Computer Literacy in the 21st Century
Many nurses, particularly younger nurses have often commented that they are uniquely capable with respect to computer technology. There is some evidence that despite this self confidence, most people have only few common skills, often emailing, texting, and other tools associated with their phone or mobile device.
Campbell & McDowell (2011) surveyed 112 nurses at a community hospital and discovered that most of the nurses had surprisingly low levels of more generalized computer literacy. These levels only moderately correlated with age where younger nurses had a slight advantage. A higher level of education showed a more significant advantage than did age.
This raises several questions for me -
(a) Do nurses really need significant knowledge related to computer skills, for example, keyboarding skills for simple basic data entry or more complex skills related to finding quality evidence-based practice resources?
(b) Should workplaces provide computer skills short classes for personal and professional enrichment?
(c) Given the use of technology in higher education, should LVNs & ADNs be required to demonstrate adequate computer skills as a condition of enrollment for additional academic courses?
(d) What would happen if the NCLEX required knowledge of this kind of technology as support clinical competency?
-- Do you have any support for a stance on one of these question? --
References.
Campbell, C. J., & McDowell, D. E. (2011). Computer literacy of nurses in a community hospital: Where are we today? Journal of Continuing Education In Nursing, 42(8), 365-370. doi:10.3928/00220124-20110215-01 .
UT Arlington link: http://preview.tinyurl.com/CampbellMcDowell2011
This raises several questions for me -
(a) Do nurses really need significant knowledge related to computer skills, for example, keyboarding skills for simple basic data entry or more complex skills related to finding quality evidence-based practice resources?
(b) Should workplaces provide computer skills short classes for personal and professional enrichment?
(c) Given the use of technology in higher education, should LVNs & ADNs be required to demonstrate adequate computer skills as a condition of enrollment for additional academic courses?
(d) What would happen if the NCLEX required knowledge of this kind of technology as support clinical competency?
-- Do you have any support for a stance on one of these question? --
References.
Campbell, C. J., & McDowell, D. E. (2011). Computer literacy of nurses in a community hospital: Where are we today? Journal of Continuing Education In Nursing, 42(8), 365-370. doi:10.3928/00220124-20110215-01 .
UT Arlington link: http://preview.tinyurl.com/CampbellMcDowell2011
posted by UTArlington_N5308 at 12:19 PM
1 Comments:
I believe nurses really need more than just basic knowledge related to computer skills, and then build on that routinely, as technology is known to change quickly. More doctor's offices, hospitals and other medical facilities, are or have transitioned to computer based charting and ordering of labs, records, meals, etc. Gassert & Ornes (2007) mentioned that new nurses need computer skills in settings that are depending more on information technology (IT) to increase patient safety. It has also been stated that there is "a federal order that mandates all Americans to have an electronic medical record by 2014." (Gassert & Ornes, 2007, p. 75). With most facilities transitioning to computers for their day to day functioning, having basic knowledge may no longer be enough.
LaToya Peterson, RN, BSN, CCM
Reference
Gassert, C., Ornes, L. L. (2007). Computer competencies in a BSN program. Journal of Nursing Education, 46(2), 75-78.
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