Nurses have a unique leadership role in ensuring a digitally enabled health system delivers on the promise of better health for all Australians.
A joint position paper released today by Australia’s peak bodies for nursing and digital health says as the largest single profession in the healthcare workforce, nurses need to be recognised and acknowledged for their enabling role in the digital health movement.
The paper says nurses have the potential to deliver better patient outcomes as well as facilitate a better consumer and clinician experience.
Produced collaboratively by the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), HISA and its special interest group Nursing Informatics Australia (NIA) following sector consultation, the paper is the first national statement to affirm the role of nurses in digital healthcare at all levels and in all health settings.
With seven key actions, it urges nurses and midwives to lead in decision-making as well as to partner; to obtain the knowledge and experience to act as knowledge brokers and to transform services and empower patients in self-care.
HISA CEO Dr Louise Schaper said: “Nurses have a unique leadership role to ensure a digitally enabled health system delivers on the promise of better health outcomes for Australians.
“All nurses must integrate information and information technology into routine clinical practice.
“They must re-imagine the delivery of healthcare assisted by technology, in partnership with a more engaged patient and, with greater access to information at the point of care. In many cases nurses are leading the digital health transformation process and their contributions must be acknowledged and respected.”
Australian College of Nursing Chief Executive Officer, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, said: “This is an exciting time for nurses to lead the way and take advantage of advances in technology to both benefit the patient experience and maximise efficiencies in the workplace.”
