Nursing informatics for future nurse scholars: lessons learned with the doctorate of nursing practice (DNP)

The addition of the DNP created challenges that resulted in a re-evaluation of the leveling of informatics competencies across the nursing curriculum. The knowledge and skills needed by informatics nurse specialists was differentiated from those needed by three levels of nurses (entry level practitioner, advanced practice nurse, and nurse scholar (both PhD and DNP)). After a thorough review of the literature and examination of various competencies and definition for nursing informatics, a new model was proposed and guided the creation and implementation of a core course in informatics for DNP students.