AMIA - Nursing Informatics Working Group (NI-WG)

What has the Nursing Informatics Working Group (NI-WG) Accomplished in 2007?
Because I know that not all of you will be able to attend AMIA next month, I thought I would update you on just some of NI-WG's activities and accomplishments this year.

With leadership from Patti Abbott and Suzanne Bakken, the Americas were successful in bidding for NI 2012, which will be held in Montreal. Start packing your bags!
The History Project continues under Bonnie Westra's capable leadership. More of our early nursing leaders have been interviewed and materials have been collected for the archives, which will be housed at the National Library of Medicine.
An Education Subcommittee, chaired by Roger Reeves, conducted a survey of our members to help us identify not only what topics our members would like to learn more about, but how they would like them delivered. We will be using that information to better meet your learning needs in 2008 and beyond.
Michele Norton and her committee have planned for a wonderful Nursing Informatics Symposium on Personal Health Records in conjunction with the Fall AMIA meeting. The committee has worked extremely hard to recruit presenters, obtain funding, and publicize the event.
We are again giving awards for the best AMIA paper with a nurse as first author-and for the best student paper with a nurse as first author.
We have begun a campaign to make nursing informatics more visible in the nursing literature.

An article by Emily Welebob on the Nurses's Role in RHIOs has been accepted for publication by Nursing Management
Two other articles by members have been submitted to Nursing Management
The Leadership Team is developing a proposal to JAMIA for a special section on Nursing Informatics
Regular articles in the ANI Connections area of Computers, Informatics, Nursing

Through the Alliance for Nursing Informatics (ANI), we provided feedback on the AHEC Succession White Paper.
Led by Laura Heermann and her team, we submitted a response to the proposed ANA Scope and Standards for Nursing Informatics.
We are working with the American Nurses' Association on a proposal to include nursing and nursing informatics in the North American Industry Code. It is hoped that the proposal will also include nurses from Canada and Mexico.
We are working closely with the TIGER project to increase nursing informatics knowledge and education throughout the country. We have selected several collaboratives that we will work with as a group and each of you are encouraged to participate in your favorites as well. In addition, the Leadership Team has been discussing how to align our goals with those of TIGER, as well as AMIA and ANI.
We have attempted to get more of our members actively involved-since it is only through all our efforts that we can really be effective. Please let us know if you are interested in working on a project-we can accommodate you!

Judith Effken, Chair

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Computers, Informatics, Nursing *
Computers, Informatics, Nursing (formerly Computers in Nursing) covers the application of computer technology to contemporary nursing practice, explaining the "how-to" and "why" at each step of the way. From the computer novice to experienced user, CIN offers a complete package that delivers realistic solutions. Readers discover how to use technology to save time and money, increase productivity, and improve communication.

CIN Plus is designed as a forum for communication among nurses who use computers. As an adjunct to the journal, CIN Plus is a vehicle for informative, relevant, and timely articles on a variety of topics related to the application of computer technology to contemporary nursing practice that are not necessarily research based.

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Member News

Congratulations to:: Judith A. Effken, RN, PhD
Judy Murphy, RN, BSN
On their appointment to the American College of Medical Informatics.

Dr. Brailer at the HIMSS Annual Conference in Dallas, TX

"I had a great meeting with a group of nurses yesterday and I am very committed to continuing to involve nurses and specifically those nurses in our various agencies at HHS in our ongoing activities. We will also be creating a nurse fellowship position in my office in the near future."
-- Dr. Brailer at the HIMSS Annual Conference in Dallas, TX

2005 Strategic Goals

NIWG Mission
To promote the advancement of nursing informatics within the larger multidisciplinary context of health informatics. The organization and its members pursue this goal in many arenas - promoting research, providing educational directions and opportunities, integrating informatics and education in practice, fostering collaborative relationships nationally and internationally, and giving a national and international voice within nursing and the interdisciplinary world of health care informatics.

