Informatics and Knowledge
In the modern era, few professions do not, to some extent, rely on data. Stockbrokers rely on market data to advise clients on financial matters. Meteorologists rely on weather data to forecast weather conditions, while realtors rely on data to advise on the purchase and sale of property. In these and other cases, data helps solve problems and adds to the practitioner’s and the discipline’s body of knowledge.
Of course, the nursing profession also relies heavily on data. Nursing informatics aims to ensure nurses have access to the appropriate data to solve healthcare problems, make decisions in the interest of patients, and add to knowledge.
In this Discussion, you will consider a scenario that would benefit from access to data and how such access could facilitate problem-solving and knowledge formation.
To Prepare:
- Reflect on the concepts of informatics and knowledge work presented in the Resources.
- Consider a hypothetical scenario based on your healthcare practice or organization that would require or benefit from data access/collection and application. Your scenario may involve a patient, staff, or management problem or gap.
Post a description of the focus of your scenario. Describe the data that could be used and how the data might be collected and accessed. What knowledge might be derived from that data? How would a nurse leader use clinical reasoning and judgment to form knowledge from this experience?