Nurses as Knowledge Workers
The nursing profession is known as one of "life-long learning", where education is continuous and constant. McGonigle and Mastrian concur that "it has been established that nurses use data and information. This information is then converted into knowledge. The nurse then acts on this knowledge by initiating a plan of care, updating an existing one, or maintaining the status quo" (2012, p.124).
Nurses are indeed seen as knowledge workers due to the complexities of their of their work. Synder-Halpern, Corcoran-Perry and Narayan advise that "Nurses rely on extensive clinical information and highly specialized knowledge to implement and evaluate the processes and outcomes of their clinical decision making. As healthcare becomes more knowledge intensive, nurses are challenged to effectively manage clinical information and keep abreast of professional knowledge. Rapid proliferation of new knowledge, expanding professional practice expectations, and dynamic and uncertain practice environments require that nurses become lifelong learners capable of constantly reflecting on and modifying their practice" (2001, p.17).
Synder-Halpern et al., (2001) have identified the following four tasks associated with human information processing:
1. Data gathering
2. Information use
3. Creative application of knowledge to clinical practice
4. Generation of new knowledge.
These four tasks are then associated with the four roles below that nursing takes on as knowledge workers:
1. Data gatherer
2. Information user
3. Knowledge user
4. Knowledge builder
Nurses are indeed seen as knowledge workers due to the complexities of their of their work. Synder-Halpern, Corcoran-Perry and Narayan advise that "Nurses rely on extensive clinical information and highly specialized knowledge to implement and evaluate the processes and outcomes of their clinical decision making. As healthcare becomes more knowledge intensive, nurses are challenged to effectively manage clinical information and keep abreast of professional knowledge. Rapid proliferation of new knowledge, expanding professional practice expectations, and dynamic and uncertain practice environments require that nurses become lifelong learners capable of constantly reflecting on and modifying their practice" (2001, p.17).
Synder-Halpern et al., (2001) have identified the following four tasks associated with human information processing:
1. Data gathering
2. Information use
3. Creative application of knowledge to clinical practice
4. Generation of new knowledge.
These four tasks are then associated with the four roles below that nursing takes on as knowledge workers:
1. Data gatherer
2. Information user
3. Knowledge user
4. Knowledge builder