NIWG Activities

Participates in nursing informatics and other health informatics efforts to improve the quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiencies of health care
Develops organizational liaisons with other nursing groups - regionally, nationally, and internationally - to promote research, health policy, and education
Develops content expertise for nursing informatics educational curricula
Cultivates content and an evaluation roadmap for nursing informatics research
Promotes scholarly investigations documenting nursing informatics history
Participates with The Interagency Council on Information Resources for Nursing (ICIRN) to conduct research on information literacy and implement educational programs to foster computer literacy in nurses
Provides information technology infrastructure knowledge for national biodefense activities in public health and health care
Represents information technology to the Nursing Organizations Alliance (NOA)
Serves as the official nursing informatics organization to the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) and provides liaisons to the IMIA Nursing Informatics Special Interest Group
Fosters partnerships with industry, academia, and clinical areas to nurture advocates to support nursing informatics
Provides leadership for national and international standards and testimony activities related to nursing informatics
Provides a Web site and electronic discussion list for communication
Promotes nursing educational content and networking events at international informatics meetings including the AMIA Annual Symposium and AMIA Spring Congress

2004 Strategic Goals

The AMIA NIWG has established an ambitious agenda for 2004. For each of the following goals, note the associated focus areas. The Leadership Team member(s) who have primary responsibility for coordinating each focus area is identified as well. Please feel free to contact anyone on the leadership Team with suggestions or comments as we work together to meet these goals.

Goal - Promote research: Intragency Council Information Resources for Nursing (ICIRN) - Annelle Tanner*; National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) Collaboration (MedInfo project) - Connie Delaney*; Harriet Werley and Student Awards - Diane Skiba*
Goal - Promote integration of informatics from bench to practice: Vocabulary Summit - Debra Konicek*; Department of Labor Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) - Kathleen McCormick*; Biodefense/Preparedness - Kathleen McCormick*
Goal - Support expansion of educational opportunities: Academic, industry, & clinical partnerships - Dawn Weathersby*; Curriculum Think Tank - Diane Skiba*; Informatics competencies: Diane Skiba*/Betty Chang*; PR packet:; Brochure - Sue Newbold*/Dawn Weathersby*; NI History Sue Newbold*/Dawn Weathersby*/Kathleen McCormick*
Goal - Intensify relationship building within AMIA NIWG: Membership/Membership Survey - Diane Skiba*/Betty Chang*; Formalize student participation on NIWG Leadership Team - Greg Alexander*; Formalize mentor/mentee relationships (1st Timer Breakfast) Greg Alexander*/Betty Chang*; Increase involvement of NIWG members with NIWG strategic goal activities - Leadership Team*; Revise Operating (including nominating committee) guidelines - Connie Delaney*; AMIA NIWG Website - Dawn Weathersby*
Goal - Extend collaboration initiatives: Informatics organizations formalizing collaborations - Debra Konicek*; National Alliance for Primary Care Informatics (NAPCI) - Betty Chang*; American Academy of Nursing (AAN) - Ida Androwich; American Nurses Association (ANA) - Carol Bickford; American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN); Intragency Council Information Resources for Nursing (ICIRN)- AnnelleTanner*; National League for Nursing (NLN) - ETIMAC (Nursing Educational Technology Information Management Advisory Council) - Diane Skiba* & Sue Newbold*; National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) - Patty Brennan; Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI); Nursing Organizations Alliance (NOA) - Connie Delaney*; International Nursing Informatics Special Interest Group (IMIA NISIG) - Patricia Abbott; MEDINFO promotion of Nursing Informatics (Fall 2004); NI2006 International Nursing Informatics Congress - Seoul, Korea

*AMIA NIWG Leadership Team activity champion/liaison
Please contact any member of the AMIA NIWG Leadership Team at any time with ideas, concerns, contributions.

2003 Goals & Accomplishments

American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)
Nursing Informatics Working Group (NIWG)
Connie Delaney, AMIA NIWG, Chair

AMIA NIWG members established ambitious goals for 2003. They were:

Be the premier membership and peer communication organization in nursing informatics.
Promote research, development, diffusion and evolution of informatics to enhance nursing and healthcare.
Promote and integrate nursing informatics as a field.
Develop, expand and maintain multiple forums for education of members, other professionals, and the public and foster dissemination of advances in the field.
Establish relationships and encourage cooperation with relevant organizations.
Ensure an effective governance and leadership structure to enable NI-WG to accomplish its mission.

