Important Computer Competencies for the …

1 Journal of nursing Research Vol. 12, No. 3, 2004. Important Computer Competencies for the nursing Profession Wey-Wen Jiang Wei Chen Yu-Chih Chen*. ABSTRACT: nursing requires Computer Competencies . This study aimed at identifying those Competencies required for the nursing profession in Taiwan. The Delphi technique was deployed in this study. In the Delphi questionnaires, Computer Competencies were sorted into seven domains: concepts of hardware, software, and networks; principles of Computer applications; skills of Computer usage; program design; limitations of the Computer ; personal and social issues; attitudes toward the Computer . In three Delphi questionnaires, nursing informatics experts gave us their opinions on the importance of each Computer competency for the nursing profession.

2 The experts also designated when the competency should be cultivated. This study provides a comprehensive list for nursing professionals to check on their Computer competence. The results of this study should also serve as good references for teachers and schools in designing related curriculums. Key Words: nursing informatics, Computer competence, Delphi technique. Introduction With the increasing versatility and power of personal computers, the use of information technology has a central Nowadays, more and more computers are being used in role in all areas of health care delivery. However, many staff health care systems to store, organize, and transmit informa- dislike using computers and often it is left to one or two peo- tion. Although nurses do not need a high degree of Computer ple to use the machine (Hellan, McGuire, & Cooper, 1998).

3 Expertise, their performance will be much more efficient if Therefore, every nurse needs appropriate knowledge and they have good Computer skills. In other words, nurses who skills about computers. Since new entrants to nursing operate computers proficiently can quickly access health diploma programs often have varying degrees of compe- care-related information using computers. And they may be tence and experience with information technology (Sinclair able to provide more appropriate and efficient care to their & Gardner, 1999), some effort has to be made to raise their patients. information technology competence to an adequate level. Wilkinson (1996) predicted that, in the near future, those This paper describes a research project that was con- who could not use computers would be as disadvantaged as cerned with identifying Important Computer Competencies those who could not read and write.

4 The study by Ngin, Simms, for nurses. The data were collected using the Delphi tech- and Erbin-Roesemann (1993) suggested that the introduction nique, which has not been previously used in nursing infor- of computers could not only improve unit morale but could matics studies in Taiwan. nursing schools can educate their also stimulate the learning of new skills related to effective and students toward the identified Competencies . Student nurses quality care delivery. An examination of the roles of nurses with the Competencies will adapt themselves quickly to their revealed that nurses are high level information processors in all Computer environment at work once they graduate. We hope areas of nursing practice (Hovenga, 1998). Some hospitals the Competencies will help nursing professionals to work even use computers to provide Intranet-delivered training for efficiently and serve as the basis of life-long learning, nurses (Wolford & Hughes, 2001).

5 Enabling them to maintain up-to-date Computer knowledge PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Information Management, National Taipei College of nursing ; *RN, PhD, Deputy Director of nursing , Taipei Veterans General Hospital, & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Graduate Institute of Health Allied Education, National Taipei College of nursing . Received: February12, 2004 Revised: June 25, 2004 Accepted: August 4, 2004. Address correspondence to: Wey-Wen Jiang, No. 365, Ming-Te Rd., Peitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan, ROC. Tel: 886(2) 2822-7101 ext. 3916; Fax: 886(2) 2871-9068; Email: 213. J. nursing Research Vol. 12, No. 3, 2004 Wey-Wen Jiang et al. and skills. nursing professionals may also use the research tion technology Competencies needed in Singapore nursing results to check on their Computer competence and try to education.

6 The needs assessment was conducted with a make up any shortcomings. panel representing nursing education, nursing manage- ment, and nursing practice. Two main categories of infor- Literature Review mation technology (IT) were identified: basic IT skills and Nurses need appropriate knowledge and skills to use work-related IT skills. computers. Many previous papers have addressed the required Computer Competencies for nurses. Since compe- Curriculums tencies are often cultivated through nursing informatics cur- In the paper by Reinhard and Moulton (1995), a nurs- riculums, the content of those curriculums provide strong ing informatics curriculum for graduate students was de- evidence of the Important Competencies . There are many scribed.

7 It consisted of a pre-course workshop and four- papers which describe the design of those curriculums. course sequence. Topics in the pre-course workshop in- cluded Computer hardware and software; fundamentals of Early works microcomputers; Computer applications in practice, educa- An early book by Ronald and Skiba (1987) provided tion, administration, and research; nursing informatics;. guidelines for basic Computer education in nursing . In information systems; and expert systems. Vanderbeek and 1990, Romano and Heller described a prototype educa- Beery (1998) provided a detailed description of an under- tional program to prepare nurses for the role of information graduate healthcare informatics course. An article by systems specialist.

8 Bryson (1991) developed a list of com- Travis and Bernnan (1998) discussed the design, imple- petencies from nursing educators' perceptions about the mentation, and evaluation of an innovative nursing infor- Computer training needed in nursing degree programs. matics curriculum incorporated into a baccalaureate nurs- Bryson concluded that nursing educators desired nursing ing program. Inman, Johansen, Powlas, Timm, and Turner graduates to understand how a Computer works and to (2000) did a survey to determine learning needs of nurses develop skills in using application programs. Carter and and developed a curriculum with three classes: Computer Axford (1993) identified Computer learning needs of prac- concepts for nursing , Computer basics for nursing , and ticing nurses at the bedside.

9 These works are the founda- Computer applications for nursing . In the work of Ro- tions of much later research. senfeld, Salazar-Riera, and Vieira (2002), a pilot informa- tion literacy program was offered. However, the unit-based Computer uses instruction in that program presented significant obstacles McDaniel, Matlin, Elmer, Paul, and Monastiere (1998) for effective learning of new technological skills for staff reported a national survey done in the United States. Cur- nurses. rent and anticipated Computer uses by staff nurses and by staff development professionals were provided. McNeil et European projects al. (2003) did a survey to establish the perceived current There was a European Union funded project called and future uses of information technology tools by practic- NIGHTINGALE, which focused on the nursing profes- ing nurses.

10 Sion's needs related to the telecommunication and infor- matics area (Mantas, 1998). The project tried to provide Computer Competencies consensus curriculum development in nursing informa- Sinclair and Gardner (1999) identified core compe- tics. Kokol, Zazula, Brumec, and Kolenc (1999) reported tencies in information technology (IT) to educate nursing another European project called NICE. It was about students with a consistent level of IT literacy. Staggers, developing a new nursing informatics curriculum for the Gassert, and Curran (2002) produced a research-based 21st century. In Finland, Saranto, and Leino-Kilpi (1997). master list of informatics Competencies for nurses of four developed the information technology syllabus for nurs- levels: beginning nurses, experienced nurses, informatics ing education using the Delphi technique.