Self-assessment of nursing informatics competencies for doctor of nursing practice students. 2013

Jeungok Choi, and Donna M Zucker
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. Electronic address: jeungokc@nursing.umass.edu.

This study examined the informatics competencies of doctor of nursing practice (DNP) students and whether these competencies differed between DNP students in the post-baccalaureate (BS) and post-master's (MS) tracks. Self-reported informatics competencies were collected from 132 DNP students (68 post-BS and 64 post-MS students) in their first year in the program (2007 to 2010). Students were assessed in 18 areas of 3 competency categories: computer skills, informatics knowledge, and informatics skills. Post-BS students were competent in 4 areas (computer skills in communication, systems, documentation, and informatics knowledge about impact of information management), whereas post-MS students were competent in only 1 area (computer skills in communication). Students in both tracks reported computer skills in decision support as their least competent area. Overall, post-BS students reported slightly higher than or similar competency scores as post-MS students, but scores were statistically significant in only 3 of 18 areas. The assessment indicated that knowledge and skills on informatics competencies need to be improved, especially in computer skills for data access and use of decision support systems. Strategies are suggested to integrate competencies into existing informatics course and DNP curricula. Further studies are recommended using an objective measure of informatics competencies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011361 Professional Competence The capability to perform the duties of one's profession generally, or to perform a particular professional task, with skill of an acceptable quality. Competence, Professional,Generalization of Expertise,Technical Expertise,Expertise Generalization,Expertise, Technical
D004511 Education, Nursing, Graduate Those educational activities engaged in by holders of a bachelor's degree in nursing, which are primarily designed to prepare them for entrance into a specific field of nursing, and may lead to board certification or a more advanced degree. Education, Nursing, Postgraduate,Nursing Education, Graduate,Nursing Education, Postgraduate,Postgraduate Nursing Education,Graduate Nursing Education,Education, Graduate Nursing,Education, Postgraduate Nursing
D013338 Students, Nursing Individuals enrolled in a school of nursing or a formal educational program leading to a degree in nursing. Nurses, Pupil,Pupil Nurses,Nursing Student,Nursing Students,Student, Nursing,Nurse, Pupil,Pupil Nurse
D048108 Nursing Informatics The field of information science concerned with the analysis and dissemination of data through the application of computers applied to the field of nursing. Informatics, Nursing

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