Informing the nursing professions about IT.

In the United Kingdom, over two decades of activity by enthusiasts for nursing informatics appears to have failed to engage the active interest of fellow nurses, midwives, and health visitors. Conferences, journals, and articles in the professional journals have been used. Clinical computing has developed, with the Department of Health in England taking a lead. Changes have occurred in the organization of the health services and in nurse education. One possible model, drawn from general education, is proposed as an explanation and a source for solutions.