The computer is the most powerful technological tool to transform the nursing profession prior to the new century. The computer has transformed the nursing paper-based records to computer-based records. Today and tomorrow, the computer and the Internet are essential foe all settings where nurses function hospitals, ambulatory care centers, health maintenance organizations, community health agencies, academic institutions, research centers, and schools of nursing.
“Computer” is an all encompassing term referring to information technology (IT), computer systems, and when they are used in nursing, refer to nursing information systems (Nibs), nursing applications, and/or nursing informatics (N1). “NI” has emerged as a new term encompassing these technologies enabling nurses to manage health care and patient care more efficiently and effectively and, at the same time, make nurses more accountable.
Computers in nursing are used to manage informs- non in patient care, monitor the quality of care, and evaluate the outcomes of care. Computers and networks are now used for communicating (sending/receiving) data and messages via the Internet, accessing resources and interacting with patients on the World Wide Web (WWW). Nurses are increasingly involved with systems used for planning, budgeting, and policy-making for patient care services as well as enhancing nursing education and distance learning with new media modalities. Computers are also used to support nursing research, test new systems, design new knowledge databases, and advance the role of nursing in the health care industry
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