Working as a Nursing and Midwifery Informatician

Abstract

Information is integral to the work of nurses and midwives, as they gather, analyse and use data to perform clinical activities, keep private information confidential, and support the healing of those for whom they care. Evidence-based care is fundamental to their practice, and information management is part of their training, to varying degrees. Once they have completed their training, some nurses and midwives augment their professional profile and become information specialists. Nurses and midwives are the largest component of the clinical workforce, so possibly nursing and midwifery information specialists are the largest invisible subgroup in the health information specialist workforce. In this chapter we explore the history of nursing and midwifery informatics, how it has been incorporated in training, and what nurses are doing now. Five narratives from practitioners in Australasian health care systems describe their identity, the impact of their work (now and yet to be seen) and their role in creating and implementing innovations to improve the care they and their colleagues deliver.