Integrating informatics into the BSN curriculum: a review of the literature

Even though health informatics (HI) education is an essential component of the undergraduate nursing curriculum, it remains controversial with no clear consensus on which knowledge and skills should be integrated in a baccalaureate nursing program. The purpose of this review article is to integrate literature on HI education in the nursing curriculum by examining previous and current literature on this topic, synthesizing the findings, and recommending guidelines and future directions for nurse educators. The computerized databases of CINAHL, MEDLINE, ERIC, Academic Search Premier, and Google Scholar were used to generate relevant literature. Nineteen studies published between 2000 and 2010 on HI education were included in this review, and from the critical and synthesis of those reports emerged four overarching themes: (a) lack of consensus on HI education; (b) impact on patient care outcomes; (c) faculty development through organizational collaboration; and (d) global disparities in HI education. Implications for nursing education and patient outcomes in clinical practice are also discussed. Further studies are warranted to promote the understanding and awareness of HI education in undergraduate nursing curriculum.