Colleagues Honor Professor Nick Hardiker, Remembered as a ‘True Gentleman’

Key Takeaways

Professor Nick Hardiker, a leading figure in nursing informatics, passed away on December 10, 2025.
He held numerous academic positions and was instrumental in advancing nursing terminology and digital health initiatives.
Colleagues remember him as a kind, supportive mentor, whose impact on nursing informatics will endure.

Tributes to Professor Nick Hardiker

Professor Nick Hardiker, a prominent academic in nursing informatics, passed away peacefully at home on December 10, 2025. He was a registered nurse and held Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in computer science from the University of Manchester.

Hardiker chaired the Digital Health Networks Chief Nursing Information Officer (CNIO) Advisory Panel and played a pivotal role in the International Council of Nurses eHealth program from 2011 to 2016. This program encompassed key initiatives such as the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) Program and the ICN Telenursing Network.

Helen Balsdon, national CNIO, praised Hardiker as an influential nurse researcher who significantly advanced the field. She highlighted his leadership in aligning the ICNP with SNOMED-CT and his role as chair of the International Council of Medical Informatics in nursing informatics. His commitment to enhancing the profession through digital innovation was evident in his work at NHS England.

From 2012 to 2018, Hardiker served as a professor of nursing and health informatics at the University of Salford, later moving to the University of Huddersfield as associate dean from 2018 to 2022. His final position there was dean, a role he held until 2023, after which he became an affiliate emeritus professor.

Frances Beadle, CNIO at Digital Health and Care Wales, remembered Hardiker as a “kind and gentle” person who dedicated himself to helping others excel both personally and professionally. She noted his influence on the nursing informatics agenda in the UK and internationally, acknowledging his position as chair of IMIA-NI as evidence of his commitment to the field.

Dawn Dowling, a professor at the University of Manchester, expressed deep sadness at his passing, recalling their years of collaboration. She described Hardiker as a leading researcher respected globally, known for his thoughtful and kind leadership.

Susan Matney, adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, shared her own sorrow on LinkedIn, emphasizing that Hardiker was surrounded by family when he passed and had just welcomed his first grandchild. She described his significant contributions to nursing informatics, particularly in standardizing clinical information and fostering international collaboration.

Matney concluded her tribute by stating that Hardiker’s legacy will live on through his publications, leadership roles, and the countless professionals he mentored, forever influencing the landscape of health information and nursing.

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