Features of Nursing Management Information Systems: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: A nursing management information system is a decision support system for nursing managers. The present literature review aimed to systematically examine the features of different nursing management information systems employed by nursing managers in different countries. Method: For this purpose, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched using various combinations of English words, including “management information system”, “decision support system”, “information system” and different equivalents of “nursing management”. Research articles in English published between 2000 and 2018 were searched. Results: Eventually, 21 articles were selected and analyzed. The analysis showed that different systems were used to meet various nursing management objectives. More often than not, the purpose of using nursing management information systems was to plan and manage human resources, measure nursing workload, determine the correct nurse-to- patient ratios, run shifts, and manage and control costs. Furthermore, systems referred to as nursing management information systems were based on patient classification or workload measurement systems, or systems supporting planning and budgeting through integrating nursing resource information with hospital resource measurement. There was no centralized or consistent database for obtaining information required for nursing management objectives. Conclusion: Countries employed various systems to provide diverse nursing management objectives, and the overriding goal of these systems was to plan and manage human resources.