Honoring National Nurses Month: Celebrating Nursing Informatics and the Power of Community

By Tammy Kwiatkoski, MBA, CAE, FHIMSS, Senior Director, Operations and Implementation, HIMSS, and Cait Obenauf, MBA, SHIMSS, Senior Program Manager, Informatics, HIMSS

As program managers at HIMSS, we are deeply committed to advancing the nursing discipline by creating space for thought leadership, member engagement, and meaningful collaboration. Though we are not nurses ourselves, we have the honor of supporting those who are. Through our work with the HIMSS Nursing Informatics Community and beyond, we help guide nurse informaticists to bring their innovation, expertise, and impact to healthcare every day through community building, task forces and workgroups. Whether facilitating a task force, producing resources, or developing educational webinars, we take pride in supporting these professionals.

With over 4 million registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and advance practice registered nurses in the U.S., nurses represent the largest professional group in healthcare. This workforce is navigating an ever-changing environment shaped by digital health transformation, AI advancements, and increasing cybersecurity and privacy protections. Nurses continue to adapt to emerging technologies, and it’s crucial to invest in educating and preparing the workforce with the necessary skills to lead the future of care.

HIMSS believes in the vital role of nurses in shaping the systems that support efficient, impactful use of health information and technology. Nurse informaticists are essential to transforming healthcare delivery. Their work not only improves clinical workflows and patient outcomes but also drives innovation. Thousands of nurse informaticists support this vision through active participation in the HIMSS Nursing Informatics Community. Whether responding to the triennial Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey (look for the latest survey in fall 2025), attending the HIMSS Global Health Conference Nursing Informatics Symposium, or contributing to task forces and workgroups, these members are shaping the future!

  • When we bring this community together to listen, learn, ask questions, and inform one another in real-time, we are making progress faster and breaking down worksite boundaries. Bringing our members together to learn from best practices, lessons learned, and actual work situations from one another is an incredible opportunity.

    Tammy Kwiatkoski

    Senior Director, HIMSS

Member value is at the core of everything we do. We aim to meet our members where they are and deliver timely resources, support, and insights that help them thrive in their roles.

The value of nursing informatics cannot be overstated. These professionals bring a unique combination of clinical experience, technical knowledge, and strategic foresight. They guide organizations in making informed technology investments by leveraging their understanding of clinical data to improve care, enhance efficiency, and support better health outcomes.

  • It’s been an absolute honor to collaborate with this community over the past four years. Their passion, dedication, and support for one another never cease to inspire me. They consistently go above and beyond — not just to highlight the vital role they play in healthcare, but to make a real difference in patients' lives every single day.

    Cait Obenauf

    Senior Program Manager, HIMSS

To all the nurse informaticists, you are the heart of healthcare innovation, using technology to make the system work for patients and providers. We are grateful for your leadership and vision, and we remain committed to supporting your efforts to advance this essential discipline.

We love what we do here at HIMSS for our members and for the Nursing Informatics Community. We thank all nurses for everything you do and your invaluable contributions to healthcare.

Authored by Tammy Kwiatkoski, BA, CAE, FHIMSS, Senior Director Operations and Implementation, HIMSS, and Cait Obenauf, MBA, SHIMSS, Senior Program Manager, Informatics, HIMSS