Health informatics and oncology nursing.

Objectives: To provide an overview of the essential role of health and nursing informatics in meeting the 21st century call to provide state-of-the-art oncology care.

Data Sources: Published articles, research studies, and documents relating to informatics.

Conclusions: Health and nursing informatics encompass the pivotal roles of data and information; identifying and documenting essential data using nursing vocabularies; ensuring adequate computer-based patient record systems; accessing and building knowledge; using telecommunications to support care delivery; empowering the consumer through health informatics; transforming education; and enhancing decision making in oncology nursing through national research agendas.

Implications For Nursing Practice: The information age calls us to explore digital and information technologies as extensions of human capacity. Oncology nursing practice is especially positioned to contribute to the health of our population.