"Big data" consist of data sets that perform beyond the capabilities of traditional software programs to store, manage, and analyze. An example is the data collected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which captures individual hospital data and compares them with multiple hospital data sources to determine reimbursements back to the individual hospital. Electronic medical records are now used for more than documenting patient conditions. Nurse educators need to have a basic knowledge of informatics and how it drives health care, payments, and nursing practice. Big data have the potential to blaze the trail for many translational research opportunities. However, 1 barrier that exists is the use of standard terminology among nurses to assess outcomes. The University of Minnesota School of Nursing and its Center for Nursing Informatics organized the Nursing Knowledge: Big Data Research to Transform Health Care consensus conference. The inaugural conference of 40 stakeholders began in 2013. This past June, the conference grew to 2 days for those interested in informatics. The conference proceedings are now on their Web site at http://www.nursing.umn.edu/about/calendar-of-events/2015-events/nursing-knowledg. The Web site provides information about big data and other resources.

Submitted by: Alma Jackson, PhD, RN, COHN-S, News Editor atmailto:[email protected].