AACN Essentials Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice
“Focuses on the discipline of nursing knowledge and other disciplinary knowledge.” (AACN, 2021, p. 27).
AACN Essentials Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
“Focuses on health information technology” (AACN, 2021, p. 46).
Domain 8: Essential Knowledge
To meet the objectives for Domain 8, knowledge is required in:
- Effective utilization of information and communication technologies and informatics tools
- Understanding the impact of various technologies and the relationship with data collection, information formed, decisions making and knowledge generation
- Benefits of information and communication technology on people, processes, and policies to improve quality of care, efficiency of communication, and connections between team members, individuals, and consumers
- Importance of advocating for the promotion of equitable access and assist individuals and consumers to maximize use of these tools for engagement in care, improve health and manage health conditions
- Role in analysis, planning, implementation, and evaluation of health information technology
Domain 8: Leveling of the AACN Essential Objectives
“8.1 Describe the various information and communication technology tools used in the care of individuals, communities, and populations.” |
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| Beginning of Program | Middle of Program | End of Program | |
| “8.1g Identify best evidence and practices for the application of information and communication technologies to support care.” | Review clinical technology resources to facilitate evidence-based practice. | Apply clinical technology resources to clinical setting | Demonstrate ability to utilize clinical technology resources to facilitate healthcare outcomes. |
| “8.1h Evaluate the unintended consequences of information and communication technologies on care processes, communications, and information flow across care settings.” | Complete HIPAA and EHR/PHI security compliance programs with a lens of the advanced practice nursing role. | Analyze unintended consequences of information and communication technology care processes in clinical setting. | Formulate a plan to reduce identified unintended consequences of information and communication technology care processes in clinical setting. |
| “8.1i Propose a plan to influence the selection and implementation of new information and communication technologies.” | Identify challenges and barriers with information and community technology in current practice setting. | Recommend changes in current processes to address system-wide process related to clinical practice to support quality outcomes. | Design a plan of action to address challenges and barriers of information and community technology in current practice setting. |
| “8.1j Explore the fiscal impact of information and communication technologies on health care.” | Examine the cost related to use of EHR and other costs of information and technology platforms. | Compare and contrast costs of various information and technology platforms. | Present fiscal impact of information and technology platforms to decision making stakeholders. |
| “8.1k Identify the impact of information and communication technologies on workflow processes and healthcare outcomes.” | Evaluate workflow processes challenges in advanced practice nursing. | Analyze workflow processes and impact on healthcare outcomes. | Redesign workflow processes to enhance workflow processes and healthcare outcomes. |
“8.2 Use information and communication technology to gather data, create information, and generate knowledge.” |
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| Beginning of Program | Middle of Program | End of Program | |
| “8.2f Generate information and knowledge from health information technology databases.” | Identify health information technology databases related to advanced practice nursing. | Apply information and knowledge from health information technology databases in PMH advanced practice role. | Design management plans integrating information and knowledge from health information technology databases to promote quality healthcare outcomes. |
| “8.2g Evaluate the use of communication technology to improve consumer health information literacy.” |
Identify communication technologies that can be used to enhance health information literacy. | Demonstrate effective use of communication technology to improve consumer health information literacy. | Propose modifications to communication technology to promote quality healthcare outcomes. |
| “8.2h Use standardized data to evaluate decision making and outcomes across all systems levels.” | Identify standardized databases for advanced practice nursing. | Compare standardized data to select the most relevant to support decision making and outcomes across all levels. | Propose a plan to evaluate decision making and outcomes across all systems levels integrating the best standardized data. |
| “8.2i Clarify how the collection of standardized data advances the practice, understanding, and value of nursing and supports care.” | Discuss the use of standardized data to improve health outcomes. | Integrate collection of standardized data in PMH advanced practice role. | Formulate a recommendation relevant to the specific PMH advanced practice highlighting the application of standardized data. |
| “8.2j Interpret primary and secondary data and other information to support care.” | Compare primary and secondary databases which support advanced nursing practice. | Apply primary and secondary data and other information to inform PMH advanced nurse practice. | Create a PMH advanced practice management plan using primary and secondary data to promote quality healthcare outcomes. |
“8.3 Use information and communication technologies and informatics processes to deliver safe nursing care to diverse populations in a variety of settings.” |
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| Beginning of Program | Middle of Program | End of Program | |
| “8.3g Evaluate the use of information and communication technology to address needs, gaps, and inefficiencies in care.” | Identify the gaps and inefficiencies in care delivery. | Explore various information and communication technology platforms that address needs, gaps, and inefficiencies in healthcare. | Integrate information and communication technology platforms to meet needs, reduce gaps, and improve efficiencies in healthcare. |
