Nursing Informatics, a term coined to describe the integration of nursing science with information and computer science, has developed into a mandatory focus for all registered nurses on a global scale. For the past four decades, literature, research and a growing body of practice have addressed the theoretical and practical aspects of informatics in nursing. A web-site was created to offer registered nurses a web-based, free, professional development initiative to support them to self-assess their nursing informatics competencies and learning needs. Various competency taxonomies have been reviewed and integrated in the process. Tutorials and other planning initiatives were also created to help nurses begin the process of self-directed education in informatics. The intention of this work is to give nurses a preliminary analysis of their current expertise and learning needs in the realm of informatics in nursing. This site is available at: http://www.nursing-informatics.com/niassess/index.html
A comprehensive list of technological, utility, and leadership competencies were defined and described for each of the three levels of User. Accompanying self-tests were provided to allow nurses to assess their own level of expertise in the list of competencies addressed. As well, tutorials were provided or linked to help nurses begin to address their own particular learning needs to develop the competencies that they wished to develop. Personal learning plan worksheets were also provided to assist nurses in articulating their own learning goals and plan to address their perceived needs.
Biography
June is completing her PhD at the University of BC in Technology Education, Curriculum Studies. Her focus is educational technology, informatics, aesthetics and e-learning for nursing. Currently, she is presently completing her PhD dissertation work on the faculty perceptions of nursing informatics and education culture. June is currently the President-Elect and Director of Communications for the Canadian Nursing Informatics Association (CNIA). She assumes the President role in 2008. She is also the Editor in Charge of Virtual Nursing Practice and Culture for the Online Journal of Nursing Informatics (OJNI) and a member of the OJNI Board of Directors. As well, she is the Editor in Charge of the Canadian Nursing Informatics Journal She has taught Nursing Informatics related theory and practice content to nursing students and nurses since 1990 at Kwantlen University College in Surrey, BC and presents education and other nursing informatics related information through her website Nursing Informatics.com at http://nursing-informatics.com
