If the organization receives notice that a software program currently in use is to be sunsetted, the informatics nurse realizes that the organization must upgrade or replace the software because sunsetting means that the software will no longer be supported by the company.
Products and services are often sunsetted when they are no longer sufficiently profitable or when a company decides to change its focus. Software vendors usually sunset older versions of their products when one or more newer version is available.
Sunsetting usually occurs after 2 or 3 upgrades so that organizations that have chosen to delay upgrading may be faced with potential failure of its computer system. Hardware may also be sunsetted, usually after a few years.
