Anne Dabrow Woods: Revolutionizing Nursing Informatics and Empowering Nurses

In the dynamic world of healthcare, the role of nursing informatics has become increasingly crucial. Anne Dabrow Woods, DNP, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC, AGACNP-BC, FAAN, Chief Nurse at Wolters Kluwer Health, is a leading figure in the field, spearheading efforts to provide nurses with the information and tools they need to excel in their profession. With a wealth of experience and a passion for empowering nurses, Dr. Woods sheds light on the importance of nursing informatics and shares valuable insights for aspiring informaticists.

Anne has dedicated nearly four decades to nursing, with diverse roles ranging from critical care nurse practitioner to editor and publisher. Her impressive career has equipped her with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that nurses encounter throughout their journey. She passionately believes in the power of education and strives to facilitate learning for nurses at every stage of their careers.

She emphasizes, "Nursing is about caring and being courageous enough to stand up for what is right, supporting people’s journey from birth to death, and making sure everyone has the right to quality healthcare and to achieve their optimum health. My mission is to help nurses realize the impact they can make in the world."

Nursing informatics plays a pivotal role in enhancing patient care and optimizing healthcare systems. However, the true value of nursing care often gets overshadowed by other healthcare disciplines. Anne recognizes this challenge and works tirelessly to shift the paradigm.

She asserts, "Until we change our thinking and move nursing care from the cost side of the ledger to the revenue side, we will struggle with defining nursing's worth from a financial perspective." At Wolters Kluwer, Anne ensures that the products and solutions developed align with nurses' needs, reduce documentation burden, and provide vital information for delivering quality patient care.

To advance the field of nursing informatics, Anne emphasizes the importance of supporting emerging leaders. Informaticists possess the expertise to evaluate data, improve practice, streamline workflows, and enhance patient outcomes. With healthcare constantly evolving, their role has never been more vital.

Reflecting on the significance of informaticists, Anne states, "The role of the nursing informaticist has never been more important in healthcare than today." By providing guidance, mentorship, and resources, the nursing informatics community can nurture the next generation of leaders and drive positive change in healthcare.

For those embarking on a career in nursing informatics, Anne offers valuable advice: be courageous and embrace the power of innovation. She encourages informaticists to challenge the status quo, think differently, and take calculated risks. Driven by the spirit of risk-taking, they can pave the way for transformative breakthroughs in healthcare.

Many nurses may be unaware of the breadth and depth of the impact nursing informaticists have in healthcare. To get involved, Anne suggests exploring the websites and attending conferences of influential organizations such as HIMSS, AMIA, ANIA, and ANI. Engaging with healthcare organization's informaticists can also provide valuable insights into their role and contributions.

 

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