Systems life cycle: strategy for managing the impact of informawn systems on nursing

The impact of information systems on nursing is profound given that a major component of patient care is information handling. The use of the systems life cycle framework for managing change is a strategy that should employ the nursing administrator's commitment from feasibility study to evaluation of any system implementation. Generally, problems will be encountered during various phases of the systems life cycle that must be anticipated by utilizing planned, flexible interventions to cope with the impact of organizational change. Issues which require a commitment from the nursing profession in assisting administration with supporting patient care in new technological environments will also be explored.