Psychometric properties of the self-assessment of nursing informatics competencies scale

The objective of this study was to examine the factor structure, internal consistency reliability, and responsiveness of the Self-Assessment of Nursing Informatics Competencies Scale (SANICS). Combined BS/MS nursing students (N=336) completed the 93-item scale, which was based upon published and locally-developed nursing informatics competency statements. Exploratory principal component analysis with oblique promax rotation extracted five factors comprising 30 items that explained 63.7% of the variance: clinical informatics role (alpha=.91), basic computer knowledge and skills (alpha=.94), applied computer skills: clinical informatics (alpha=.89), nursing informatics attitudes (alpha=.94), and wireless device skills (alpha=.90). Scale responsiveness was supported by significantly higher factor scores following an informatics course. This study provided preliminary evidence for the factor structure, internal consistency reliability and responsiveness of the 30-item SANICS. Further testing other samples is recommended.