Assessment of computer learning needs and priorities of registered nurses practicing in hospitals

The purpose of this study was to identify computer learning needs of practicing nurses at the bedside. Knowles' adult learning theory clearly implies that learners have a role in identifying their learning needs. Expert opinion is the second source of needs identification and complements learner input. This principle served to underpin the conceptual framework of this study. A Delphi technique was used to solicit expert opinions from nurse informaticians about the computer learning needs of practicing nurses. A 75 knowledge/skill item questionnaire was developed from the expert consensus of the Delphi and distributed to 150 registered nurses considered to be computer novices. Novices' responses were compared to the experts' responses to identify content essential for nurses to be able to use computers in their practice. Further, sequence for content delivery was postulated through the comparison of expert and novice opinion relative to the essential/nonessential nature of the content.