Nursing Informatics Day is May 12th!
Cheers to May 12th!
Today, May 12th, is recognized as Nursing Informatics Day by the American Nurses Association (ANA). Consider how special it is that Informatics Nursing gets a day of recognition during nurses week. For a specialty that was officially recognized in 1992, informatics continually makes an impact across the profession and beyond. Nursing Informatics Day was officially recognized in 2008, 16 years ago.
May 12th is also recognized as International Nurses Day recognized by the International Council of Nurses. May 12th marks the last day of National Nurses Week. The significance of the day is that it is Florence Nightingale's date of birth.
Florence Nightingale was a visionary of nursing in many ways, including the specialty practice of informatics.
Over the last week, I had several conversations about nursing, informatics, the future, the past, and how to integrate it all together in a meaningful way. This can seem overwhelming at times.
However, it is also exciting to know that we have the recognition, expertise, and established processes to address, advise, and integrate these rapidly changing aspects of technological influence.
Whether you are new to nursing or practicing at an expert level, there is a place for every nurse to influence care delivery. You understand the user experience for yourself as nurses in your role. You may be in direct care, home care, clinical education, managing and directing, leading teams and organizations, and more. Whatever role you have, you have knowledge that others do not and need to design appropriate tools for quality care.
Additionally, you have a unique proximity to the needs of the patients to serve as an advocate.
I was in a small group of professionals this week and I was the only nurse. I described my nursing career as having serendipitously come together over the last 24 years. Finding informatics was one of those key serendipitous moments. I did not know what I was about to experience nor did I know it would have so much influence on my direction over the years to come.
Perhaps that resonates with you or you are looking for something new for your career. Whatever it may be, celebrate where you are today as a nurse and take that step forward that may seem uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and/or unknown. It may just be the starting point for your own future.
Lastly, today also happens to be Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day to you all.
A very powerful day May 12th is in 2024!
Celebrating with you all virtually,
~ Dr. Kelley
PS: We are celebrating Nursing Informatics Day all month at iCare. You can save 33% on any of our available programs through the end of May using the code NURSES2024.