Using technologies, we can really deliver better patient care. We can connect clinical experts and technical experts to develop better product. Our students are very passionate about using technology to drive changes in clinical practice, and they can really transform our healthcare arena.
I was a bedside nurse for 10 years. While I was doing that role, I was also a member of the Nursing Informatics Committee. I felt like I could really make a difference going into informatics. As a nurse manager, I got to see firsthand the frustration of our clinician using the system and felt that I could make a real impact in system implementation by system analysis, better workflow, better design. As a nurse on the floor, I could see from the user side of things what it was like with all the new technology and software being implemented.
And sometimes it was handled well and other times it was tougher. They know the clinical workflows and they understand what our patients need and they understand clinicians need. At the same time, the nursing informaticians can translate those aspects. into the terms that clinical experts can apply to develop better systems.
I feel like I can still really help the patients as well as the clinicians on the floor in terms of better patient safety, maybe even more efficient workflows for the clinicians. What I look for in a new hire into the clinical application team, I look for someone that has clinical experience. Operations experience but also a system analysis or analytical background and someone who has the passion to really do the right thing to provide the best quality care to our patients and if they always keep that in mind I think we always have better outcomes in our system development and design and workflow and processes.
Our students can go and do really great things but yet their identity are still nurses. The formal rigorous Graduate level education can prepare our nursing informaticians to become leaders and they really drive the changes in health care. I find the role in informatics to be very fulfilling.
Before, as a nurse on the floor, I would only be able to work with a couple of patients at a time. Right now I am able to affect the patient care as well as the clinician experience in a positive way for an entire medical system.