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Nursing informatics in nursing education

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IJNH Innovational Journal of Nursing and Healthcare (IJNH)
www.ijnursing.com

Research article
Nursing informatics in nursing education
Menekşe Nazlı Ulusoy, Esra Uslu, Alev Yıldırım

Nursing, department, Selcuk University, Aksehir Kadir Yallagoz School of Health, Yuksekokulu Aksehir,
Konya, Turkiye.

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it is intended to provide a conceptual framework on the nursing informatics methods used
in nursing education. Method: Abstracts of articles published in the last five years with the key words "nursing
informatics" and "nursing education" in Pub-Med database were screened. 46 out of 213 study abstracts were
examined. Results: Nursing informatics methods used in nursing education can include the methods used in the
nursing profession and those used only for training. Nursing informatics methods can take advantage of various
hardware and software tools. Nursing informatics methods used in nursing education may include: The e-learning/
distance learning/ online education for use in course management systems, virtual classrooms, online tutorials.
The, podcasts, database using, social software, social media, Second Life (SL), Web quest, problem-based learning
integrated nursing informatics, cloud computing, e-health, information technology (IT) applications/ health
informatics/ clinical information systems, road-map guided Excel VBA for formal and distance education usage.
PDA-assisted simulated clinical experiences, human patient simulation, simulation scenario, electronic health
records (EHR)/ electronic health records for nursing education (EHRNE) software program, tele-health
applications, personal phones /smart phones, personal digital assistants / personal response systems, incident
event reporting system for usage in clinical/laboratory practices. Conclusion: Actively using the nursing
informatics methods in nursing education is required for aligning. There are many tools which can be used to this
end.
Keywords: Nursing, informatics, education.

*Corresponding author: Menekse Nazlı Ulusoy, Nursing, department, Selcuk University, Aksehir Kadir Yallagoz School of
Health, Yuksekokulu Aksehir, Konya, Turkiye. Email [email protected]

1. Introduction controversial topics. There exist different

definitions as regards to the nursing informatics:
Changes in the health sector in the present
world have given quality data documentation,  Use of information systems/computer
cost effective care and efficiency prominence. technology in all fields of nursing [1].
Rapid developments in the technology have  It is a field in which how nursing data are
played a significant role in these changes. In obtained, conveyed, stored and managed and
addition, the advancements in the field of transformed into information and
information technologies have paved the way for knowledge are studied [2].
easy and fast access to the correct information  Nursing informatics is a specialty which
and generating, processing and conveying of the integrates the data, information and
information have become easier. As a knowledge into the concept of “nursing-
consequence of these developments, the computer-information” for use in the
concepts of health informatics, medicine nursing practices [3].
informatics and nursing informatics have gained IMIA-NI, a Special Interest Group on Nursing
even more importance and have become highly Informatics of IMIA, has been trying to respond
to the needs of nurses in terms of nursing

© Innovational Journal of Nursing and Healthcare, All rights reserved

 Ulusoy et al., IJNH Vol 1 (1), 123-127, 2015

informatics since 1983. With the acceptance of constituted the research sample. Reviewing only
nursing informatics as a specialty by the the abstract texts of the articles and carrying out
American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1992, the the review only via PubMed are the limitations
studies in the field have gained impetus. of the research.
Trainings were launched as undergraduate,
postgraduate and doctoral programs as well as 3. Results and discussion
certification programs and various courses
throughout the world. Nursing informatics methods used in nursing
education can include the methods used in the
Since the rate of households having access to nursing profession and those used only for
internet is 49.1 % in Turkey, it is clearly seen training. Nursing informatics methods can take
that the half of the community have access to advantage of various hardware and software
internet [4]. Nursing informatics, too, is new and tools. Nursing informatics methods used in
not common just as the computer use of the nursing education include:
public. In Turkey, the works related to the
nursing informatics mainly include the  e-learning/ distance learning/ online
electronic records and nursing care guidelines in education for use in course management
the healthcare facilities. Commonly, the nursing systems, virtual classrooms, online tutorials
education program includes a course focused on [5-9],
the basic computer skills at the bachelor’s  podcasts, database using, social software,
degree. Additionally, the course of “Nursing social media, Second Life (SL), Web quest,
Informatics” is provided as an elective course in problem-based learning integrated nursing
some universities. There are not any masters informatics, Cloud computing, e-health,
and doctoral programs in the field of nursing information technology (IT) applications/
informatics but the master programs in the field health informatics/ clinical information
of Health Informatics accept the graduates of systems, road-map guided Excel VBA for
nursing. Furthermore, distance education or use formal and distance education usage [10-
of informatics in education is limited. In order to 30],
improve the use of nursing informatics in  PDA-assisted simulated clinical experiences,
education in Turkey, the use of nursing human patient simulation, simulation
informatics throughout the world should be scenario, electronic health records (EHR)/
examined. Thus, the aim of this study is to electronic health records for nursing
provide a conceptual framework on the nursing education (EHRNE) software program, tele-
informatics methods used in nursing education. health applications, personal phones /smart
phones, personal digital assistants /
2. Material and method personal response systems, incident event
reporting system for usage in
This is a descriptive study carried out by Clinical/Laboratory Practices [31-50].
screening the articles published in this field
between 2009 and 2013 on the basis of the key E-learning method can be used in the nursing
words of “nursing informatics” and “nursing education. Provided that e-learning method is
education” over PubMed in November 2013. used in nursing, pre-registrations should be
With the aim of up-to-date results in the taken from the students to determine whether
research, the studies conducted in the last 5 they want to receive support in continuous
years were included in the present study. 213 education/e-learning. This support will enable
articles were reached when a literature review the students make progress and be equipped
was made by using the key words of “nursing with lifelong learning skills for providing
informatics” and “nursing education” in the reliable evidence-based care. It takes time to
database of PubMed. 167 (irrelevant topic/lack adapt the existing education methods and
of abstract) out of 213 articles published teaching strategies to e-learning for skill
between 2009 and 2013 were excluded from the development [9]. In the study where problem-
sample. 46 studies which had abstracts based learning and e-learning were used in the

