Skills for Nursing Informatics Leaders

Dr. Karen A. Monsen is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota and a prominent figure in the field of nursing informatics. With a career spanning over two decades, she has been a pioneer in integrating health information technology to enhance practice quality and population health outcomes. Dr. Monsen's journey began as a nurse manager when she implemented a computerized documentation system in a public health department in 1999, which sparked her interest in data-driven healthcare improvement. Since 2007, she has focused on informatics research using large datasets to develop methodologies that link nursing interventions to client outcomes. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the Dobzhansky Award for lifetime achievements in behavioral genetics and recognition as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.In addition to her research, Dr. Monsen teaches several courses aimed at advancing nursing informatics, including Interprofessional Healthcare Informatics, Leadership in Interprofessional Informatics, and Nursing Informatics Training and Education. She leads the Omaha System Partnership for Knowledge Discovery and Health Care Quality, collaborating with international affiliates to promote evidence-based practices in nursing. Dr. Monsen's work emphasizes the importance of giving healthcare professionals a data-based voice to advocate for improved care outcomes. Through her innovative teaching and research initiatives, she continues to transform nursing education and practice, ensuring that nurses are equipped to leverage informatics for better patient care