They will become more sophisticated as new systems are developed. In the long run, the successful incorporation of IS in the nursing field could help alleviate the nursing shortage in several ways. IS can assist nurses in completing documentation and communication tasks, thereby giving nurses more time for direct patient care. Nurses in a qualitative study were interviewed six months after the implementation of laboratory order entry. The nurses reported that the system saved them time so they had more time for patient and family teaching and attending in-service education. The use of IS in the field of nursing could also attract more people to the nursing profession because they are excited about using the technology as an adjunct to patient care, and the relief provided by successful use of IS could help retain nurses in the workforce.