
- Forming: This is where a group is formed and the members begin to get to know one another. Typically, individuals are quiet and polite to one another.
- Storming: This is the stage where conflicts normally arise. Effective communications must be occurring.
- Norming: Typically, conflicting factions make peace and come together. Less communication is necessary.
- Performing: This is the stage in which the group begins to really work well. Communication is free flowing.
Define the term: management science.
Management science is the study of business decision-making using various analytical methods.
Elements used in management science to help organizations make practical decisions:
- Strategic planning: Strategic planning is based on an organization’s goals and mission.
- Morphological analysis: Morphological analysis looks at many different possible solutions in an attempt to come up with the most appropriate one.
- Influence diagrams: Influence diagrams use mathematical representations and graphs to solve problems.
- Problem structuring: A method used in management science is problem structuring, sometimes known as “soft-operations research”.
Define the terms privacy and confidentiality and how they relate to informatics.
Patient privacy and confidentiality are two main concerns especially as they apply to the collection and storage of computer records. Patients have a right to privacy and that any information they choose to share is only accessible to authorized personnel.
- Privacy is defined as “freedom from intrusion, or control over the exposure of self or personal information.” In healthcare, an individual’s right to privacy includes remaining anonymous by request, deciding what information is collected, and how that information is used.
- Confidentiality is the careful sharing of private information to people who have a valid interest in helping the individual. The ethical duty of confidentiality requires the information to be stored or transferred in a secure way. The individual’s right to decide how information is shared is known as information privacy. This includes the right to accurate information being collected and stored. Information security includes the measures taken to ensure that records are kept accurate and are not accessible to unauthorized people.
Definition of (EBP) Evidence Based Practice
*A problem-solving approach to clinical decision-making within a healthcare organization *Integrates best available scientific evidence with best available experience *Uses research & non-research evidence (ethical or personal)
Describe encryption methods designed to protect confidential information.
Patient information that is stored in databases is of a sensitive and confidential nature.
Encryption is the process of using mathematical formulas to code data so that it is unrecognizable if it is intercepted by someone outside of the system.
There are three distinct ways that encryption can be handled by a company: at the desktop (can hide information/viruses from system Admin), administrated, or server-wide (most effective).
Describe some of the roles that informatics nurse plays.
The following are some of the roles that the informatics nurse must play:
- Developing informatics theories: Assemble what sort of information should be captured on the system and how the data should be analyzed.
- Analyzing the information needs of the organization: Sort through the large amounts of data collected to determine the best information for the organization.
- Helping the organization choose computer systems: Assist in the system requirements, both for now and in the near future.
- Customizing purchased computer systems: Work with IT to customize the system so that it will be the most useful.
- Designing computer information systems: Assist IT in the overall design of the system.
- Testing new or upgraded computer systems: Conduct robust tests of the system when changes or upgrades are performed.
- Teaching other people to use the computer system: Set up training and education programs to encourage the most effective use of the system.
Describe the Accredited Standards Committee
The goal is to create records that are more accurate, avoid duplication, and ensure communication between computer systems.
• The Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) created the standards associated with administrative medical insurance tasks. The current version, X12N, is used nationwide. X12N helps with claims, enrollment, and determining insurance eligibility.
Describe the Pharmacy Standards Association.
The goal is to create records that are more accurate, avoid duplication, and ensure communication between computer systems.
• The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) develops pharmacy standards for the U.S. Electronic claims processing under this standard was first introduced in 1992 and has gone on to make up nearly 100% of retail pharmacy claims being processed in real-time.
Healthcare providers send EDI (electronic prescriptions} messages to the pharmacy directly. Another NCPCP set of standards, HL7, focuses on the communication of information within and between different healthcare facilities. Collaboration between X12N and HL7 has resulted in the EHR-S (electronic health record system) standards as a way to solidify all aspects of patient healthcare under a single system.
Describe the attributes that help to assure accuracy of information.
The following information attributes are important in assuring accuracy:
- Objective reporting - Information should be completely free from bias and reported accurately.
- Comprehensive - All the necessary information is available to complete reports and requests.
- Appropriateness - All users are able to access the information necessary to do their jobs.
- Unambiguous - The data is clearly defined in order to reduce errors.
- Reliability - When identical information is keyed in by different people, it should always be uniform in the system.
- Up to Date - The most recent information should be listed first.
