Advancing Nursing Practice Through Continuing Education in Nursing Informatics
Self-paced
0.75 credits
Full course description
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Describe the core concepts of nursing informatics and explain how informatics supports safe, efficient, and evidence based nursing practice.
Summarize the historical development of healthcare informatics and its influence on current clinical workflows.
Differentiate between an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and an Electronic Health Record (EHR) by identifying key features and uses in clinical settings.
Explain the purpose of Health Information Exchange (HIE) and identify how interoperability improves continuity of care and clinical decision making.
Identify best practices for Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) and safe order entry processes within the clinical environment.
Evaluate strategies that support successful adoption of new clinical technologies, including change management principles relevant to nursing practice.
Identify emerging trends and technologies that are shaping the future of nursing informatics and consider their potential impact on patient care and nursing roles.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This continuing education course provides a comprehensive introduction to nursing informatics and its influence on modern nursing practice. Participants will examine the evolution of informatics in healthcare, learn the distinctions between EMRs and EHRs, and explore the essential concepts of interoperability, health information exchange, and computerized provider order entry. The course also addresses strategies for technology adoption, change management, and EHR enhancements. Learners will gain insight into emerging innovations—including artificial intelligence and remote patient monitoring—and leave with a stronger understanding of how digital tools support safe, high quality, evidence based care.
* Course discount available for UT Austin faculty/staff/students. Email utson_cne@nursing.utexas.edu for the discount code.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Allie Portwood, RN BSN MHA, is a clinical informatics leader with over 14 years of experience in acute care and health systems. She is the Director of Clinical Informatics at Methodist Healthcare in San Antonio, where she leads informatics strategy, EHR optimization, and technology enabled workflow improvements.
Previously, she served as an RN Clinical Informatics & Educator at Medina Regional Hospital, supporting staff and providers, leading the Meditech Expanse implementation, and coordinating clinical education and workflow optimization.
Allie’s earlier clinical experience includes RN case management and specialty unit work in trauma, transplant, and surgical step down care. She holds a BSN from The University of Texas at Austin and an MHA from Maryville University. She is committed to advancing nursing practice through education, thoughtful technology adoption, and data driven improvement.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION
ADVANCING NURSING PRACTICE THROUGH CONTINUING EDUCATION IN NURSING INFORMATICS
Presented by:
Allie Portwood, RN BSN MHA
Disclosure to Participants
This activity expires February 1, 2029, and after that time, even if the course is still accessible it cannot be used for nursing continuing education credits. UT Austin School of Nursing accredited provider unit is not responsible for any use of the program beyond its expiration date.
Accreditation Statement
University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Requirements for Successful Completion
To receive contact hours for this continuing education activity, the participant must sign in, attend the entire activity, and complete and submit the evaluation form. Once successful completion has been verified, a “Certificate of Successful Completion” will be awarded for .75 contact hours.
Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual has an opportunity to affect or impact educational content with which he or she may have a commercial interest or a potentially biasing relationship of a financial nature. All planners and presenters/authors/content reviewers must disclose the presence or absence of a conflict of interest relative to this activity.
The activity’s Nurse Planner has determined that no one who has the ability to control the content of this CNE activity – planning committee members and presenters/authors/content reviewers – has a conflict of interest.
Education Disclaimer
The author(s) of this continuing education activity have made reasonable efforts to ensure that all information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific evidence at the time of publication. However, because information regarding medications, treatment guidelines, and other healthcare information is subject to constant change, the participant is advised to always confirm practice resources before applying any learned information in practice. Activities produced by UT Austin School of Nursing are intended solely for purposes of supplementing health care professionals’ knowledge. The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views of The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.
Time to complete this module: 45 minutes
Original release date: 2/1/2026
End date: 2/1/2029