Nursing informatics is considered a distinct specialty because it focuses on representing, managing, and communicating nursing data, information, and knowledge within the broader context of health informatics. It was recognized as a specialty for registered nurses by the American Nurses Association in 1992. Nursing informatics integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice in order to support patients, nurses, and other providers in decision-making across all roles and settings through information structures, processes, and technology.

1. Explain how nursing informatics is considered as
distinct specialty?
Nursing informatics (NI) is one example of a discipline-specific
informatics practice within the broader category of health informatics. NI
has become well established within nursing since its recognition as a
specialty for registered nurses by the American Nurses Association (ANA)
in 1992.The specialty of NI is important to nursing and health care. It
focuses on the representation of nursing data, information, and knowledge
(Graves and Corcoran,1989; Henry, 1995) and the management and
communication of nursing information within the broader context of health
informatics. Nursing informatics (1) provides a nursing perspective, (2)
illuminates nursing values and beliefs, (3)denotes a practice base for nurses
in NI, (4) produces unique knowledge, (5)distinguishes groups of
practitioners, (6) focuses on the phenomena of interest for nursing, and (7)
provides needed nursing language and word context (Brennan,1994) to
health informatics.Nursing informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing
science, computer science, and information science to manage and
communicate data, information,and knowledge in nursing practice. Nursing
informatics facilitates the integrationof data, information, and knowledge to
support patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision-making in all
roles and settings. This support is accomplished through the use of
information structures, information processes, and information
technology.The goal of nursing informatics (NI) is to improve the health of
populations,communities, families, and individuals by optimizing
information management and communication. This includes the use of
technology in the direct provision of care,establishing effective
administrative systems, managing and delivering educational experiences,
supporting life-long learning, and supporting nursing research