And - AMIA NIWG members accomplished these goals. A summary of accomplishments for each goal follows.

Completion of Member Survey
Under the excellent leadership of Diane Skiba and Sue Newbold, the Membership Committee (Diane Skiba, Sue Newbold, Amy Barton, Mary Curran, Barbara Robinson (student), Marilyn Nielsen and Jody Gunn (student) revised the 2002 Membership Survey. A total of 75 members responded to the survey. Although respondents were generally neutral or satisfied with the NIWG leadership, the NIWG goals were reaffirmed and comments directed the Leadership Team to develop better methods of involvement and communication. For a complete report see the AMIA NIWG web site.
Continued development of AMIA NIWG Web site
Under the outstanding leadership of Dawn Weathersby, the AMIA NIWG web site has been revised to have the common AMIA look and feel. We were first working group to populate the site. Do check the site regularly; forward comments to Dawn for further enhancements:
http://www.amia.org/working/ni/main.html
Susan K. Newbold: snewbold@umaryland.edu
Sponsorship of the Nursing Terminology Summit
AMIA NIWG again co-sponsored the annual Nursing Terminology Summit, July 2003, Nashville, TN. Key initiatives addressed included ISO Standard for Nursing Reference Terminology Model, proposed ISO Standard for EHR, HL7, and Snomed. A full discussion regarding this summit was presented at the AMIA Panel presentation November 10, 2003. Numerous AMIA NIWG members are involved in this summit, with special thank you to Judy Ozbolt, Judy Warren, Ida Androwich, Debra Konicek, and Sue Bakken. See the AMIA NIWG website for a full report.
Collaboration with Interagency Council on Information Resources for Nurses (ICIRN) on Nursing Information Literacy for Evidenced-based Practice (an extension of research on nurses' information seeking behavior)
Under the outstanding NIWG leadership of Annelle Tanner, AMIA NIWG co-sponsors the ICIRN (member agencies include: American Nurses Association, American Medical Association, National League for Nursing, National Library of Medicine, Medical Library Association, and the American Medical Informatics Association (www.icirn.org)) Nursing Information Literacy Study designed to document information literacy among nurses. Directed by Diane Pravikoff, PhD., RN, FAAN, Susan Pierce, EdD, MSN, RN, and Annelle Tanner, EdD, MSN, RN, the goal is to be able to move nurses more effectively towards evidence based practice.

AMIA NIWG celebrated the McKesson contribution of $5,000 for financial assistance for the survey. Moreover, a Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to Marge Benham-Hutchins & Center for Nursing Research, School of Nursing, University of Texas - Arlington, TX, colleagues, and students for their outstanding work on this project.
Membership in Nursing Organizations Alliance (NOA)
NOA represents over 60 different nursing specialty organizations. AMIA NIWG maintains membership as the only nursing informatics association in NOA. Connie Delaney represents AMIA NIWG at the NOA annual meeting, providing opportunity to promote collaborative informatics initiatives. Betsy Weiner participated in the NOA brochure development activity.
Conduct the NI Education Think Tank
Under the excellent leadership of Diane Skiba and Betsy Weiner, representatives from most major nursing informatics programs met during 2002 AMIA for a Think Tank about the curriculum for nursing informatics programs. Concepts were identified based on the 2001 ANA Scope & Standards Document. Diane Skiba, Betsy Weiner, Barbara Carty and Trish Trangenstein then developed concept mapping from the discussions. Although the project was somewhat delayed it will be completed during first quarter of 2004. Upon consensus of the school of nursing representatives, a white paper will be completed by March 1 and available on the AMIA NIWG website.
Development of a press packet for AMIA NI-WG (Sue Newbold)
Sue Newbold lead efforts to develop a brochure promoting nursing informatics as well as benefits of AMIA NIWG membership. This brochure and additional materials will eventually comprise a PR packet and will be available for use as needed for public relations to press representatives, organizations, and interested individuals. The brochure is expected to be available late 2003.
Collaboration in the development of a video on Nursing Informatics
Under the excellent leadership coordination of Sue Newbold, AMIA NIWG was in dialogue with Kris Rebillot to discuss content and strategies to produce a videotape describing the roles of informatics nurses. Members of the NIWG Leadership Team participated in the outline for the project, but unfortunately funding has not been received to bring the production to fruition.
Implementation of the Organizational Liaison Program
IMIA: Patti Abbott, AMIA NIWG elected representative to IMIA NI SIG, and Virginia Saba provided a brief report on NI2003 held in Brazil in June. An international minimum data set project is co-sponsored by IMIA NI SIG and chaired by Connie Delaney, with co-chair William Goossen, The Netherlands. Sue Bakken was recognized for the work on the ISO model. The full report will be available on the AMIA NIWG website. AMIA NIWG looks forward to participation in MEDINFO, 2004. Dr. Parks sent letter for 2006 NI conference in Seoul, Korea with call for papers in September, 2004. NI 2006 materials were distributed. Two bids have been received for NI 2009: Finland and Switzerland.

