This paper examines the current state of nursing informatics education in the United States, focusing on the integration of health information technology (HIT) into nursing curricula and professional training. The author argues that traditional, incremental approaches to HIT instruction are insufficient given the rapid pace of technological change, and advocates for an intensive boot camp training model as a more effective alternative. Drawing on surveys and literature from nursing informatics scholars, the paper identifies a critical deficiency: nursing educators themselves often lack adequate IT competency. The author concludes with a personal vision for advancing nursing informatics culture, urging the profession to move beyond basic digital literacy toward genuine technological fluency.
Health information technology (HIT) refers to information technology applied within the healthcare setting. Technological advances and government regulation have combined to produce a dramatic increase in the use of information technology across all fields, and healthcare is now following suit. So significant is health informatics that a new C-suite position is emerging: the Chief Nursing Informatics Officer, or CNIO (Murphy, 2011). This paper examines health informatics and how it relates to the author's area of focus — education and training within the nursing field. Murphy notes that informatics nurses no longer view finances as a significant barrier to progress, but that meaningful work remains in integrating different types of information technology. This represents one of the many roles that nursing informatics professionals play within the industry.
The author's primary interest is nursing education and training, though within this field there are ongoing disagreements about best practices and methods. For example, the boot camp model is favored here — intensive, immersive bursts of training designed to build candidates' expertise in a subject area rapidly. Others believe that the learning and training process should be ongoing and continuous. While that view has merit, boot camps complement daily training and accelerate professional development. Their structure alone makes them a valuable tool. However training is undertaken, enhancing the capabilities of nursing informatics professionals is a critical function in today's healthcare environment, given the growing emphasis on information systems in care delivery.
Nursing education needs to evolve at a much quicker pace. Nursing programs continue to struggle with integrating information technology and evidence-based practice — both of which should have been standard components of nursing education long ago. As a result, elements of the nursing curriculum serve little purpose in today's world and are overdue for overhaul (Hannah, Ball, & Edwards, 1994).
McNeil and Odom (2000) argue that undergraduate nursing education should be more inclusive of information technology. This is important because HIT is one of the key drivers of change in the profession in the 21st century. Today's nurses benefit from immediate immersion in a high-tech environment. Murphy (2011) notes that while finances are no longer a major barrier, challenges persist in integrating different nursing informatics technologies across classroom instruction, practicum education, and field practice. Creating these linkages is an essential part of curriculum development and equally important in on-the-job training contexts.
This is where the boot camp model demonstrates its greatest advantage. Learning new technologies is inherently difficult. Acquiring them piecemeal during a busy shift is a particular challenge, but when time is dedicated to full immersion in a new technology — with qualified instructors and peer support — the learning process can be significantly condensed. Nurses can leave a boot camp with sufficient knowledge to apply the technology in the field, after which the process of ongoing learning can continue as they refine their skills with HIT and nursing informatics.
"Instructors lack IT skills to teach HIT"
"Vision for cultural shift in nursing informatics"
"Cited academic and professional sources"
You’re 45% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 3 sections.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.