The 11th annual Nursing Knowledge: Big Data Science (NKBDS) Conference brought together national experts to discuss the value of nursing and the ways informatics can foster improvements in nursing practice, research, education, and leadership. The NKBDS conference, held June 7 to 9 at McNamara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, discussed enhanced collaborations among informaticists, nurse leaders, and executives; nursing value; and the synthesis and planning of more than 15 leaders and the members of eight workgroups (Table 1) who advance the NKBDS Initiative year-round.1
Five preconference sessions provided a deep dive into specific emergent content and innovations related to the NKBDS Initiative, hosted by national experts (NKBDS, 2023). Session 1 was presented by leaders from the fields of public health and nursing informatics, sharing HIT case studies and showcasing the power of partnerships in informatics, as well as health information technology tools that have been implemented across organizations, driven by patient needs, market pressures, and regulatory requirements. Session 2 examined the process of developing knowledge models and the appropriate method for encoding them, using LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers, Names, and Codes) and SNOMED-CT (Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms) to support interoperability. Session 3 explored nursing terminologies/standards and their current applications in real-world settings; this session included presentations of four abstracts selected via peer review from the inaugural NKBDS conference open call for abstracts. Experts from the United States, Canada, Italy, and Brazil provided use cases to better understand the potential of using nursing terminologies/standards for applications aiming to improve patient care. Session 4 discussed basic Fast Health Interoperability Resources (FHIR) concepts and their strengths and limitations. There was a review of Health Level 7 FHIR history, background, and fundamental principles; examples of applications using the SMART on FHIR platform were also discussed.2 Session 5 provided a review of the state of academic education and postgraduate novice-to-expert education frameworks "in the field" and discussed new approaches to education. The presenters offered case-based studies, frameworks for integrating technology components into class, each AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) Essentials domain, the job descriptions, clinical ladders, onboarding/ongoing education, and residency programs.
Olga Yakusheva, PhD, MSE, University of Michigan School of Nursing, delivered the keynote, "The Age of Big Data in Healthcare: Demonstrating the Value of Nursing to Patient Outcomes." Dr Yakusheva discussed the development of a new method for outcomes-based clinician performance productivity measurement using electronic medical records. She was able to measure, for the first time, the value-added contributions of individual nurses to patient outcomes. As a closing keynote, Robyn Begley, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, American Organization for Nursing Leadership CEO and American Hospital Association CNO, delivered "Nurse Executives, Big Data, and Leading Healthcare Transformation." Dr Begley addressed the current healthcare environment and workforce issues. The essential role of nurse executives was further expanded by the panel of leaders and executives, including Connie White Delaney, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FNAP; Rhonda Kasik, DNP, RN, CENP; and Ryannon K. Frederick, MS, RN. The utilization of nurse informaticists and integration of data, information, and knowledge demonstrated an impact on showing the value of nursing. Additional topics included care delivery models, workforce issues, and forging new partnerships.
Workgroups who work year-round gather to share and synthesize their achievements over the last year, enhance synergy among workgroups, and develop action plans for the upcoming year. The vitality of the workgroups includes the creation, merging, and coalescence of groups. A complete full list of workgroups, their leadership, annual reports, current activities, and opportunities for engagement are available online at http://z.umn.edu/bigdata.
The 2024 NKBDS Conference will be held on June 5 to 7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Updated information, as available, can be found on the NKBDS Initiative website (http://z.umn.edu/bigdata).
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the NKBDS Steering Committee 2022-2023 members: Whende M. Carroll, MSN, RN-BC, FHIMSS; Alvin Jeffery, PhD, RN, CCRN-K, FNP-BC; Laura Heermann Langford, PhD, RN, FAMIA; Cathy Ivory (eRepository Liaison), PhD, RN-BC, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, FAAN; Susan Matney, PhD, RNC-OB, FAAN, FACMI, FHIMSS, FAMIA, FHL7; Erin D. Maughan, PhD, RN, PHNA-BC, FNASN, FAAN; Judy Murphy, DN (hon), RN, FACMI, LFHIMSS, FAAN; Joyce Sensmeier MS, RN-BC, FHIMSS, FAAN; and Charlotte Weaver, PhD, MSPH, RN.
References