Getting eHealth into basic nursing education: report of the RCN information in nursing project

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Informatics

Background:

• The Royal College of Nursing's Information in Nursing Forum conducted a project in 2008 to assess nursing students' readiness for electronic environments.
• The project aimed to integrate eHealth issues into basic nursing education through a survey and stakeholder workshop.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate nursing students' preparedness for electronic health (eHealth) competencies.
• To develop a consensus on incorporating eHealth into basic nursing education.

Main Methods:

• An online survey of 1,120 nursing students assessed their perceived readiness for eHealth competencies.
• A workshop with 39 stakeholders discussed survey results and barriers to eHealth integration.

Main Results:

• Students reported higher basic computer skills than eHealth understanding.
• Competence in using electronic records for documentation was low.
• Awareness of telehealth and telecare was limited.
• Breaches in electronic record security and confidentiality protocols were noted.

Conclusions:

• eHealth should be an integral part of nursing education, not an add-on.
• Shared responsibility among educators, supervisors, and regulators is essential for successful eHealth integration.