Columns

Informatics Column
Informatics, sometimes equated with computerization, is becoming a more common word in the vocabulary of healthcare professionals. Informatics, however, is not about computers any more than healthcare is about stethoscopes. Like the stethoscope, however, the computer is a tool, a tool used in informatics. The field of informatics includes all aspects of managing information, from capturing it, processing it, storing it, and retrieving it, through to presenting it to the right person at the right time, in the most understandable format. To achieve the most effective information systems, nurses need to be aware of what informatics makes possible, as well as what informatics activities are occurring at regional, national, and international levels and how these will affect nursing. This column, which will be posted two times a year, will address these topics.

Legislative Column
The overall goal of the Legislative column is for nurses to USE the information in the political process to strengthen nursing and nurses' roles in providing quality healthcare to all.

Ethics Column
The goals for the Ethics column are to raise awareness of ethical issues for nurses across settings, specialties, and nationalities; inform readers about critical issues in ethics; encourage ethical thoughtfulness about ethical dilemmas that nurses face; and initiate commentary and responses from a variety of nurses globally

Information Resources Column: Archive 1999 – 2006
The Information Resources column was retired in 2006 and is now archived. All previously posted columns are available to readers. This column capitalized on the potential of the Internet for professional development and patient care. Nurses need to be knowledgeable users of information and have the requisite set of information management skills. The Information Resources columns provided discussion of the availability and use of networked information.