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 Ulusoy et al., IJNH Vol 1 (1), 123-127, 2015

clinical practices, nursing skills, learning outputs prepared for teaching the neonatal resuscitation
and peer support increased in the nursing to the nurses facilitated learning on the part of
students. Important outcomes of e-learning the students [44].
included peer support, feedback and guidance
from the instructor [6]. Smart phones can be used in nursing education,
as well [48]. In a research conducted on the use
Different methods can be used in teaching the of smart phones in nursing education, phones
nursing informatics. Road-map guided Excel included diagnosis, pharmacology and
VBA is an effective method that can teach the laboratory information in addition to an
nursing informatics in a relative short time of 8 encyclopaedia and MEDLINE database. The
days [18]. A study on the use of Podcasts in the research reported positive results such as cost
nursing education reported the need for further and technological comfort level along with
research. No difference was found between the barriers for their use [49].
groups where podcasts were used and were not
used in terms of the cognitive scores and student Use of electronic health records which have
relationships [28]. become increasingly popular should be taught to
the nursing students [31, 32, 36, 37, 41, 45].
Social media may help nursing students in the Using the same system as EHR system used in
nursing faculties better understand the topics the clinics in nursing education facilitates
and/or acquire professional communication adaptation [39). In the clinical practices, one of
skills and improve their skills in health policies, the most important problems of the students is
patient confidentiality and ethics and writing. the reports which take a long time to prepare.
Although there are some barriers in the use of Incident event reporting system is a system
social media in the nursing education, it can be enabling the students to report the situations
integrated into the faculty education by using they encounter in the clinics and takes less time
the appropriate pedagogical method [29]. in comparison to traditional written documents
[33]. Health informatics can be used as an
In the study where a webquest assessment was interdisciplinary program [38].
made by the undergraduate students on the
“Management of physical resources in nursing”, Conclusion
it was found out that the webquest contributed
to learning [24]. Information technology (IT) Advancing technology requires active use of
applications provide systematic approach and nursing informatics methods in nursing
guidance. There is need for further research on education for increasing the compliance with the
the benefits of their use in the psychiatry science and health care systems. There exist
nursing [19]. many tools to be used in this respect. In nursing
In a qualitative study, Electronic Health Record education, the use of informatics should be
for Nursing Education (EHRNE), which is a taught. Since the use of systems similar to those
program developed for simulation laboratory in used in the clinics will increase the level of
nursing education, was used. In the interviews, success, such methods should be preferred.
the functionality, data management, timing and Informatics should be taught for use in the
complexity and accessibility of EHRNE professional life in nursing education.
application were defined. With the integration of Additionally, it is possible to make use of
EHRNE program into the nursing curriculum, informatics to increase the level of success in
students have developed awareness for nursing education. The use of distance education
electronic documentation and learning in can be extended in the theoretical part of
simulation laboratory has become easier [50]. nursing education. Using informatics tools to
Effectiveness of a program developed for reach trainers who act as clinic guides will
permanent urine catheterization was assessed increase the success of the practice. Use of
and it was reported to be effective in the success simulation laboratory and various scenarios also
of the operation [46]. Additionally, it was enhance the application skill.
reported that a virtual education program

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