1. NURSING INFORMATICS: ISSUES AND ETHICAL APPLICATIONS By: Christine Marie M. Amodia

2. What is Nursing Informatics? A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information and knowledge in nursing practice Nursing Informatics (NI) became prominent as a clinical specialty in the 1970's and has grown over the past three or more decades. In 1994, the American Nurses' Association recognized nursing informatics as a professional specialty, and certification is now available at the generalist level.

3. N URSING INFORMATICS IN THE PHILIPPINES Early in 2009, Mr. Kristian R. Sumabat and Ms. Mia Alcantara-Santiago, both nurses and graduate students of Master of Science in Health Informatics at the University of the Philippines, Manila began drafting plans to create a nursing informatics organization. In February 2010, they began recruiting other nursing informatics specialists and practitioners to organize a group which later became as the Philippine Nursing Informatics Association.

4. O THER FOUNDING MEMBERS Ms. Sheryl Ochea, a graduate of Master of Science in Nursing major in nursing informatics at Xavier University (Ohio, USA) Ms. Alexandra Bernal, a graduate student and telehealth nurse of the National Telehealth Center Ms. Pia Pelayo, a former telehealth nurse and a project coordinator of the National Epidemiology Center, Department of Health Mr. Sid Cardenas, also a telehealth nurse. Mr. Noel Bañez Ms. Rona Abcede Mr. Harby Ongbay Abellanosa.

5. I SSUES AND CHALLENGES Mismatch of the international materials and local needs Lack of certification and credentialing programs in post graduate levels Scarcity of local nursing informatics experts Gain acceptance and recognition in Philippine nursing community as a subspecialty

6. E THICAL APPLICATIONS Ethics: a process of systematically examining varying viewpoints related to moral questions of right and wrong Bioethics: study and formulation of health care ethics As technology advances increased, recognition and acknowledgment of rights and the needs of individuals and groups receiving this high tech care also increased

7. T HEORETICAL APPROACHES Principlism Nonmaleficence Autonomy Beneficence Justice Antiprinciplism Casuistry Bioethical Decision Making (Husted): autonomy, freedom, veracity, privacy, beneficence, fidelity Care Ethics

8. Each method reflects an important aspect of ethical experience, adds to the others, and enriches the ethical imagination. In order to make ethical decisions about informatics technologies and patients’ intimate healthcare data and information, we must be informatics competent. Just as we use processes and models to diagnose and treat our patients in practice, we can also apply a model in the analysis and synthesis of ethical dilemmas or cases.

9. E THICAL MODEL FOR DECISION MAKING E xamine the ethical dilemma T horoughly comprehend the possible alternatives H ypothesize ethical arguments I nvestigate, compare, and evaluate the arguments for each alternative C hoose the alternative you would recommend A ct on your chosen alternative L ook at the ethical dilemma and examine the outcomes while reflecting on the ethical decision

10. T HINK ABOUT THIS... As we move into the high speed era of digital communications, the rights and the needs of individuals and groups will be of utmost concern to all healthcare professionals. The changing meaning of “communication” alone will bring with it new concerns by healthcare professionals for protecting clients’ right of confidentiality, privacy and autonomy. The concept of nonmaleficence, or do no harm, will be broadened to include those individuals and groups we may never see in person, but with whom we will enter into a professional relationship of trust and care. Systematic and flexible ethical decision making abilities will be essential for all health care professionals.