How can clinical informatics be applied to nursing council competencies? Can nurses demonstrate they meet the competencies for registered nurses that describe the nurses’ scope of practice?  In this series of articles, Deb Boyd discusses each nursing council domain, and how it relates to nursing informatics.

Domain Three: Interpersonal relationships

Competency 3.1 
Establishes, maintains and concludes therapeutic interpersonal relationships with health consumers. (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2016)

This competency requires nurses to demonstrate they have positive interactions with patients establishing, maintaining and ending therapeutic relationships with their patients.

Technology enables  and supports relationships with consumers in a wide variety of ways.

Firstly, Telehealth which has been the star of our COVID-19 response. This technology enables nurses to speak with their patients either by phone or by video call to check in and follow-up on any concerns.

Secondly software applications are now available which enable patients to participate in their health care in a variety of ways. Some examples are reminding  them to take their medications, check their blood sugar or blood pressure and these results can be made available to nurses for review.

Having access to this information enables nurses to have informed conversations with their patients and patients aren’t disadvantage by lack of access or an ability to visit face to face with a nurse.
Improving access for patients so that healthcare can be delivered in the home through the use of technology can build trust and confidence in a healthcare provider.

Patient Management Systems can also help build positive relationships with nurses. Many have a space for a patient’s photo which can be helpful for nurses being able to identify who they are speaking to. Patients can often email the nurse directly and get a prompt response to questions or concerns.

Competency 3.2 
Practises nursing in a negotiated partnership with the health consumer where and when possible.

This competency requires nurses to demonstrate they are able to provide information to their patients in a way that they understand the information they are given and can make decisions regarding their care.

Technology can help immensely with this. Being able to provide information to patients using a variety of media can help translate information so people can understand it better. The use of video in a patient’s own language can be very useful, and video as a tool instead of having to read medical information is very successful.

When nurses are working with a reliable patient management system they have access to data about the patient and their support network. This can really help build trust and confidence.

Competency 3.3 
Communicates effectively with health consumers and members of the health care team.

Technology assists with communication when consumers speak a different language. For people who are deaf or where English is their second language communicating medical information can be quite difficult. Nurses can use technology to their advantage, google translate can help with understanding key words for both parties.

Having key medical information available in video format in different languages can be extremely helpful for nurses.

Websites now can be developed where you can choose the language you want to read the information in.

Smart phones also offer nurses a great deal of accessibility functions when dealing with patients who require support.

Nurses involved in management, education, research and policy making are able to use technology in a variety of ways for communication and transfer of information. Online learning, developing and delivering content using digital platforms has made information so accessible and learning has been able to continue despite people’s movements being restricted.

ZOOM and Microsoft Teams have enabled people to remain connected when travel is restricted so nurses involved in the areas of management, education, research and policy making need to demonstrate proficiency in the use of these mediums.

Nursing Council of New Zealand. (2007). Competencies for registered nurses. Wellington, New Zealand: Author. (Amended September, 2016).

Deb Boyd is the CEO of Auckland Eye. She is a Registered Nurse, Certified Health Informatician Australasia, has a PG Dip in Health Services Mgmt and serves on the Board of HiNZ and Blind and Low Vision New Zealand.