The Role of the Nurse Informaticist in Systems Development and Implementation Essay

The Role of the Nurse Informaticist in Systems Development and Implementation Essay

The Role of the Nurse Informaticist in Systems Development and Implementation Essay

Implementing a new technology or system requires keen consideration of its usability, acceptance, and the system’s impact on the workers affected. Kennelly et al. (2020) note that ensuring all project factors are carefully considered requires the implementation team to include all the relevant team members, including a representative from the workers that the new system will impact. For instance, when implementing a new nursing documentation system, the nursing unit leader should be in the implementation team to represent other nurses and ensure their needs and priorities are considered in implementation. This essay presents a role description for a graduate-level nurse to guide their participation on the implementation team based on the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) stages, the defined tasks at each stage, and how the nurse will participate in and impact each stage.

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A system development life cycle is a project management model that defines the stages required to transform a project from its initial idea or conception to deploying or implementing it and later maintaining it (Kumar & Syms, 2020). The model is mainly applied when implementing a computer-based system in an organization. The SDLC has seven stages or phases: planning, systems analysis, systems design, development, systems testing and integration, implementation, and operation and maintenance. The project team is expected to work together in all phases of the SDLC while implementing a system-based project. In this case, we will consider the role of a nurse in the project team and the tasks they would perform based on the SDLC in implementing a new nursing documentation system.

Planning and Requirements Definition

As the initial phase of the system development life cycle, planning is vital to the project’s success. According to Moro Visconti and Morea (2019), planning and identifying the project’s requirements informs the team on the project’s potential to meet the institution’s objectives. Additionally, the planning phase helps the team identify potential problems that may be encountered in implementing the project, thus working towards developing a solution as the project implementation goes on. In the planning stage, the project team comes up with a project schedule outlining all activities and other project timelines.

The involvement of the graduate-level nurse in the project team will impact planning. Since the nurse is aware of the current situation in the unit, the current system and the staff’s preferences, they would present the needs, priorities and preferences to the project team, thus ensuring that they are considered in planning. The nurse is also best suited to propose solutions to prospected problems with the new system since they have experience implementing other systems.

Analysis

Based on the systems development life cycle, the analysis phase entails galvanizing all particular requirements of the new system. It entails performing a functional assessment and identifying the client or users’ needs for the new system. Additionally, this is the stage whereby the final alterations to the plan are made before proceeding to the design and development.

The role of the graduate-level nurse in this stage is to participate in every step of the analysis by researching the system’s usability, ability to meet the desired objectives (Kinnunen et al., 2019). The nurse is best suited to perform the functional assessment since the nurses are the primary users of the new nursing documentation system. Therefore, the nurse knows precisely what is needed and what differs from the previous system.

Design of the New System

The design stage entails creating a plan for the specific system that will be developed. The specifics of the system are made into a workable plan or logical structure, ready to be developed. The plan includes aspects such as user interface, system interface, network, and databases. The representation of nurses by the graduate-level nurse is vital at this stage. In this stage, the nurse’s role is to work with the Informaticists and IT specialists to identify and prepare the infrastructure for the new system. In this case, the nurse would also ensure that the system’s aspects are developed according to the nursing documentation needs and objectives.  

Implementation

The implementation stage in the systems development life cycle entails introducing the developed system to the end users. In this case, the new nursing documentation system is presented to the nurses and ready for use in all nursing units and departments. At this stage, the role of the graduate-level nurse in the project team is to participate in training the other nurses. Since the nurse leader has been in the project team since the initiation stage, they already have enough skills and knowledge to use the system. The nurse leader enables the team to interpret the system’s use at the bedside level. 

Post-Implementation Support

    The post-implementation stage entails running the system’s operation and maintaining it. Willemsen (2022) notes that as the end users get acquainted with the new system, technical issues may arise, thus the need for post-implementation maintenance and support. The role of the nurse in post-implementation and support is to provide other nurses with technical support and guidance as they use the system. In addition, the nurse is expected to keep watching out for new system updates to ensure that the system meets the end users’ needs better.

Conclusion

Engaging the nurse manager in the systems development life cycle is vital in ensuring the nurse’s needs and priorities concerning the new system are presented. Additionally, the nurse manager can train other nurses on using the new system and ensure they have the know-how to support them in case of technical hitches. The roles of the nurse in the project team, as described above, enhances the acceptance of the system to end users. Nurses’ involvement in the project team impacts the overall project by increasing the chances of success.

References

Fennelly, O., Cunningham, C., Grogan, L., Cronin, H., O’Shea, C., Roche, M., Lawlor, F., & O’Hare, N. (2020). Successfully implementing a national electronic health record: a rapid umbrella review. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 144, 104281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104281

Kinnunen, U. M., Heponiemi, T., Rajalahti, E., Ahonen, O., Korhonen, T., & Hyppönen, H. (2019). Factors related to health informatics competencies for nurses—results of a national electronic health record survey. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 37(8), 420-429. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000000511

Kumar, D., & Smys, S. (2020). Enhancing Security Mechanisms for Healthcare Informatics Using Ubiquitous Cloud. Journal of Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Technologies (UCCT), 2(01), 19-28. https://doi.org/10.36548/jucct.2020.1.003

Moro Visconti, R., & Morea, D. (2019). Big data for the sustainability of healthcare project financing. Sustainability, 11(13), 3748. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133748

Willemsen, R. (2022). Patient and healthcare professional perspectives on a digital-first general practice: an evaluation study. International Journal of Integrated Care, 22(S3). https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.ICIC22142

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Assume you are a nurse manager on a unit where a new nursing documentation system is to be implemented. You want to ensure that the system will be usable and acceptable for the nurses impacted. You realize a nurse leader must be on the implementation team.

To Prepare:

Review the steps of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and reflect on the scenario presented.

Consider the benefits and challenges associated with involving a nurse leader on an implementation team for health information technology.

The Assignment: (2-3 pages not including the title and reference page)

In preparation of filling this role, develop a 2- to 3-page role description for a graduate-level nurse to guide his/her participation on the implementation team. The role description should be based on the SDLC stages and tasks and should clearly define how this individual will participate in and impact each of the following steps:

Planning and requirements definition

Analysis

Design of the new system

Implementation

Post-implementation support

Use APA format and include a title page and reference page.

Use the Safe Assign Drafts to check your match percentage before submitting your work.

RESOURCES FOR THE ASSIGNMENT:

THERE IS AN UPLOADED TRANSCRIPT OF THE VIDEO ATTACHED WITH THIS ASSIGNMENT SINCES THE VIDEO CAN NOT BE ACCESSED OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.

Louis, I. (2011, August 17). Systems development life cycleLinks to an external site. (SDLC) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtpyjPrpyX8