The Fourth International "Nursing Informatics '91" Preconference sessions held in Melbourne Australia on the 12th and 13th April 1991 hosted by the Nursing Computer Group, Victoria Inc. (N.C.G.V.) and I.M.I.A. Working Group 8. The aims of both the International Committee and the N.C.G.V.are to provide our Nursing Colleagues nationally and internationally with access to a wide range of information about computers awareness literacy ,and, the sharing of experiences. As technology advances and nurses understand their particular practice setting needs, progress in the area of nursing informatics will be an expanding arena for Industry and knowledge. Papers such as those presented here will contribute greatly to the dissemination of todays knowledge base and hopefully assist in our expansion as we move toward the year 2000. The vision and subsequent motivation of hosting an International Informatics Meeting is that a few very dedicated nurses can encourage their colleagues to approach this newly defined specialty with openness and enthusiasm. If nurses are not able to attend these sessions the papers presented here demonstrate care and commitment to the learning opportunities afforded nurses in Australia and Internationally.

I. Bedside Terminals

1 Participation of Nurses In The Development of A Computerized Bedside Charting System
2 The Development And Implementation of A Computerized Bedside Based Nurse Documentation System
3 A US Developed Nursing System-Will It Work In Australia?
4 Vision On Bedside Nursing Information Systems
5 Bedside 90-A New Concept In Information Handling At The Ward
6 Point of Care Terminals: A Blessing Or A Curse?
II. Introduction to the Use of Computers and Information Science
7 An Introduction To Basic Computer Concepts
8 Role of The Nurse In Implementing Nursing Information Systems
9 Using Computers In Nurse Education, Staff Development And Patient Education
10 Changing Stereotypes
11 Future Developments In Information Technology: Potential Impact On Nursing And Patient Care
III. Standards and Minimum Data Sets
12 Network Based Healthcare Computing Applications
13 The Challenges of Developing The Challenges of Developing A National Minimum Data Set In A Changing World
14 Development of The National Minimum Data Set For Institutional Health Services
15 Standardized, Comparable, Essential Data Available Through The Nursing Minimum Data Set
16 Community Nursing Minimum Data Set-Australia
17 Developing Criteria And Guidelines For Nursing Documentation
IV. Systems Supporting Nursing Practice
18 Data Protection In Nursing Informatics; Balancing Privacy Aspects And Shared Use
19 Development of A Nursing Information System: Keys To Success
20 Quality Assurance And An Automated Health Care Record
21 The Role of Nursing In Computer Automated O.R. Systems: Bridging The Gap From Technology To Implementation
22 How To Harness The Power of information Technology To Benefit Patient Care
23 Nursing Benefits Realization:Effective Nursing Information Management Systems
V. Computers and Information Technology in Nursing Education and Training
24 Computers And Information Technology In Nurse Education-The English Experience.