BNS 110: Nursing Informatics & Computer Skills
FOUNDATIONS • MODULE 1
Introduction to Nursing Informatics & Theoretical Models
Concepts, Scope & Theoretical Frameworks
- Subtopic: Historical Evolution, Definition, and Scope of Nursing Informatics
- Subtopic: Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Modern Healthcare
- Subtopic: Theoretical Models: The Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom (DIKW) Framework
- Subtopic: Graves and Corcoran’s Conceptual Model of Nursing Informatics
- Subtopic: Systems Theory, Change Management, and Human-Technology Interface (HTI) Principles
- Subtopic: Communication, Counselling, and Patient Interactions in Technology-Mediated Care
DIGITAL LITERACY • MODULE 2
Computer Literacy, Hardware & Network Systems
Hardware, Operating Systems & Productivity Tools
- Subtopic: Computer Architecture: Central Processing Units (CPUs), Input/Output Devices & Storage
- Subtopic: Operating Systems, Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), File Management & Safe Data Storage
- Subtopic: Word Processing for Clinical Reporting, Academic Essays, and Formal Documentation
- Subtopic: Spreadsheets and Basic Health Data Entry (Formulas, Charts, Statistical Graphing)
- Subtopic: Presentation Software Design Principles for Clinical Teaching and Health Education
Internet, Networking & Literature Retrieval
- Subtopic: Computer Networking Fundamentals: LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, Intranets, and Secure Cloud Computing
- Subtopic: Internet Protocols, Web Browsers, and Safe Navigation of Medical Portals
- Subtopic: Health Information Literacy: Evaluating Reliability of Online Medical Information
- Subtopic: Database Searching Skills: Navigating PubMed, HINARI, Cochrane, and CINAHL
HEALTH IT SYSTEMS • MODULE 3
Electronic Health Records & Clinical Information Systems
EHR Architecture & Functional Components
- Subtopic: Comparative Analysis: Paper Records vs. Electronic Medical Records (EMR) vs. Electronic Health Records (EHR)
- Subtopic: Core Components of an Enterprise EHR System (Admission, Clinical Charting, Discharge)
- Subtopic: Personal Health Records (PHR) and Patient Portal Engagement
- Subtopic: Clinical Workflow Analysis, Ergonomics, and Overcoming Resistance to EMR Adoption
- Subtopic: Interoperability Standards in Health IT: HL7, Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), and DICOM
Point-of-Care Systems & Medication Safety
- Subtopic: Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) and Order Management Systems
- Subtopic: Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) & Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)
- Subtopic: Smart Infusion Pumps, Dose Error Reduction Systems (DERS), and Nursing Integration
- Subtopic: Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) and Radiology Information Systems (RIS) Interfacing
NURSING DATA • MODULE 4
Standardized Nursing Languages & Electronic Documentation
Nursing Languages & Data Coding
- Subtopic: Significance of Standardized Nursing Terminology for Visibility of Nursing Care
- Subtopic: NANDA-I Nursing Diagnoses Classification Structure in Electronic Systems
- Subtopic: Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) and Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
- Subtopic: International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) and Clinical Care Classification (CCC)
- Subtopic: SNOMED-CT and Clinical Mapping of Nursing Terms in Interoperable Systems
- Subtopic: Legal and Professional Principles of Real-Time Point-of-Care Electronic Documentation
SAFETY & QUALITY • MODULE 5
Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) & Safety
CDSS Architecture, Alerts & Risk Mitigation
- Subtopic: Definition, Concepts, and Types of Clinical Decision Support Systems
- Subtopic: Rule-Based Alerts: Drug-Drug Interactions, Drug-Allergy Warnings, and Critical Lab Alerts
- Subtopic: Clinical Guidelines, Embedded Care Plans, and Diagnostic Prompting Systems
- Subtopic: The Problem of Alert Fatigue: Etiology, Consequences, and Clinical Mitigation Strategies
