Study: Nurses not trained for information technology

[rwingo]

eWeek is reporting on a CDW Healthcare study that reveals that most nurses are receiving little to no information technology training:

One of the most surprising findings was that one-quarter [of the nurses surveyed] indicated they had received no IT training on the job over the last year, while another 56 percent said they had gotten only between one and eight hours of IT training.

When asked what would have the greatest impact on improving their use of IT in their job, 55 percent responded that more training would help.

This survey consulted nurses in a variety of care settings, but those in organizations with nursing informatics positions are the most likely to have adequate training.

Only about four out of ten organizations had such a position, but if they did they were twice as likely to offer more than 16 hours of IT training per year.

Read the full article at eWeek

[Lkaack]

I agree 100% with your article, nurses are not currently trained adequately in information technology skills.
How do we prepare our workforce for the future in information technology?

Christakis (1995) reported that despite the many changes in the improving the quality and standards of education, the fundamental approach to clinical education has not changed since 1910.

The Chasm Report found that health care workforce needs to be adequately prepared.
The Chasm report outlined types of new or enhanced skills required by health professionals to function in this changing environment.

Chasm Report, with respect to clinical education, called for nurses needing to be prepared in the basic skills required in Informatics Competencies

Such as: Word Processing, Information Search & Retrieval, Information Management, Data Analysis, Presentation software skills to enter into the 21thc.

Saba and McCormick (2006) wrote that by using the Benner’s (1982) work, built on the Dreyfus model of skills acquisition that describes the evolutin of novice to expert, merits discussion for nursing informatics. Increased proficiency over time results in enhanced competencies reflecting mastery and the ability to cope with and manage many contingencies. The expert has developed the capacity to intuitively understand the situation and immediately target the problem with minimal effort or problem solving.

Staggers, Gassert and Curran (2001) published their conceptual framework identifying informatics competencies necessary for all nurses. But only identified four levels of nurses:
Beginning nurse,
Experienced nurse
Informatics specialist
Informatics innovator.
But there is a comprehensive list of 304 competencies that pose significant challenge.

Education Health Professionals to use informatics. Current reality, barriers, and related actions. Institute of Medicine. (Chasm report)

Saba & McCormic. Essentials of nursing informatiac.

Lorraine Kaack, RN, BSN

[flarylcfrank]

NOW A DAYS ,NURSES r not trained for getting knowledge & information, but for the sake of earning money. Nurses should be provided with lots & lot of new infomations ,technology which will help in the future technology.

[Beans]

while another 56 percent said they had gotten only between one and eight hours of IT training.

As far as the above stats, Im not even sure I believe that. If you dont believe this, simply ask someone the definition of "ISP" and see what they say. You would be surprised at the responses

/New here! Hello all!!

[dickersonba]

So if the nurses arent getting the training that they need, is that effecting the health of the patients or the are that they ar receiving? And what are they doing now to help train the nurses?

[brahamAL]

In a world where almost everything involves a computer I can see where there could be a misconception that a lot of training wouldn't be necessary with the EHR. However, the nurses need to be trained when EHR is installed at their medical facility. Plus, how are nurses adequately care for patients if they aren't confident with the charting and records part of their work?

[brahamAL]

I can understand that since we live in a world filled with technologies there might be a misconception that people do not need training on computers. However, nurses along with all medical staff need to be adequately trained! How can we expect them to care for patients properly if they don't fully understand how to obtain and chart medical information?

[storerml]

In other studies done, it finds that one problem with information technology is a resistance to change. Could it be that the resistance isn't due to lack of interest/compliance but to a lack of understanding from under-training?
It's important for all staff, not just Nurses, to be trained since it is where the future of healthcare is headed.

[Stiefdm]

I can understand why some institutions do not offer training because we are in the generations of knowing how to work computers, and how to stay updated on technology, but nursing informatics is a completely different subject. Nurses need to be specialized in the specific area of work at their institution of work. So, the question is do we develop a program for all nurses to attend to keep them updated on informatics? Or does each individial workplace provide a training session for their modes of technologies? I believe Nurses need to be up to date with all forms of nursing informatics, but they need to be individualized to their area of work, and as a whole our medical field needs to come up with a systematic approach to teach a braod spectrum of informatics to health care providers.