Evolving National Strategy Driving Nursing Informatics in New Zealand.

An update to the New Zealand Health Strategy identifying direction and priorities for health services is underway. Three specific areas have implications for nursing informatics and link to education and practice: best use of technology and information, fostering and spreading innovation and quality improvements, and building leaders and capability for the future. An emphasis on prevention and wellness means nursing needs to focus on health promotion and the role of consumers is changing with access to their on-line information a major focus. As the modes of delivery for services such as telehealth and telenursing changes, nurses are increasingly working independently and utilizing information and communication technologies to collaborate with the health team. New Zealand, and other countries, need strong nursing leadership to sustain the nursing voice in policy and planning and ensure nurses develop the required informatics skills.

Nursing informatics in new zealand: from history to strategy.

As technological advances saw computers become more common, nurses in New Zealand were inspired to look for ways to harness the use of computers and other technologies to aid patient care and their practice. This paper traces the history of the development of nursing informatics in New Zealand from the earliest days in the 1980s through to the present, when nurses have leadership roles in informatics and are represented at the highest levels in national decision making, thereby influencing the development of national strategies. Nurses have developed a strong informatics profile through working collaboratively with other organizations, yet ensuring that the interests of nurses are maintained. In addition, the support from international nursing informatics pioneers and New Zealand nurses contribution to the international nursing informatics community is highlighted.

Nursing informatics issues and progress in New Zealand.

This paper presents an updated view of progress made in health informatics in New Zealand since 2003 and also highlights current issues facing nursing informatics. The progress made in health informatics in New Zealand since the national health information development "Working to Add Value through E-information" Project was introduced is outlined. A new Health Information Strategy for New Zealand 2005 has been released to guide the use of innovative information to improve the health outcomes of New Zealanders. This strategy reflects the global trends in healthcare related to epidemiological, demographic, system structure, workforce, service delivery changes and the increase in consumer expectations.