- Subtopic: Using Informatics Data for Clinical Auditing, Quality Improvement, and Patient Safety Metrics
VIRTUAL CARE • MODULE 6
Telehealth, Telemedicine & Telenursing Practice
Telehealth Modalities & Nursing Interventions
- Subtopic: Conceptual Distinctions: Telehealth, Telemedicine, Telecare, and Telenursing
- Subtopic: Synchronous (Real-Time Video/Audio) vs. Asynchronous (Store-and-Forward) Telehealth
- Subtopic: Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): Telemetric Vitals, Wearable Sensors, and Home Monitoring
- Subtopic: Telenursing Clinical Roles: Telephone Triage, Chronic Disease Management & Remote Follow-Up
- Subtopic: Benefits and Challenges of Telehealth in Rural and Low-Resource Communities in East Africa
- Subtopic: Technical Requirements, Bandwidth Constraints, and Infrastructure Solutions for Virtual Care
LEGAL & ETHICAL • MODULE 7
Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Healthcare IT Legislation
Confidentiality, Cybersecurity & National Laws
- Subtopic: Ethical Tenets of Digital Health: Confidentiality, Privacy, and Data Stewardship
- Subtopic: Cybersecurity Threats in Healthcare: Malware, Phishing, Ransomware, and Data Breaches
- Subtopic: Access Controls, Biometric Authentication, Multi-Factor Verification, and Audit Trails
- Subtopic: Data Encryption, Firewall Protection, and Automated System Backup Policies
- Subtopic: The Data Protection and Privacy Act of Uganda: Clinical Nursing Compliance
- Subtopic: International Benchmarks for Health Data Privacy (HIPAA and GDPR Principles)
- Subtopic: Social Media, Digital Footprints, and Maintaining Professional Boundaries in Cyberspace
- Subtopic: The Digital Divide: Socioeconomic Barriers to Healthcare Access and Digital Equity
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PUBLIC HEALTH IT & FUTURE TRENDS • MODULE 8
Uganda HMIS (DHIS2) & Emerging Health Technologies
National Health Information Systems in Uganda
- Subtopic: Structure and Objectives of Uganda's Health Management Information System (HMIS)
- Subtopic: District Health Information Software Version 2 (DHIS2) Platform Operations
- Subtopic: Standard Ministry of Health (MOH) Data Tools: Outpatient (HMIS 105), Inpatient (HMIS 108), and Registers
- Subtopic: Data Quality Dimensions: Timeliness, Completeness, Accuracy, and Verification Protocols
- Subtopic: Electronic Medical Records in Uganda: UgandaEMR (OpenMRS) Implementation
Emerging Technologies in Healthcare
- Subtopic: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing, and Machine Learning in Diagnostics
- Subtopic: Big Data Analytics and Predictive Epidemiological Modeling for Disease Outbreaks
- Subtopic: Mobile Health (mHealth): Community Health Worker Apps, USSD, and SMS Health Promotion
- Subtopic: Genomic Informatics, Personalized Medicine, and Nanotechnology in Nursing Care
- Subtopic: Robotics, Automated Dispensing Cabinets, and Simulation in Nursing Education
Prescribed Textbooks & References
Core academic textbooks, digital health policies, and statutory standards prescribed for Nursing Informatics.
- Englebardt, S.P. & Nelson, R. (2002). Healthcare Informatics: An Interdisciplinary Approach. St. Louis: Mosby.
- Hebda, T. & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of Informatics for Nurses & Healthcare Professionals (6th ed.). New York: Pearson.
- Saba, V.K. & McCormick, K.A. (Eds.). (2015). Essentials of Nursing Informatics (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
- McGonigle, D. & Mastrian, K.G. (2017). Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Ministry of Health Uganda (2018). National e-Health Strategy: Transforming Healthcare Through Technology. Kampala: MOH.
- Government of Uganda (2019). The Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019. Entebbe: UPPC.
- World Health Organization (2021). Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025. Geneva: WHO.
Follow your university’s current approved course outline for official course codes, teaching order and assessments. This directory organises supplementary revision resources.
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