| “8.3h Formulate a plan to influence decision making processes for selecting, implementing, and evaluating support tools.” | Identify algorithm to facilitate decision making related to information and communication technology. | Incorporate an algorithm in a PMH advanced practice setting to identify the most effective tool. | Produce an implementation plan integrating the selected tool to improve healthcare outcomes in PMH advanced practice. |
| “8.3i Appraise the role of information and communication technologies in engaging the individual and supporting the nurse-individual relationship.” | Assess information and communication technologies to enhance the individual satisfaction and the nurse-individual relationship. | Integrate one type of information and communication technology in PMH advanced practice. | Demonstrate integration of a variety of information and communication technologies to support quality healthcare outcomes. |
| “8.3j Evaluate the potential uses and impact of emerging technologies in health care.” | Identify emerging technologies in healthcare. | Select strategies to reduce inequities in digital access to data and information. | Create a plan to address inequities in digital access to data and information and present to key stakeholders. |
| “8.3k Pose strategies to reduce inequities in digital access to data and information.” | Identify access inequities in data and information technologies. | Select strategies to reduce inequities in digital access to data and information. | Create a plan to address inequities in digital access to data and information and present to key stakeholders. |
“8.4 Use information and communication technology to support documentation of care and communication among providers, individuals, and all system levels.” |
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| Beginning of Program | Middle of Program | End of Program | |
| “8.4e Assess best practices for the use of advanced information and communication technologies to support individual and team communications.” | Identify information and communication technology to facilitate individual and team communication. | Apply communication technology to facilitate individual and team communication. | Evaluate communication technology to facilitate individual and team communication. |
| “8.4f Employ electronic health, mobile health, and telehealth systems to enable quality, ethical, and efficient individual care.” | Explain how information and communication technology enables quality, ethical and efficient individual care. | Review electronic health systems that would improve processes for practice. | Demonstrate the use of multiple electronic health, mobile health, and telehealth systems to facilitate healthcare outcomes. |
| “8.4g Evaluate the impact of health information exchange, interoperability, and integration to support individual-centered care.” | Conduct a literature search related to the interoperability and integration of communication technologies. | Discuss the risks and benefits of interoperability and various information and communication technologies. | Analyze impact of risks and benefits to support individual care in advance practice nurse role. |
“8.5 Use information and communication technologies in accordance with ethical, legal, professional, and regulatory standards, and workplace policies in the delivery of care.” |
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| Beginning of Program | Middle of Program | End of Program | |
| “8.5g Apply risk mitigation and security strategies to reduce misuse of information and communication technology.” | Explore risk mitigation and security strategies to reduce misuse of health information. | Compare and contrast risk mitigation strategies. | Develop a risk mitigation and security strategy to reduce misuse of health information. |
| “8.5h Assess potential ethical and legal issues associated with the use of information and communication technology.” | Identify ethical and legal standards of practice in the advanced practice nurse role related to information and communication technology. | Analyze ethical legal issues associated with standards of practice related to use of information and communication technology. | Plan strategies to mitigate ethical and legal issues associated with use of information and communication technology. |
| “8.5i Recommend strategies to protect health information when using communication and information technology.” | Complete required HIPAA compliance and protective health information (PHI) programs. | Review strategies to protect health information at clinical practicum sites when using communication and technology strategies. | Compare standard HIPAA and protective information programs to clinical practicum sites and recommend changes as needed. |
| “8.5j Promote individual engagement with their personal health data.” | Identify current information and communication technologies available to individuals for use of personal health data. | Educate individuals on use of current information and technology associated with health data. | Critique individual use of current health information and technology with individual and IT. |
| “8.5k Advocate for policies and regulations that support the appropriate use of technologies impacting health care.” | Identify current policies and regulations related to information and communication technology at practice site. | Compare PMH practice site’s policies related to use of technologies and health care to national standards. | Advocate for change in and to update policies related to technologies. |
| “8.5l Analyze the impact of federal and state policies and regulation on health data and technology in care settings.” | Identify federal and state policies/regulations on health data and technology in care settings. | Compare current policies/regulations to policies/regulations for change. | Recommend policies/recommendation for change in next 10 years. |
Domain 8: Teaching/Learning Strategies
Examples of types of assignments, discussion boards addressing health information and technology.
