Healthcare Informatics Resources

I personally have mixed feelings about online education. I feel there are a variety of pros and cons dealing with this issue. The pros are that the student has high flexibility are far as the time constraints go and the student has the ability to take test and complete work according to their work schedule. The main negative is that the student has very limited amount of instructor interaction. Therefore if the student is having issues or a problem they can’t figure out they may become more anxious about completing assignments.

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Nursing Education, Health Care Informatics Education

Health Care informatics is a complicated and growing field. The education for the informatics field is evolving as well as the technology that drives it. Education for the informatics specialist is varied; classroom, computer-based technology, distance learning, etc. There are also different levels of education. Informatics curricula are being incorporated into BSN programs, MSN, PhD, post degree certificates, etc.

Training the end user has changed also. Part of the implementation process includes education. This education differs depending on the product and whether it is vendor taught or Informatics Specialist instructed. Complexity, continuity, and degree of practice change add another dimension to the educational process.

Standards exist for accreditation, HIPAA, CMS, OSHA, etc. Additionally, there are standards for health care informatics that address documentation, user authentication, training of individuals, etc. Many of these standards are not incorporated into attaining, maintaining or utilizing the technologies. This deficit makes integration of applications and usability complicated. Ongoing support and maintenance is difficult and the end user feels the effects when the applications do not run as smoothly as anticipated.

Reading the books in Dr. Johnson’s program has helped cement certain thoughts in my mind. Currently I struggle with these issues. Finding the right path to define and add to my knowledge base in informatics, training the end users and maintaining or adding to their knowledge base in a timely fashion, and having the tools working consistently. Each section has its own complexity. The role of the Informatics Nurse is vital to pull all the diverse pieces of procuring, training, evaluating, and supporting the technologies together and facilitate a smooth transition into a new phase for the institution. Understanding all the processes, the downfalls, the positive results, the needs of the end users is so very important but taking the appropriate steps to intervene and improve the implementation of new technology is critical to the ongoing success of health care informatics.

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Informatics Education

l solidly report the view that nursing has evolved into the twentieth centuries. While it is now possible to do most of our education on line, one should give credence to students who are family women and men who still hold jobs and go to school. Then most educators had negative or substandard opinion about on line degrees but now, nurses are virtually coerced into going to obtain BSN degrees as soon as possible. Many have the same responsibilities and we are thankful that the due recognition that online classes deserve have finally emerged. My workplace for instance encourages as many nurses as possible to initiate their education online. We are grateful to our predecessors who worked hard to recognize that nurses can have options to still go to school while raising families and going to work. Online is the way to go. Motivation is the key to success. One has to stay on task because the luxury of converging in a classroom is eliminated. The course outline is listed and the responsibility is on the student to turn in works as at when due. Same degree of commitment is expected through online classes and as at traditional schools. Nurses have embraced this method of knowledge acquisition and it is well documented.

Original Post:
July 13, 2009
Title: Internet Education and a changing belief among traditional nurse educators, comment
Finally! nursing has almost entered the 21st century but still lags behind in becoming united in recognition of what the gold standard should be for entry-level nurses. For years, nurses were told they had to have a BSN in order to advance their careers. For as long as I can remember working full time, raising a family, and attending classes at night was just too much pressure for a majority of nurses to endure. Therefore, many nurses accepted that they would never be able to advance their education level above the ADN or Diploma Degrees. Thankfully, the Internet has allowed a large number of nurses and other professionals to advance their educational level while still working full time and managing a household. I must admit that at first I did not think degrees obtained online was as good as or equal to the ones earned at traditional brick and mortar institutions. Since having to personally balance work, education, and family my attitude has taken a 360-degree turn. The online degree is just as or more challenging than the traditional route because individuals must manage their time more efficiently, stay focused, and self motivated. The class work is just as challenging if not more and demands sacrifices to be made in order to succeed. For all those who still think online degrees are less important and easier to obtain than traditional ones should try taking an online class to evaluate for themselves whether or not this degree should be weighed the same as the traditional degree.

Original Post:
June 29, 2009
Title: Internet Education and a changing belief among traditional nurse educators
I can’t help but be amazed how far nursing has come in accepting Internet based BSN programs. I spent the past week at a top university meeting with the director for their nurse anesthesia program. In the past I recall nurse educators that held a belief that if one didn’t get their BSN in a traditional university it was something less that a "real" degree. But these same educators hurt themselves when they view that a BSN is the gold standard as opposed to ADN/Diploma nurses. The problem became when those of us with life responsibilities could not drop everything and attend traditional classes so we didn’t try to obtain our BSN. To maintain the BSN as the gold standard for registered nurses the traditional nurse educators had to accept non-traditional programs. The director I met with not only embraces a BSN earned via the Internet but voiced belief that a BSN learned through independent learning is more challenging due to the discipline it takes to complete such programs. Finally, nursing is entering the twenty-first century. I’m grateful it did during my career; it makes my ability to achieve my goals more realistic.

Tags: Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Informatics Resources, Health Care Informatics Education