Integrating informatics into undergraduate nursing education: A case study using a spiral learning approach

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Informatics
• Digital Health

Background:

• A recognized global deficit in informatics expertise exists among nursing students, staff, and faculty.
• This expertise gap limits nurses' ability to leverage technology for improved patient care.
• National nursing education strategies and professional bodies highlight the need for investment in digital health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the integration of health informatics into a Bachelor of Nursing program in the UK.
• To address the identified gap in informatics competency within nursing education.
• To prepare nurses for delivering technology-enabled care in modern healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• A case study approach was employed to document the integration process.
• An international collaboration facilitated the design of learning units based on key health informatics competencies.
• A pedagogic framework utilizing the spiral learning approach was implemented.

Main Results:

• Individual learning units covering essential health informatics competencies were developed.
• These units were successfully incorporated into the Bachelor of Nursing curriculum.
• The spiral learning approach provided a structured method for integrating informatics concepts.

Conclusions:

• The spiral learning approach is a viable strategy for integrating health informatics into nursing education.
• This integration aims to equip nursing students with the necessary skills for technology-enabled patient care.
• Addressing informatics competency is crucial for advancing digital health adoption in the nursing profession.