Nursing Informatics Competency after Experiencing Simulated Electronic Health Records: Descriptive Study

Abstract

Nursing has embraced flexible online advanced education as a means of increasing the supply of nurse professionals. Virtual simulation and other adaptive learning technologies enhance learning efficiency and student outcomes. A simulated electronic health record (DocuCare) was adopted in an online graduate nursing informatics course. An assignment using DocuCare to learn core concepts of nursing informatics was developed for graduate students enrolled in a nursing informatics course. A validated standard informatics survey instrument was used to measure three individual domains (basic computer skills, roles, and advanced computer skills (clinical informatics)) as well as the combined informatics competency level. Overall, the nursing informatics competency level was between competent and proficient; basic computer skills and roles were above proficient; and advanced computer skills (clinical informatics) fell between competence and proficient levels.