Example 1: Assignments
- Telehealth simulation
- Simulation with Translator- Language, hearing
- Demonstrate use of technology in individual simulation
Example 2: Discussion Boards
Apps
- Identify 3 communication apps appropriate for use in mental health settings.
- Review pros/cons of each app based on literature review.
- Investigate cost of apps for use in mental health settings.
- Based on your review, select which app you would recommend to a mental health setting.
CHATGPT
- Develop a case study and determine a diagnosis and treatment plan to enter into EHR.
- Submit the same case study to CHAT GPT and ask for a diagnosis and treatment plan to enter EHR.
- Compare results between own documentation and CHATGPT.
- Discuss what you have learned from using CHATGPT to advance documentation.
Domain 8: Resources
Articles/Textbooks
American Nurses Association. (2022). Nursing informatics: Scope and standards of practice (3rd ed.). American
Nurses Association.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2020). Issues in ethics: Ethical use of social media.
Https://www.asha.org/practice/ethics/ethical-use-of-social-media
Dorsey, B. F., Kamimura, A., Holsti, M. (2022). Communication gaps between providers and caregivers of individuals in a pediatric emergency department. Journal of Individual Experience, 9, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735221112223
Franjić, S. (2020). Information technology in nursing. International Journal of Research Studies in Medical and Health Sciences, 5(12), 8-15. https://www.ijrsmhs.com/pdf/v5-i12/2.pdf
Fox, S. (2009). Informatics for consumer health: Privacy, security and confidentiality. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2009/11/06/informatics-for-consumer-health-privacy-security-and-confidentiality/
Hagerty, T. A., Samuels, W., Norcini-Pala, A., & Gigliotti, E. (2017). Peplaus’s theory of interpersonal relations: An alternate factor structure for individual experience data? Nursing Science Quarterly, 30(2), 160–167. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318417693286
Health data, technology, and interoperability: Certification program updates, algorithm transparency, and information sharing (HTI-1) final rule (n.d.). HealthIT.gov.
https://www.healthit.gov/topic/laws-regulation-and-policy/health-data-technology-and-interoperability-certification-program
HealthIT.gov (2025). Health IT Legislation. https://www.healthit.gov/topic/laws-regulation-and-policy/health-it-legislation
Institute of Medicine. (2011). Innovations in health literacy research: Workshop summary. The National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209677/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK209677.pdf
Knee, M., & Gebresellassie, M. (2023, February 22). New releases: SDOH toolkit and learning forum sessions for the health IT community. Health IT Buzz Blog, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. https://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/public-health/new-releases-sdoh-toolkit-and-learning-forum-sessions-for-the-health-it-community
Koo, L. W., Horowitz, A. M., Radice, S. D., Wang, M. Q., & Kleinman, D. V. (2016). Nurse practitioners’ use of communication techniques: Results of a Maryland oral health literacy survey. PloS One, 11(1), e0146545. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0146545
Macieira, T. G. R., Chianca, T. C. M., Smith, M. B., Yao, Y., Bian, J., Wilkie, D. J., Dunn Lopez, K., & Keenan, G. M. (2019). Secondary use of standardized nursing care data for advancing nursing science and practice: A systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(11), 1401–1411. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocz086
McBride, S., Tietze, M. (2022). Nursing informatics for the advanced practice nurse: Individual safety, quality, outcomes, and interprofessionalism (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing.
Nibbelink, C. W., Young, J. R., Carrington, J. M., & Brewer, B. B. (2018). Informatics solutions for application of decision-making skills. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 30(2), 237–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnc.2018.02.006
Ongor, M. & Uslusoy, E.C. (2023). The effect of multimedia-based education in e-learning on nursing students’ academic success and motivation: A randomized controlled study. Nurse Education in Practice, 71, 103686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103686
Park Y. T. (2016). Emerging new era of mobile health technologies. Healthcare Informatics Research, 22(4), 253–254. https://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2016.22.4.253
Pawelek, J., Baca-Motes, K., Pandit, J. A., Berk, B. B., & Ramos, E. (2022). The power of individual engagement with electronic health records as research participants. JMIR Medical Informatics, 10(7), e39145. https://doi.org/10.2196/39145
Teisberg, E., Wallace, S., & O’Hara, S. (2020). Defining and implementing value-based health care: A strategic framework. Academic Medicine, 95(5), 682–685. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000003122
Websites
ANA Enterprise: Social media
Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA): Office for the Advancement of Telehealth
HealthIT.gov: Official Website of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy
National Digital Inclusion Alliance
U.S. Department of Education: Protecting Student Privacy
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Health Information Privacy
