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The Role of the Nurse Informaticist in Systems Development and Implementation

                The effectiveness of the application of technology in the nursing field is unlimited. According to McGonigle and Mastrian (2018), the System’s Development Life cycle, commonly known by the acronym SDLC, is an iterative model outlining a set of activities utilized for the scheduling and execution of change within a firm. This framework is mainly effective in plan management and improvement of novel health information technical systems. This essay discusses the function of a graduate-level nurse in guiding their contribution on the team implementation when executing a project involving a nursing documentation system. Further, the paper examines how the graduate-level nurse will take part in and influence each of the steps of the SDLC such as the planning, analysis, new system’s design, execution and post-implementation sustenance.

Role of the Nurse in Planning and Requirements Definition Phase

                The first stage of the SDLC framework is the planning and requirements definition stage. This phase includes providing a definition of the problems and their extent, possible alternatives evaluation, identification of the best alternative through completing feasibility exams, establishing a project agenda, integrating the essential requirements for the project, and introducing it (Dennis, Wixom & Roth, 2015). At this stage, the nurse in the implementation team plays a fundamental role. For instance, the nurse acts together with other members of the interdisciplinary team to come up with the shared project deliverables. Additionally, the nurse will also work alongside the multidisciplinary team members to establish the fundamental project requirements such as the clinical, technical and medication aspects. Moreover, the nurse will also work with the same member to complete a feasibility test for the project.

1. The Analysis Phase

                According to Rehani (2019), the analysis stage of the SDLC involves listing the project’s requirements, developing and assessing the possible alternatives and assessing the possible solutions, revising the firm’s policies, and providing effective commendations for the firm. During this stage, the graduate nurse plays the role of working with the interdisciplinary team with an aim of developing a list of the requirements to be accomplished for the documentation project based on their urgency and priority (Dennis, Wixom & Roth, 2015). The nurse will also take part in the process of evaluating the existing alternatives to the project before establishing the best recommendations to be considered on the way forward.

1. The Design Phase

                At the design phase, the operation and architecture of the HIT adopted by the firm and the associated concerns related with software, processes, hardware, networking, data retrieval and archiving are evaluated (Rehani, 2019). At this stage, the nurse plays a role while working primarily with the IT specialists, informatics nurses and vendors. However, the role of the nurse is limited in that he/she will only investigate and recognize the role of the system interactions.

• Implementation Phase

                The primary tasks evident at the implementation phase include system customization and testing before taking part in its actual installation to serve the intended role (Rehani, 2019). The nurse also has a fundamental role to play at this stage of the SDLC. For instance, the nurse will work with the interdisciplinary team members to evaluate if the documentation system is functioning as intended. Additionally, the nurse will actively participate in a system redesign process in the cases where the evaluation findings show a need for change. The nurse will also provide the required feedback about how the new system is functioning after its implementation, while updating the relevant stakeholders if the desired goals are being effectively met or if there is need for improvement. Moreover, since the implementation of a new system requires the staff members to be educated on how to manipulate the system, the nurse will take part in providing training to the other system users on how to manipulate the documentation system for a successful outcome after its implementation (McKay & Vanaskie, 2018).

1. Post-Implementation Support Phase

                After the system has been implemented, constant actions of maintenance are necessary to ensure that it continues to meet it set goals and objectives (Rojas & Seckman, 2014). Support and maintenance are a continuous process. Rehani (2019) establish that the main activities which take place under the post implementation phase of the SDLC include support and maintenance. The primary role of the graduate nurse at this point includes offering a continuous support and training with an aim of increasing the rate at which the system users accepts it and also to encourage an accurate implementation of the system for a successful and desirable outcome. Moreover, the nurse also provides a continuous support and training to aid in boosting how the users accept the new system as a replacement for the past one. Additionally, the nurse will also work alongside the interdisciplinary team members to provide an ongoing system evaluation to establish vulnerable areas that require improvement in order to effectively achieve the project’s goals.

Conclusion

                Conclusively, nurse leaders have an effective role to play in facilitating the efforts and requirements of the SDLC for the informatics in the field of healthcare. For instance, they have a role to play in ensuring that stakeholders embrace the changes associated with the implementation of the new system as well as guaranteeing that the system will work effectively.