Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Nancy Staggers.
The most recent Institute of Medicine report recommends immense changes for healthcare institutions and places information technology as a central component of proposed changes. This paper gives an overview of the IOM report, analyzes several key IT topics, and suggests required actions to effect the IOM's recommendations.
This article provides an overview of human factors, ergonomics, human-computer interaction, and usability concepts as they relate to critical care settings. The use of these concepts can improve patient safety and the productivity of nurses, especially as they relate to the use of information systems. A framework for human-computer interaction is presented. Examples illustrate how the suite of human factors concepts is used to create intuitive, effective data presentations for use in critical care including an intensive care unit (ICU) summary display, an alternative graphic display, and modeling information sources of decision making in a neonatal ICU. The importance of integrating these concepts into advanced practice nurses' environments is made apparent.
The objectives of this study were to develop competencies for wartime and operations other than war for 46N3 Medical/Surgical Air Force nurses and to validate those competencies among a group of experts in the field. The sample consisted of 109 nurses with mobilization experiences. A Delphi consensus technique was used to validate both the importance of competencies required in a mobilization environment and to determine the level at which those competencies should be practiced. A web-based questionnaire was used to collect responses during three rounds of data collection. At the end of round 3, 83% of the importance statements achieved consensus whereas 67% of the level of practice statements achieved consensus. Those importance items validated were traditional assessment and interventions skills that represented noncontroversial practices. Those items not validated were either controversial or perceived as not pertinent in an austere mobilization environment.
Although amblyopia is most successfully treated when detected in early childhood, many preschool-aged children are not being screened. This project explored the delivery of Web-based vision screenings, integrated with patient education, to parents and children, aged 3 to 6 years. Through a user-centered design methodology involving requirements gathering, iterative prototype development, and usability testing, a highly usable screening Website was created. Interviewing and testing parents and children in the home were essential in gathering accurate data about environments where the tool would actually be used. Frequent iterations of designing, testing, and modifying the tool were useful in identifying and correcting usability problems. Usability goals were set early in the project, and in the final phase a satisfaction questionnaire was administered to participants. Twenty-one out of 22 final usability objectives were achieved and the feasibility of Web-based vision screening was demonstrated.
BACKGROUND: Despite its obvious need, a current, research-based list of informatics competencies for nurses is not available. OBJECTIVE: To produce a research-based master list of informatics competencies for nurses and differentiate these competencies by level of nursing practice. METHODS: After a comprehensive literature review and item consolidation, an expert panel defined initial competencies. Subsequently, a three round Delphi study was conducted to validate the items. Participants were expert informatics nurse specialists in the United States of America. RESULTS: Of the initial 305 competencies proposed, 281 competencies achieved an 80% or greater agreement for both importance as a competency and appropriateness for the correct practice level. Five competencies were rejected. Six competencies were considered valid competencies but the appropriate level of practice could not be agreed upon. Thirteen competencies did not reach any consensus after the three Delphi rounds. DISCUSSION: The Delphi study had a high rate of participation, demonstrating the great level of interest and need for a list of informatics competencies for nurses. Out of the initial 305 competencies, only 24 items were not validated. Respondents commented during each round about whether computer skills should be considered informatics competencies. The authors propose that computer skills, while not high level, are one set of tools within the larger category of informatics competencies. This sample of experts did not deem programming skills as necessary for informatics nurses. This research study is an initial effort to fill the void of valid and reliable informatics competencies. It is the first study to span four levels of nurses, create competencies for both entry-level and experienced informatics nurse specialists, and examine the categories of computer skills, informatics knowledge and informatics skills.
The Chief Information Officer (CIO) position is a viable new career track for clinical informaticists. Nurses, especially informatics nurses, are uniquely positioned for the CIO role because of their operational knowledge of clinical processes, communication skills, systems thinking abilities, and knowledge about information structures and processes. This article describes essential knowledge and skills for the CIO executive position. Competencies not typical to nurses can be learned and developed, particularly strategic visioning and organizational finesse. This article concludes by describing career development steps toward the CIO position: leadership and management; healthcare operations; organizational finesse; and informatics knowledge, processes, methods, and structures.
Despite the fact that nursing informatics is entering its third decade as a specialty within nursing, many definitions still exist to describe the field. This paper offers a rationale for a definition for nursing informatics and a critical analysis of past definitions. An organizing framework of technology-oriented, conceptual, and role-oriented definitions is used to critique these definitions. Subsequently, a revised definition is proposed. This evolutionary definition integrates critical concepts from past work and adds components that are currently missing--patients, information communication, information structures, and decision making. A separate role specification for informatics nurse specialists is provided.