- Convenience - It should not be difficult for users to locate the information they need.
Describe the differences between clinical nurses and those nurses who specialize in informatics.
Traditional clinical nurse- taking care of patients.
- user level knowledge (i.e., enough knowledge to operate the equipment and enter data).
- concentration on the accuracy of the information that they are interpreting or giving to other caregivers.
- Their opinion of the computerized systems is key as to whether or not the system is successful.
Nurses who specialize in informatics focus on the information systems.
- worry about the security and stability of the systems installed at their facility.
- very adept at troubleshooting problems (especially at the user level).
- insure systems are user friendly
- reduce the number of tasks the traditional clinical nurse has to perform in their routine day.
- Efficiency arid enhanced productivity are the key goals of the informatics nurse.
Describe the essential elements in the practice of nursing informatics.
The essential elements within the practice of nursing informatics include traditional nursing aspects such as:
- Focus on the patient and their well-being.
- Healthcare in general. Keeping up to date on the latest state of the art in terms of nursing.
- Working environment. This includes how things are laid out (to avoid errors and make things as efficient as possible).
- Working with others. How to interact effectively with other healthcare practitioners and coworkers.
In terms of informatics, the related skills include:
- Knowledge of data structures (including metastructures)
- Knowledge of computer networking
- Knowledge of computer hardware
- Information system training skills
Formal education includes:
- A degree in nursing (Bachelor of Science)
- A minor (or second major) in a computer science program focused on computer systems in the healthcare industry
Describe the factors necessary for information quality.
Quality information is defined by the following factors:
- Timeliness: The necessary data is available (and retrievable) as needed.
- Precision: System dictionaries shall describe uniform wording and clear definitions.
- Accuracy: The data should be as error-free as possible.
- Measurability: The information should be quantifiable so that comparisons can be made.
- Independently verifiable: The integrity of the information remains constant regardless of the individual reporting it.
- Availability: The information should be accessible where it is needed. In the hospital or clinic environment, the information should usually be available at the patient’s location.
Describe the framework for nursing informatics as defined by the American Nurses Association.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) has laid out standards for informatics nurse specialist. These standards are based on a “problem-solving framework” which includes both traditional aspects of nursing as well as those aspects more specific to the informatics nurse. The standards are:
- Assessment
- Diagnosis
- Identification of outcomes
- Planning implementation
- System planning
The ANA has also set standards for the performance for informatics nurses.
- quality assurance,
- review of performance evaluation methods,
- ensuring that the practice of nursing informatics is effective.
The informatics nurse should also work to create guidelines for research, ethics, peer cooperation, allocation of resources, and effective communication. Finally, they should be willing to help other nurses who want to improve their skills in informatics and computer science.
Describe the fundamentals of computer security mechanisms.
Keeping computer systems safe entails a mixture of both physical and electronic security. This consists of:
Physical security
- placing computers or servers in restricted areas.
- Laptop and other portable computers should be fitted with locks or alarms
- extensive password protection
Electronic security
- Firewalls help protect systems from unauthorized access by presenting an electronic barrier between the system and the remote user. A firewall is able to look at incoming information and only let through that which is approved. Firewalls may also be placed within a system to keep parts of it off limits to individuals who are authorized users of the system in general. It is a good practice to use a firewall to protect such things as payroll, personnel data, and client information.
Describe the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
created by Congress in 1996
establish standards for computer based record keeping in the healthcare industry.
Timetables were established that included fines for noncompliance by certain dates.
This legislation required the Director of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to create:
- Rules regarding how electronic transactions are processed.
- A unique identification code for all providers, health plans, and employers.
- A way to keep patient information secure and private.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also granted certain rights to patients:
- right to view their own medical records and request that corrective changes are made to their medical files.
- healthcare providers may not keep (PHI) unprotected on their computer systems.
Describe the history of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996 to protect patient privacy rights.
key compliance dates for HIPAA (for large health plans):
- October 16, 2002: Electronic transactions and code sets are to be identified.
- April 14, 2003: Privacy standards are to be set.
- July 30, 2004: Standards for employer identification are to be set.
- April 21, 2005: Standards for system and data security are to set.
- May 23, 2007: Standards for provider identification are to be set.
uniform standards allow the data repositories of large healthcare systems to be efficiently monitored for adherence to the HIPAA regulations

