NURS 6051 The Role of Nurse Informatics in System Development & Implementation Portfolio Assignment Paper

NURS 6051 The Role of Nurse Informatics in System Development & Implementation Portfolio Assignment Paper

Nurses, especially leaders and managers, continue to use information and technology in healthcare management to offer quality care to patients. Informatics and its application continues to be a part of quality care delivery in healthcare and nursing organizations (Laureate Education, 2018). The systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a process comprising of stages used in the planning and execution of change in healthcare organizations. SDLC is a conceptual model that is essential in managing projects like the development of new health information technology systems in healthcare setting (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). Implementing an effective SDLC process allows organizations in healthcare to enhance interoperability, comply with regulatory and professional standards for quality care provision.  The aim of this essay is to discuss the role of a graduate-level nurse leader in guiding their engagement as part of the implementation team when rolling out a new nursing documentation system

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System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

The system development life cycle (SDLC) entails a series of actions and processes of implementing projects, especially in information technology. The cycle comprises of five stages that comprise of planning, analysis, design, implementation and post-implementation support and evaluation. The outcome of each stage is executed in the next process of the life cycle. The involvement of the nurse leader or manager is therefore critical to the overall success of the project as they provide a clinical perspective in assisting effective implementation.

Planning and Requirement Definition

Planning is the initial and most critical stage of the SDLC process as it offers direction to the entire project that will have effects based on its outcomes on the successive stages. The role of graduate-level nurse at this stage is effective collaboration with the multidisciplinary teams to attain the following tasks; defining the problem and scope of the project, identifying the required resources, establish project schedule and timelines and launching of the initiative (Sipes, 2019). Clinical knowledge of the nurses assists in the implementation through workflow and processes. The nurse also uses critical thinking skills and establishes the goals of the project as well as setting realistic expectations.

Analysis

The analysis state offers an opportunity to have a critical perspective of the initiative based on its benefits and costs implying the need for a cost benefit analysis. The role of the graduate-level nurse at this stage is to help in setting requirement priorities, develop and assess the potential alternatives, and make recommendations to the organization. The graduate-level nurse needs to understand that the internal aspects of the project include analysis of the workflow, effective communication, and application of decision-making tools to make informed choices (Raluca & Cristina, 2018). The failure by the nurse leader may result into delays of the project, loss of data and errors as well as communication breakdown. The analysis stage also entails analyzing technical requirements and more needs like hardware, software and staffing needs. The involvement of the nurse at this stage allow a review of the concerned organizational policies and changes needed to embrace new workflow approaches and requirements of the novel technology.

Design

The design stage is a critical part of the SDLC process and involvement of the nurse is critical as it helps produce a system that will meet organizational needs. The stage ensures the configuration of the software that meets the requirements and determines the operating model as well as the architecture of the processes, hardware and data retrieval. The stage also involves networking and having a user interface for the technology (McKay & Vanaskie, 2018). The nurse at this stage reinforces the main purpose of the new system and its need to enhance patient safety and improve efficiency in workflow processes. The nurse at this stage also helps in customization of the system to offer clinical decision support to align with organizational needs. These include practices in different areas of specialty in the organization.

Implementation

The implementation stage involves the actual execution of the decisions and rolling out of the equipment to attain set goals. Therefore, the graduate-level nurse plays a critical role that include working in collaboration with the team to attain more customization, testing, and installation of the new system. The nurse’s role at this level is essential as it entails staff training, maintenance of the system and evaluation of the outcomes (Raluca & Cristina, 2018). The nurse ensures effective communication among stakeholders to get input which may be used in making changes or redesigning the new system for improved outcomes. Feedback helps in enhancing customization and optimization of the new health information system.

Post-Implementation Support

The nurse still plays a critical role after the implementation of a project. These include offering continual support and sufficient training to the nursing staff to help them understand the effects of the technology and its significance. The part of the nurse leader is critical as it allows to identify and address potential resistance from the nursing staff to transition to the new system and processes (Wang et al., 2019). The post-implementation support is essential as it enhances satisfaction and adherence to the best practices. The involvement of the nurse at this stage also allows identification of flaws and reinforcement of regular upgrade and database maintenance.

Conclusion

The involvement of nurse leaders, especially graduate-level nurses, is essential in implementation of new technology because of their expertise and skills. Nurse leaders play critical roles in project implementation as demonstrated in this case. These include synthesizing knowledge on the working of the technology, training the nursing staff, and giving a clinical perspective to the new system to make it meet the organizational requirements. The implication is that the involvement of nurse leaders in SDLC process provides a host of benefits to the organization.

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Managing Health Information Technology [Video file].

Baltimore, MD: Author.

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge

            (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.

McKay, C., & Vanaskie, K. (2018). Partnering for success: The role of the nurse leader in Health

information technology implementation for coordination of care. Nurse Leader, 16(6), 385–388. DOI: 10.1016/J.MNL.2018.07.012

Sipes, C. (2019). Nursing Informatics: Project Management. Application of Nursing Informatics:

Competencies, Skills, and Decision-Making, 79. https://unitedvrg.com/2021/05/07/application-of-nursing-informatics-competencies-skills-and-decision-making-2019-pdf/

Wang, J., Gephart, S. M., Mallow, J., & Bakken, S. (2019). Models of collaboration and

dissemination for nursing informatics innovations in the 21st century. Nursing Outlook, 67(4), 419-432. DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2019.02.003.

Raluca, D., & Cristina, S. (2018). Quality assurance within the agile system development life-

cycle. International Journal of Economics and Management Systems, 3.

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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.
Learning Resources
Required Readings
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2022). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Chapter 9, “Systems Development Life Cycle: Nursing Informatics and Organizational Decision Making” (pp. 191–204)
Chapter 12, “Electronic Security” (pp. 251–265)
Chapter 13, “Achieving Excellence by Managing Workflow and Initiating Quality Projects”
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.a). Health IT evaluation toolkit and evaluation measures quick reference guide. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://digital.ahrq.gov/health-it-evaluation-toolkit

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.b). Workflow assessment for health IT toolkit. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://digital.ahrq.gov/health-it-tools-and-resources/evaluation-resources/workflow-assessment-health-it-toolkit

Required Media
Louis, I. (2011, August 17). Systems development life cycle (SDLC) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtpyjPrpyX8

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.
By Day 7 of Week 10