To optimise patient outcomes, it is important to record and store relevant health data that can be accessed easily when needed to underpin clinical decision making, argue Sharon Levy and Barbara Heyes

This article is the second in a series of four on the role of information and its management across health and social care. It describes the role of data in delivering nursing care and the importance of structured nursing content in electronic records to support modern services. The article gives examples of information systems that enable nurses to access data for clinical decision making, looks at the knowledge needs of future service users, and reflects on the support and training nurses need to operate in integrated health and care services.