When an institution is transitioning to a CPOE, a primary role of the informatics nurse is that of:

• A. purchasing agent
• B. liaison
• C. system designer
• D. software modifier

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that the informatics nurse acts as a liaison between clinicians and the IT team during a CPOE rollout. This role focuses on translating clinical workflows into system requirements, guiding the design of order sets and decision support, and coordinating communication, training, and change management. By serving as the bridge among nurses, physicians, pharmacists, administrators, and developers, the informatics nurse helps ensure the CPOE aligns with actual practice, supports safety, and is adopted smoothly. They gather user needs, validate configurations against evidence-based practice, and facilitate testing and rollout activities to keep the project patient-centered. The other options miss this bridging function: purchasing is about procurement, while system designer and software modifier imply leading software development rather than coordinating across stakeholders and translating practice into the system.