There is nothing more fundamental to nursing than the ability of nurses to care. “Caring is the essence of nursing” (Watson 1999, p. 33). This holistic, person-centered approach emphasizes cultural competence, which the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) defines as “the ability to effectively work within the client’s cultural context.”
Nurses can use informatics to champion and support initiatives that reduce harm, keep patients safe, improve quality outcomes, and decrease the amount of time patients spend in a hospital. But can informatics be used to care for the sick?