On the surface, big data and nursing may seem unrelated. However, nurses contribute to the collection of big data every day by capturing health information via electronic health record (EHR) systems. But how is this data being used?
John M. Welton, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, a professor at the University of Colorado College of Nursing in Aurora, Colo., and Ellen Harper DNP, RN-BC, MBA, FAAN, vice-president and chief nursing officer of Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, Mo., discussed the value of healthcare data in their presentation, “Big data and nursing care: What would Florence say?” at the 2016 American Nurses Association Annual Conference last spring. We followed up with John to learn more about how big data is transforming nursing practice.