NUR415 NURSING INFORMATICS

Course Description:
Nursing Informatics will provide an overview of the basic concepts of nursing and healthcare informatics as well as their
relevance to nursing practice. Course activities are designed to synthesize current nursing informatics applications and
analyze the impact of nursing informatics on practice. The student will gain knowledge of the current state of the
regulations, accreditation and major issues in research and evidence based practice. The course includes clarification of
the concepts of nursing, technology, and information management and comprises underpinnings of nursing informatics,
the practice of nursing informatics, and current challenges in nursing and health care informatics.
Course Student Learning Outcomes

Examine the characteristics of nursing informatics in healthcare as a specialty area of practice. (PO 7)*
Distinguish how nursing informatics is used in analyzing evidence based practice, research and promoting
education. (PO 4)
Analyze current information systems for clinical quality, management, education and research. (PO 8)
Examine internal and external drivers of change, potential barriers, opportunities and an implementation
process for an informatics project. (PO 4)
Differentiate the quality, regulatory and accreditation processes certifying informatics in healthcare delivery.
(PO 3)
Examine methods of security and information integrity in the systems integration process. (PO 8)
*PO = program outcome

Course Credits: 3 credits

Course Textbook: Hebda, T. & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare professionals (5th ed.).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. ISBN: 9780132574952
Evaluation Methodologies: The following methodologies are utilized in this course.
threaded discussion question postings
written assignments
exams
Rubrics are utilized to grade each of these items and are found in the weekly course folders. A course grade is
determined based on the percentage of points as designated in the following chart.
Assessment
Discussions
Assignments
ePortfolio
Final Project

Percent of Final Grade

37%
55%
3%
5%

Below is an at-a-glance look at the weekly discussion and assignment topics. In each Getting Started module within
the course, you will find details about your weekly readings, lectures, supplemental resources, discussions and
assignment instructions, and rubrics.
TOPICAL OUTLINE BY WEEK
Week 1:

Nursing Informatics Core Competencies

Discussion:

Review the AACN requirements for advanced practice in informatics. How do you see these
expectations supporting nursing? (SLO 1)*

Assignment:

Select one of the core competencies for informatics. In a 2-3 page paper written in APA style with 3
scholarly references included, determine the benefit to nursing and how the competency would be
used in light of emerging trends and the role of the nursing informatics specialist. (SLO 1)

Week 2:

Database Discoveries

Discussion:

Using the brief case study presented in the lesson for this week, what would be the top three nursing
priorities to discuss at the Information Technology Committee meeting in order to anticipate barriers
to implementation of new technology. (SLO 2)

Assignment:

Determine where and how data mining can be most effective now and in the future of healthcare
submit your answer in a 2-3 page paper in APA format with a minimum of three references. (SLO 2)

Week 3:

Healthcare Information Systems

Discussion:

What is the significance of SMART technology to patient care? (SLO 3)

Assignment:

Examine at least three core requirements for Stage 1 Meaningful Use submit a 2-3 page paper in
APA format with a minimum of three references that discusses the importance of this derivation of
metrics for hospitals. (SLO 3)

Week 4:

Systems Integration, Security and Confidentiality

Discussion:

Discuss the top three areas of opportunity and the key stakeholders that would be important for a
systems integration committee to identify in order to ensure secure and confidential healthcare
applications. (SLO 4)
What are effective ways in which nurse leaders can hold the patients private health information
confidential in every day practice? (SLO 6)

Assignment:

Develop a plan for security of healthcare data at the physicians office where you work. Include
both physical and electronic safety measures to ensure the security and confidentiality of the
healthcare data accessible by the electronic system in place in the office. (SLO 6)

Week 5:

Regulation and Accreditation

Discussion:

Use the EHR Meaningful Use program incentives and identify an area that you would consider an
area of opportunity to enhance your current electronic health record. (SLO 5)

Assignment:

Submit a 2-3 page paper in APA format with a minimum of three references discussing ways that
integration of informatics across or between separate entities in health care can streamline care for
the patient and still meet regulatory and accreditation standards. (SLO 5)

Week 6:

Computers and Nursing Education

Discussion:

How would you encourage nurses to include technology in healthcare in their plan for lifelong
2

learning? (SLO 2)
Assignment:

The eHealth Initiative Blueprint: Building a Consensus for Common Action was developed to foster
high quality, safe, efficient healthcare. In a 2-3 page paper in APA format with three references
discuss how effective the elements of this initiative have been to date. (SLO 2)

Week 7:

Telehealth

Discussion:

Using the short case study in telehealth, discuss what steps you would take to propose telehealth at
your institution. (SLO 2)
Using the short case study in informatics, discuss barriers to access to records and propose a solution
to one potential barrier. (SLO 4)

Assignment:

Submit a 2-3 page paper discussing how you think telehealth has already changed healthcare and
what you see happening with telehealth in the future. Include what you think will prevent
telehealth from moving forward as a stable practice in healthcare. (SLO 4)

Week 8:

Evidence Based Practice and Research

Discussion:

Using Box 27-7, page 562 in your text, choose the top priority that you believe to be most significant
in enhancing the future of nursing research in support of EBP. (SLO 2)

Assignment:

Create template for committee to use for major informatics implementation project. Include the
elements listed in the weekly assignment in creating the proposal or business plan. (SLO 4)

*SLO = student learning outcome

The following table outlines the academic effort required by students to be successful in this course. While the times in
the table are approximate, it is presented to help students with their time management. Please note, depending on the
student's background knowledge and experience of the course subject and an individual student's academic capabilities,
these times will vary. If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to your instructor or student advisor.
Week

Type of Activity

Online
1

Activity

Estimated Hours Required

Readings/Lectures

0.7

Discussions

2.0

Assignments

0.0

Readings

1.5

Discussions

0.0

Preparation

Week

Type of Activity

Online

Assignments

9.0

Clinical/Lab Hours

0.0

Activity

Estimated Hours Required

Readings/Lectures

0.7

Discussions

2.0

Assignments

0.0

Readings

1.2

Discussions

0.0

Assignments

9.0

Clinical/Lab Hours

0.0

Activity

Estimated Hours Required

Readings/Lectures

0.9

Discussions

2.0

Assignments

0.0

Readings

1.7

Discussions

0.0

Assignments

9.0

Clinical/Lab Hours

0.0

Activity

Estimated Hours Required

Readings/Lectures

0.6

Discussions

4.0

Preparation

Week

Type of Activity

Online

Preparation

Week

Type of Activity

Online

Assignments

0.0

Readings

2.1

Discussions

0.0

Assignments

9.0

Clinical/Lab Hours

0.0

Activity

Estimated Hours Required

Readings/Lectures

0.5

Discussions

2.0

Assignments

0.0

Readings

1.2

Discussions

0.0

Assignments

9.0

Clinical/Lab Hours

0.0

Activity

Estimated Hours Required

Readings/Lectures

0.5

Discussions

2.0

Assignments

0.0

Readings

1.0

Discussions

0.0

Assignments

9.0

Clinical/Lab Hours

0.0

Preparation

Week

Type of Activity

Online

Preparation

Week

Type of Activity

Online

Preparation

Week

Type of Activity

Online

Activity

Estimated Hours Required

Readings/Lectures

0.6

Discussions

4.0

Assignments

0.0

Readings

1.0

Discussions

0.0

Assignments

9.0

Clinical/Lab Hours

0.0

Activity

Estimated Hours Required

Readings/Lectures

0.8

Discussions

2.0

Assignments

0.0

Readings

1.2

Discussions

0.0

Assignments

19.0

Clinical/Lab Hours

0.0

Preparation

Week

Type of Activity

Online

Preparation

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