Improving Quality and Safety in Graduate Education Using an Electronic Student Tracking System

The Institute of Medicine report on the future of nursing, the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative, and the Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform movement are among the most prominent forces guiding change related to information technology and informatics in nursing to improve quality and safety in practice. Informatics competencies are essential for psychiatric nurses to leverage and integrate information technology into education, practice, and research. This article examines informatics and information technology from the perspective of educational preparation of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Literature related to informatics, information technology, and quality and safety in advanced practice psychiatric nursing. Strategies for integration of information technology in educating psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students are described. Informatics competency will result in safer and higher quality care.