Supporting Nurse’s Unseen Decision-Making Needs: A Human-Centered Innovation Case Study

Abstract

Despite nurses' critical role in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes, current technologies often overlook their specific decision-making needs, focusing instead on obvious issues while neglecting frontline staff requirements. This gap results in inefficient workflows, decision-making delays, and burnout among nursing professionals. Using the TripTech human-centered design method, we conducted interviews, need-based surveys, and focus group discussions with nurses across multiple U.S. states to identify key needs and evaluate proposed solutions for a novel nurse-centered information platform. Results identified key needs including rapid access to patient information, evidence-based practice updates, peer support during critical situations, and mental health resources. Six design concepts were developed and evaluated, with nurses strongly favoring platforms offering real-time patient information access, research collaboration tools, and specialized training resources. Critical design requirements emerged: seamless workflow integration, verified evidence-based content, secure peer collaboration, strict privacy standards, and specialty customization options. This research demonstrates the value of user-centered design in healthcare technology development and provides direction for creating tools that support nurses' complex decision-making needs.