Health informatics and oncology nursing.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an overview of the essential role of health and nursing informatics in meeting the 21st century call to provide state-of-the-art oncology care.


METHODS
Published articles, research studies, and documents relating to informatics.


CONCLUSIONS
Health and nursing informatics encompass the pivotal roles of data and information; identifying and documenting essential data using nursing vocabularies; ensuring adequate computer-based patient record systems; accessing and building knowledge; using telecommunications to support care delivery; empowering the consumer through health informatics; transforming education; and enhancing decision making in oncology nursing through national research agendas.


CONCLUSIONS
The information age calls us to explore digital and information technologies as extensions of human capacity. Oncology nursing practice is especially positioned to contribute to the health of our population.
Delaney
C
C
College of Nursing-464 NB, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D020407:Internet; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009737:Nursing Records; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012956:Societies, Nursing; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D014481:United States; D018875:Vocabulary, Controlled