Nursing Information System.

Nursing Information System (NIS) is a part of a health care information system that deals with nursing aspects, particularly the maintenance of the nursing record. The several objectives that a Nursing Information system should meet in order to succeed its aims, cover the users' needs and operate properly are described. The functions of such systems, which combine with the basic tasks of the nursing care process, are examined. As Nursing Information System is part of the health care and hospital information system, the different strategies and approaches for designing and developing Hospital Information Systems followed from the decade of 1970 until the recent decade of 1990, are presented. The three main approaches followed were the "centralized approach", the "departmental approach", and the "distributed approach". The advantages and drawbacks of each different approach are examined. For the implementation or upgrade of Nursing Information System a NIS committee comprised by different health care professionals, is necessary to be formed. The implementation and upgrade of a Nursing Information System follows some specific phases. These steps, include planning phase, analysis phase, design phase, development phase, implementation phase, and upgrade phase. A paragraph at the end of this chapter summarizes the future trends of Nursing Information Systems.