The document discusses the TIGER Initiative, which aims to educate nurses in health informatics competencies through the use of technology. It seeks to improve information literacy among nurses and ensure they are prepared for changes brought by the electronic medical record and other technologies. Some challenges to achieving this include differing computer literacy levels among students, concerns that technology could dehumanize care, and information illiteracy. The TIGER Initiative addresses these challenges through its Virtual Learning Environment and focus on improving information literacy for all nurses.

1. Eye of the TIGER:
Changes and Challenges in
Education
Jessica M. LiBassi, RNC-NIC

2. The TIGER Initiative
T: Technology
I: Informatics
G: Guiding
E: Education
R: Reform

3. What does this mean?
The TIGER Initiative:
 Seeks to educate nurses in informatics
competencies (Hinton-Walker, 2010)
 Responds to a call for safer, more efficient
care through the use of technology (Hinton-
Walker, 2010)
 Aims to improve information literacy among
nurses (Hinton-Walker, 2010)

4. Why did I choose this topic?
 Education Reform interests me, especially with regards
to technology and the implementation of the electronic
health record (EHR)
 I had never heard of TIGER, and I wanted to learn
more about it
 I have an interest in nursing education

5. Change #1: Electronic
Medical Record
The electronic medical record has impacted health care in
many ways:
 Uses Standard Terms – this enhances communication
through the use of standard abbreviations (Kunz, 2010)
 Accessibility – records are immediately available, no
time wasted searching, charts may be accessed
remotely (Kunz, 2010)
 Reduction in chart time – More time for patient care
(Kunz, 2010)

6. What does the EMR have to
do with TIGER?
 TIGER aims to ensure all nursing students have basic
computer literacy skills (TIGER, Leadership Imperative)
 TIGER offers a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for
Health IT (TIGER, VLE)
 In the VLE, the school has the opportunity to download
EMR demo software (TIGER, VLE)
 Health IT modules and resources are also available for
nursing curricula (TIGER, VLE)

7. Change #2: Medication
Administration
 Gone are the days of the Paper Medication Administration
Record (MAR) (Kunz, 2010)
 To administer a medication to a patient, the nurse scans the
patient’s barcode on his wrist (Kunz, 2010)
 This pulls up the MAR to the current hour on the computer
 The computer shows the nurse what medications are due
 Alert flags are built in so a nurse is alerted when a
medication is due/overdue

8. Change #3: “Smart”
Equipment
 Most common piece of “Smart” equipment is the smart
pump (Hebda & Calderone, 2010)
 Aids the nurse in giving the correct medication over the
correct amount of time
 Checks are built in such as patient weight and double
nurse sign-off
 Smart pumps should be available in nursing simulation
labs

9. Change #4: Bedside
Monitoring
 Bedside Monitors continuously display the patient’s
vitals
 Monitors are linked to patient’s chart, so data flow
seamlessly into the chart
 Nurses verify this information, but do not have to enter
it saving time and allowing for more time for patient
care
 This can be taught in TIGER’s Virtual Learning
Environment (TIGER, VLE)

10. Challenge #1:Different Levels
of Computer Literacy
 Some nursing students do not have basic computer skills
 Others are proficient
Suggestions to Overcome This:
 Have “Super Users” available
 Offer basic computer and typing classes
 Make one-on-one tutoring available (Kunz, 2010)
*TIGER recommends certification in basic computer skills be
required by all nurses and nursing students (TIGER, Revolutionary
Leadership)

11. Challenge #2:
“The IT trend dehumanizes care”
Solutions for this barrier:
 Encourage bedside charting
 Position computer so nurse is close to patient, not
computer
 Familiarize self with screens so navigation is easy
 Encourage personal touch when giving care (Kunz,
2010)

12. Challenge #3: Limited Access
and Knowledge
 Nursing students have limited access to health IT and
limited knowledge of how to navigate it (Hinton-Walker,
2010)
 Nurse Leaders responded to this by prioritizing the
development of the Virtual Demonstration Center on
www.tigerinitiative.org (Hinton-Walker, 2010)
 TIGER VLE is a partnership between industry,
universities, nursing and interdisciplinary associations,
community colleges, specialty organizations and health
care systems, and government entities (Hinton- Walker,
2010)

13. Challenge #4: Information
Illiteracy
The information literate nurse can:
 Determine the quality and significance of research and apply
to patient care
 Improve care with evidence-based practice (EBP)
However, many nurses:
 Are not aware of the importance of EBP
 Do not have consistent role models by nurse leaders and
mentors
 Are not comfortable with database searches (Hebda &
Calderone, 2010)

14. Challenge #4 (cont’d):
Information Illiteracy
TIGER Initiative aims to improve information literacy
among all nurses
HOW?

15. Conclusion

16. References
 Hebda, T., & Calderone, T. (2010, March/April). What nurse educators need to
know about the TIGER initiative. Nurse Educator, 35(2), 56-60.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0b013e3181ced83d
 Hinton-Walker, P. (2010, September-October). The TIGER initiative: A call to
accept and pass the baton. Nursing Economics, 28, 352-355. Retrieved from
www.nursingeconomics.net
 Revloutionary leadership driving healthcare innovation: The TIGER leadership
development collaborative report. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.thetigerinitiative.org/docs/TigerReport_Leadership_Collaborative.p
df
 The TIGER initiative foundation, the leadership imperative: TIGER’s
recommendations for integrating technology into practice and education.
(n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.thetigerinitiative.org/docs/TIGERReportTheLeadershipImperative.p
df