Nursing informatics research

In recent years, developments in nursing informatics have been relentless. Based on technological inventions in computing and communications, several new applications have emerged in health care. While many applications make life easier for both patients and providers, some can create new problems. In contrast to this technological revolution, areas such as patient information, patient care, documentation in nursing, and the adequate re-use of nursing data from electronic records (to aid evidence based practice and the management of nursing outcomes, for example) remain elusive. Perhaps nursing is focusing on gadgets rather than the real issues. If the problems in nursing information management are to be solved, we must develop appropriate technological solutions. Nursing informatics needs a scientific base, in which a range of research methods can be applied (Goossen 1996). This article will explore the research questions, and the methods available, and discuss why and how they should be applied.