Historical Perspective of Nursing (1)

Title evolved from the French term "informatics" related to applied computer science in nursing information (Nelson, 2013).
Health Information Technology (HIT) is an all-encompassing term for technology in healthcare that handles information.
- Affects all healthcare aspects:
  - Provision and documentation of patient care
  - Education for healthcare providers
  - Scientific research advancement
  - Administration of healthcare services
  - Reimbursement for patient care
  - Legal and ethical implications
  - Safety and quality issues
Computers have transformed nursing from paper-based to electronic records.
Computers and the internet are vital for modern nursing practice, including:
- Nursing Information Systems (NISs)
- Nursing applications and informatics (NI) enhance efficiency and accountability.
Networked computer technology supports data communication and interaction with patients online.
Examined through:
- Six time periods (pre-1960s to post-2000)
- Four major nursing areas: Practice, Education, Research, Administration (PERA)
- Standards initiatives in nursing practice and healthcare data
- Significant events and milestone charts in nursing computer adoption

First general-purpose electronic computer, primarily for solving numerical problems.

Growth of computer usage emerged in healthcare throughout the 1950s.
Few experts began adapting computers for nursing.
Nursing evolving positively with expanding scope and number of nurses, promoting computer adoption.

Utilization of computers questioned within healthcare settings.
Key questions addressed included the purposes and areas suitable for computerization.
The nurses' station became the hub for developing computer applications.
Advances included CRT terminals and real-time data processing.

Continued integration of computers in nursing recognized.
Nurses began to see the potential of computers to improve documentation and patient care.
Development of Nursing applications for Hospital Information Systems.
State health agencies developed their computer-based management information systems.

Emergence of Nursing Informatics as a recognized specialty.
Introduction of mainframe HIS with nursing subsystems for documentation and care.
Rise of microcomputers made technology more accessible to nursing staff.
PC use became common in the workplace and point-of-care settings.

Computer technology was integral to healthcare.
Nursing Informatics recognized by ANA as a new nursing specialty in 1992.
Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN) developed for healthcare communication.
Internet and World Wide Web became important tools for nursing practice.

Nursing practice integrated into electronic health records (EHR).
Interdisciplinary EHR addresses patient health tracking needs.
Use of recognized terminologies for problem assessment and outcomes measurement enhances practice.

Computers used for analyzing nursing data facilitating research.
Online databases support retrieving health care information for research purposes.

ANA established nursing practice standards (ANA, 1998) to guide nursing documentation and processes.
Joint Commission set standards for adequate patient record-keeping in hospitals.

Development of nursing data standards essential for EHRs, recognized by the ANA.

ANSI and ASTM emerged as key players in developing health information standards.

Defined as electronic records containing health-related information accessible by authorized staff.
Benefits include workflow facilitation and improved care quality, yet adoption is limited by high costs, insufficient ROI, and change management challenges.