I.

Essay: Introduction to Informatics

1. What is the biggest significance of Information Technology to Nursing Profession?

Biggest Significance of Information Technology to Nursing Profession

Since present-day nurses live in modern times wherein technology is ever-evolving, the
integration of Information Technology in the nursing field is all the more needed as technology will
continue to evolve. Since nurses are specialized in understanding the methods of delivering care in
healthcare environments, may it be hospital-based, outpatient-based or community based, they are
equipped with the knowledge, experience and expertise to assess, apply, report and manage patient
data that may improve clinical decision-making. The innovation of the Electronic Health Record or the
EHR has made the assessment, organization and storage of patients' health data more efficient and
organized since it is stored in a central electronic health database system which could be assessed by
nurses and fellow physicians in a matter of a second, as opposed to manually writing and storing patient
information in actual forms that could be misplaced, forged or lost. Another is the emergence of
Telenursing which allows patient to interact and communicate with their nurses through smart gadgets
such as mobile phones and computers and through the usage of telecommunication applications which
may not only reduce service costs for patients but more importantly, to deliver medical services
efficiently in the comfort of their homes and to be able to provide access to quality care towards
patients who live in remote areas. Overall, we must remember that the epitome of nursing care and
management is providing optimal care for patients. With the help of information technology, it can help
produce better nursing management outcomes that can help improve health outcomes of the patients,
and for the most part, become life-saving.

2. What are the ROLES of Nursing Informatics in providing quality health care

Roles of Nursing Informatics in Providing Quality Health Care

An informatics nurse is expected to have a mix of competencies in regards to basic computer
competencies skills, informatics knowledge and skills, and informatics management. Basic computer
skills pertain to the following: efficient usage of electronic communication and the internet, and the
familiarization with computer hardware, barcode scanners and basic software knowledge such as
spreadsheets. Informatics knowledge and skills pertains to the skill of being able to strategically search,
access and evaluate health information such as patient health records, to critically assess the credibility
of health information on journals and data bases available online, to be knowledgeable of electronic
health record procedures and policies given by administrative section of their health care center.
Information management refers to the appropriate usage of Electronic Health Record technologies
wherein nurses are required to properly document, communicate, coordinate care in their health care
centers as well as to protect patients' electronic information and preserve the confidentiality and
privacy of these electronic data.

3. What are the important roles of technology in our society today

Important Roles of Technology in Present-Day Society

Throughout time, technological advancement has always had its advantages and setbacks,
however, all these technological breakthroughs had one common purpose in mind, and that is, to make
people's lives better for the sake of efficiency, convenience and life-conservation. With that said,
technology plays an important role in all aspects of human life and society for it bears the platform for
innovating new solutions for current problems humans face on a daily basis. An important role of
technology is that it enables efficient communication with others through the introduction of many
social media platforms. Another role is that it increases the standard of education through a broader
access to information in order to improve knowledge as well as the introduction of digital platforms that
makes online learning possible. Furthermore, it also provides fast and efficient modes of transportation
for people and for goods which enables people to travel at a faster rate as well as giving more access for
goods to be transported more effectively. Moreover, medical breakthroughs and innovation, such as,
the emergence of CT scanners, leadless pacemakers to control arrythmias and of electronic health
record systems, have led to saving more lives at a faster pace. In addition, technology has widened the
opportunity for continuing research for effective vaccines and medications. Lastly, social media
platforms have also paved the way for social awareness and for global unification to fight off atrocities
experienced in different countries.

4. How does technology affect our life?

Ways in which Technology affects daily life

Taking a step back and pondering on the life that you are living, can you imagine life stripped of
technology? Presently in this digital age, technology has become intertwined with our daily life in ways
unimaginable. From smartphones, smart cars, smart televisions, digital printers, refrigerators, the list
goes on. As soon as we wake up in the morning, we have at least one technological device right in our
bedside or in our rooms. One of the most common ways that technology has affected us is through the
innovation of Wi-Fi and the internet which we use not only to communicate with others but also to gain
knowledge and insight on the world around us. Social media platforms have also become grounds for
advocacies and for raising awareness of current social issues the world is facing. Another common way is
through the usage of domestic technology or appliances of daily living such as automobiles, showers,
washing machines, electric stove, which have not only helped accomplish daily tasks faster but also
simpler. It is indeed a fact that technological innovations have truly changed the ways human’s life,
though at times, it may be hard to accept the fact that we have become dependent on technology, in
ways more than one.

II. T.I.G.E.R. Reaction Paper

It is undeniable that innovations in technology are simultaneously integrated in all aspects of

human life and activities in the present day. As the global community continues to innovate ways in
which technology can be used to make daily lives more efficient and convenient, as well as for the
purposes of providing quality health care for patients who seek to acquire these services, the demand
for a systematized electronic health care domain is all the more needed in the nursing field. Technology
Informatics Guiding Educational Reform (TIGER) has been created to fill this gap in the present-day
nursing discipline wherein it does not only encompass the national healthcare community but more
importantly the global nursing community, healthcare facilities and associations. TIGER has been
formulated in order to aid in the analysis and classification of best practices of information and
knowledge nursing management as well as to identify effective technology potentialities for nurses. In
other words, the purpose of TIGER is to be able to provide solutions in addressing the appropriate skill
set that nurses need to attain as they come to practice in the field of nursing in the present times. With
that said, competencies in nursing informatics such as basic computer skills as well as informatics
knowledge and analysis are included in the skill set.
As modern technology is constantly evolving, the demand for an enhanced set of capabilities
which recognizes technological skills and capabilities is all the more required of for future nurses. The
question remains regarding its efficacy for creating change in the long run. According the registered
nurse and author, Dr. Angela Barron McBride, she said that, “Nurse leaders knowledgeable about how
information technology can help redesign practices so that they are standardized, evidence-based and
clinically integrated, and reinforce the values of a caring culture.” As it is currently in the implementation
stage, revisions for improvement can still be made. Moreover, the goal of TIGER is focused on
enhancement of nursing care, management and education with the incorporation of health information
technology in nursing practice which is accomplished through the formation and dissemination of action
plans wherein nurses could apply in healthcare settings. It is also aimed at reforming the present-day
nursing education with the incorporation of information technology and literacy and the
implementation of learning innovations in the current curriculum. It should also be noted that learning
practitioners should be properly equipped with the appropriate education regarding health information
technology.
In current times, nurse practitioners, teachers and students have incorporated technological
platforms in patient management and nursing education. As the pandemic is still on its toll, the usage of
electronic platforms for assessing patients, storing and analyzing patient information and teaching
nursing students all the more poses the need for a set of capabilities of nurse practitioners and students,
alike. Overall, TIGER initiative is aimed to help improve and transform the future of nursing field and
education in order to enhance the knowledge of future nurses regarding the integration of information
technology in the nursing field as well as to better equip them in the ever-evolving features and
demands of modern-day technology.