Overcoming Factors That Impact Informatics Initiatives

Adequate technology and an understanding of that technology are necessary, but they are not enough for a successful [informatics] implementation ... Researchers and others involved in [informatics] implementations have found that people skills such as leadership, communication, and training are absolutely essential.

-Fenton, Giannangelo, & Stanfill, 2006

A nurse informaticist must always remember that he or she is not leading an information technology project; but rather a clinical project using information technology tools. What exactly does that mean? It means that the technology is a tool to enhance the quality, efficiency, and safety of the organization. The phrase "clinical project" also highlights the main focus of implementation efforts: the clinicians or nurses using the tool. By overlooking the "people" side of the implementation, an organization might be put at risk of experiencing one or more of the factors that challenge the success of informatics initiatives.

In this Discussion, you identify factors that can impact an informatics implementation. You also explore how you might use the ANCC Magnet model to overcome such challenges.

To prepare:

Review the media, The Nurse Informatics Leader, presented in this week's Learning Resources. How can nurses apply leadership strategies to facilitate change during informatics initiatives?

Select one of the factors presented in this week's Learning Resources: organizational culture, organizational change management, or nursing leadership skills. How might this factor contribute to challenges experienced during an informatics implementation?

Review Chapter 29, "The Magnet Model," of the course text Essentials of Nursing Informatics. Consider how a nurse informaticist could use a component of the ANCC Magnet model to address your selected factor.

Response 550 words in APA format and 3 references. Apply the level one headings below:

1) The factor you selected and explain how inattention to this factor might present challenges during an informatics implementation and why.

2) Identify which component of the ANCC Magnet model might be the most appropriate in helping nurse informaticists address this factor. Justify your response. (See attached file on "The Magnet Model")

Required Resources

Note: To access this week's required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Readings

Saba, V. K., & McCormick, K. A. (2015). Essentials of nursing informatics (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Chapter 31, "The Magnet Model"

In this chapter, the authors introduce the ANCC's Magnet model. This model was created to produce a professional practice environment that develops positive nurse, patient, and organizational results.
Clement-O'Brien, K., Polit, D. F., & Fitzpatrick, J. J. (2011). Innovativeness of nurse leaders. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(4), 431-438.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This study assesses the innovativeness and rate of change adoption among chief nursing officers. The authors explore the differences in innovativeness between CNOs, Magnet hospitals, and non-Magnet hospitals.
Glenn, L. (2010). Implementing change. Journal of Community Nursing, 24(5), 10-14.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

The following article analyzes the effects of change management within a nursing community team.
Nickitas, D. M., & Kerfoot, K. (2010). Nursing informatics: Why nurse leaders need to stay informed [Editorial]. Nursing Economic$, 28(3), 141, 158.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This column discusses the need for nurse informatics leaders to be competent and informed. The authors specify nurses' dual responsibility to IT systems and their managers.
Szydlowski, S., & Smith, C. (2009). Perspective from nurse leaders and chief information officers on health information technology implementation. Hospital Topics, 87(1), 3-9.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article examines the reasons and methods for implementing health information technology (HIT). The authors also develop a theoretical framework that focuses on change management and leadership.
Media

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012e). The nurse informatics leader. Baltimore: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 12 minutes.

Gail Latimer, Dr. Patricia Button, and Dr. Roy Simpson discuss the key leadership skills and actions nurse informaticists must use when facilitating change in health care settings. Dr. Simpson highlights how resistance to change and the agreement of taxonomies and nomenclatures often stalls implementations and how nurse informaticists can become change agents to overcome these factors.