Nursing informatics: yesterday, today and tomorrow

Abstract

Today, at the beginning of the 21st century, nursing informatics has become a part of our professional activities. Informatics has advanced the field of nursing by bridging the gap from nursing as an art to nursing as a science. This article discusses the major milestones that have influenced the growth of computer technology and the specific efforts that have influenced yesterday's creation of the nursing informatics movement. It also provides an overview of nursing informatics in today's health care industry, while highlighting the administrative, management, research and educational applications and initiatives. In addition, it provides an overview of Saba's Home Health Care Classification, a nursing language system that has influenced the field. Finally, it provides a prediction of how computer technology will impact the nursing profession in the 21st century.

Nurses' computer literacy and attitudes towards the use of computers in health care

“…Saba suggested that computer technology plays a significant role in professional nursing practices and will shape the future of nursing. Sherwood stated that health‐care information systems will contribute to the planning of evidence‐based nursing and treatment practice strategies.…”

Graduate nursing student self-assessment: Fundamental technology skills

“…Saba [7] discussed the future of nursing and suggested that computer technology must be part of the professional nursing practice. McNeil et al went on to specifically define the needed computer literacy skills as; word processing, databases, spreadsheets and email.…”

Informatics competencies for healthcare professionals: the Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform (TIGER) Initiative model

“…It is first essential to define the term informatics because of its criticality to the development of the five core areas for healthcare professionals and because general awareness of what informatics entails remains elusive (16) . The term informatics was derived from the French term informatique , which refers to " the computer milieu " (17) . Its use can be traced to a Russian document published in 1968 (18) .…”