Healthc Inform Res.  2024 Apr;30(2):147-153. 10.4258/hir.2024.30.2.147.

Informatics Competencies of Students in a Doctor of Nursing Practice Program: A Descriptive Study

• Choi J
• Woo S
• Tarte V

• KMID: 2555214
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2024.30.2.147

Abstract

Objectives
Health systems that apply artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the roles of healthcare providers, including those of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) providers. These professionals are required to utilize informatics knowledge and skills to deliver quality care, necessitating a high level of informatics competencies, which should be developed through well-structured courses. The purpose of this study is to assess the informatics competency scale scores of DNP students and to provide recommendations for enhancing the informatics curriculum.
Methods
An online informatics course was offered to students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to DNP program, and their informatics competency, which includes three subscales, was evaluated. Online survey data were collected from Fall 2021 to Fall 2022 using the “Self-Assessment of Informatics Competency Scale for Health Professionals.”
Results
An analysis of 127 student responses revealed that students demonstrated competence in overall informatics competency and in one subscale: “applied computer skills (clinical informatics).” They showed proficiency in the “basic computer skills” and the “role” subscales. However, they reported lower competency in managing data and integrating standard terminology into their practice.
Conclusions
The findings offer detailed insights into the current informatics competencies of DNP students and can inform informatics educators on how to enhance their courses. As healthcare institutions increasingly depend on AI applications, it is imperative for informatics educators to include AI-related content in their curricula.

Keyword

Artificial Intelligence, Nursing Informatics, Nursing Graduate Education, Advanced Practice Nursing, Students, Nursing

Reference

References

1. Kupferschmid B, Creech C, Lesley M, Schoville R. Informatics experience can help predict doctor of nursing practice student mastery of informatics competencies. Comput Inform Nurs. 2020; 38(11):590–6. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000000656.

2. Secinaro S, Calandra D, Secinaro A, Muthurangu V, Biancone P. The role of artificial intelligence in healthcare: a structured literature review. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2021; 21(1):125. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-021-01488-9.

3. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The essentials: core competencies for professional nursing education. Washington (DC): American Association of Colleges of Nursing;2021.

4. National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. Nurse practitioner core competencies content [Internet]. Washington (DC): National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties;2017. [cited at 2024 Apr 20]. Available from: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/competencies/2017_NPCoreComps_with_Curric.pdf.

5. Flanagan J, Turkel MC, Roussel L, Smith M. Nursing knowledge in the doctor of nursing practice curriculum. Nurs Sci Q. 2021; 34(3):268–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184211010458.

6. Giardino ER, Hickey JV. Doctor of nursing practice students’ perceptions of professional change through the DNP program. J Prof Nurs. 2020; 36(6):595–603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.08.012.

7. McCauley LA, Broome ME, Frazier L, Hayes R, Kurth A, Musil CM, et al. Doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree in the United States: reflecting, readjusting, and getting back on track. Nurs Outlook. 2020; 68(4):494–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2020.03.008.

8. Foster M, Tasnim Z. Data science and graduate nursing education: a critical literature review. Clin Nurse Spec. 2020; 34(3):124–31. https://doi.org/10.1097/nur.0000000000000516.

9. Galacio B. Expanding the informatics competencies of nurse practitioners through online learning. Comput Inform Nurs. 2022; 40(9):606–14. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000000864.

10. Kupferschmid B, Creech C, Lesley M, Filter M, Aplin-Kalisz C. Evaluation of doctor of nursing practice students’ competencies in an online informatics course. J Nurs Educ. 2017; 56(6):364–7. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20170518-09.

11. Yoon S, Shaffer JA, Bakken S. Refining a self-assessment of informatics competency scale using Mokken scaling analysis. J Interprof Care. 2015; 29(6):579–86. https://doi.org/10.3109/13561820.2015.1049340.

12. Yoon S, Yen PY, Bakken S. Psychometric properties of the self-assessment of nursing informatics competencies scale. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2009; 146:546–50.

13. Bove LA, Sauer P. Nursing faculty informatics competencies. Comput Inform Nurs. 2023; 41(1):18–23. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000000894.

14. Choi J, Bove LA, Tarte V, Choi WJ. Impact of simulated electronic health records on informatics competency of students in informatics course. Healthc Inform Res. 2021; 27(1):67–72. https://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2021.27.1.67.

15. Kinnunen UM, Kuusisto A, Koponen S, Ahonen O, Kaihlanen AM, Hassinen T, et al. Nurses’ informatics competency assessment of health information system usage: a cross-sectional survey. Comput Inform Nurs. 2023; 41(11):869–76. https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000001026.

16. Zareshahi M, Mirzaei S, Nasiriani K. Nursing informatics competencies in critical care unit. Health Informatics J. 2022; 28(1):14604582221083843. https://doi.org/10.1177/14604582221083843.

17. Douthit B, Shaw R, Lytle K, Richesson R, Cary M. Artificial intelligence in nursing [Internet]. Doylestown (PA): American Nurse;2022. [cited at 2024 Apr 20]. Available from: https://www.myamericannurse.com/aiartificial-intelligence-in-nursing/.

18. Topaz M, Pruinelli L. Big data and nursing: implications for the future. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2017; 232:165–71.

19. Buchanan C, Howitt ML, Wilson R, Booth RG, Risling T, Bamford M. Predicted influences of artificial intelligence on nursing education: scoping review. JMIR Nurs. 2021; 4(1):e23933. https://doi.org/10.2196/23933.

20. Ronquillo CE, Peltonen LM, Pruinelli L, Chu CH, Bakken S, Beduschi A, et al. Artificial intelligence in nursing: priorities and opportunities from an international invitational think-tank of the Nursing and Artificial Intelligence Leadership Collaborative. J Adv Nurs. 2021; 77(9):3707–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14855.

21. Sapci AH, Sapci HA. Artificial Intelligence education and tools for medical and health informatics students: systematic review. JMIR Med Educ. 2020; 6(1):e19285. https://doi.org/10.2196/19285.