Informatics Competencies for Nurses at Four Levels of Practice

TLDR

Current nursing informatics competencies are inadequate, and leaders emphasize incorporating NI into curricula and practice, yet prior work has focused mainly on computer skills rather than a broad definition. The authors aim to develop a valid, reliable set of nursing informatics competencies that encompass all skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed by nurses. They compiled a literature-derived database, refined it through expert review, and organized the competencies into four distinct skill levels. The study presents definitions for each of the four skill levels and an initial master list of nursing informatics competencies.

Abstract

Valid and comprehensive nursing informatics (NI) competencies currently are lacking. Meanwhile, nursing leaders are emphasizing the need to include NI in nursing curricula, as well as within the roles of practicing nurses in all settings. This article presents the initial work of a team of NI experts toward development of a valid and reliable set of NI competencies. Previous work primarily has focused on computer-related skills, rather than examining a broad definition of informatics competencies. For this current work, NI competencies encompass all skills, not only computer-related skills, as well as knowledge and attitudes needed by nurses. The first two authors created a database of NI competencies from the existing literature. A larger panel of NI experts then affirmed, modified, added, or deleted competencies from this database. Competencies were placed into four distinct skill levels. Definitions of each skill level and an initial master list of competencies are provided.