The CARING Luncheon, under the leadership of Sue Newbold, was very successful. This event will be included at MEDINFO 2004.

Congratulations to Ida Androwich and Virginia Saba, Co-chairs, for leading the effort to establish the American Academy of Nursing - Expert Panel on Nursing Informatics. Established in 2002, this new panel will meet again in 2003 at the Academy Meeting immediately following 2003 AMIA.

AMIA NIWG is please to co-sponsor the HIMSS NI pre-conference, February 2004, under the leadership of Joyce Sensmeier. This conference represents a collaborative effort with 9 other nursing informatics groups to deliver symposium on February 22 prior to the HIMSS meeting.

Under the excellent leadership of Debra Konicek and Ida Androwich, a nursing informatics organizations' collaboration is being explored. A group of individuals met during HIMSS 2003 to discuss ways that the various nursing informatics groups could collaborate. In addition, a conference call was held through ANA and led by Carol Bickford to discuss ways these organizations could assist in the certification process. Further dialogue with informatics organizations will take place. A group is drafting a proposal for next step prior to February 2004 HIMSS meeting.
Conduct another Student Breakfast
In lieu of the 2003 Student Breakfast emphasis shifted to participation in the AMIA First-Timer's Breakfast and Student Mentoring.
Present panels & workshops at Fall 2003 Symposium
Again, AMIA NIWG was represented by numerous panel and workshops co-sponsored by NIWG. These included:

*Nursing Terminology Summit Panel
*Nursing Informatics Education Think Tank (Training Informatics Scholars-Innovation, Interdisciplinary & Issues)
*Information Literacy Panel

What more can I say than - "The 2003 goals and activities of AMIA NIWG represented an ambitious commitment to NI and you can be proud of your work to meet the goals. On behalf of the Leadership Team, we extend our deep gratitude for your ideas, work, and commitment. Let's look forward to 2004!"

Activities Accomplished in 2002

Sponsored 4 workshops/panels at AMIA Fall Symposium 2002.
Conducted successful and well attended Business Meeting at AMIA Fall Symposium 2002 with over 75 in attendance.
Hosted sponsored reception (Cerner Corporation, CARING, ANIA) at AMIA Fall Symposium 2002 that was extremely well attended by both nursing and other discipline AMIA attendees.
Held invitational Nursing Informatics Education Think Tank at Fall Symposium: 13 schools represented, significant work accomplished that will become baseline for 2003 project.
Hosted Student Mentoring Breakfast at Fall Symposium; over 50 students and faculty in attendance, excellent information sharing regarding nursing informatics opportunities, excellent networking between faculty, informatics practitioners, and students.
Completed monograph: Clinical Information Systems: A Framework for Reaching the Vision.
Conducted serial membership surveys.
Completed major renovation of website with purpose: To provide a central repository of information to NIWG stakeholders as well as to promote and support the advancement of nursing informatics. Established volunteer team to support content update process for Website.
Defined model for Organization Liaison Program.
Continued collaboration with ICIRN.
Joined NOA - Nursing Organizations Alliance - new nursing organization comprised of key nursing practice, education and specialty organizations.