title: Wisdom within: unlocking the potential of big data for nursing regulators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper explores the potential for incorporating big data in nursing regulators' decision-making and policy development. Big data, commonly described as the extensive volume of information that individuals and agencies generate daily, is a concept familiar to the business community but is only beginning to be explored by the public sector.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Using insights gained from a recent research project, the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, in Canada is creating an organizational culture of data-driven decision-making throughout its regulatory and professional functions. The goal is to enable the organization to respond quickly and profoundly to nursing issues in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The evidence includes a review of the Learning from Experience: Improving the Process of Internationally Educated Nurses' Applications for Registration (LFE) research project (2011-2016), combined with a literature review on data-driven decision-making within nursing and healthcare settings, and the incorporation of big data in the private and public sectors, primarily in North America.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper discusses experience and, more broadly, how data can enhance the rigour and integrity of nursing and health policy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing regulatory bodies have access to extensive data, and the opportunity to use these data to inform decision-making and policy development by investing in how it is captured, analysed and incorporated into decision-making processes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding and using big data is a critical part of developing relevant, sound and credible policy. Rigorous collection and analysis of big data supports the integrity of the evidence used by nurse regulators in developing nursing and health policy.
authors: College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Blumer
authors: College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Giblin
authors: College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Lemermeyer
authors: College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Kwan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003657:Decision Making; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D011050:Policy Making; D012107:Research Design
keywords: Administrative Database; Applied Research; Big Data; Canada; Data Analytics; Decision-Making; Nurses; Nursing Policy; Registration; Regulation