Today’s dynamic health systems require nursing informatics/health IT knowledge and experience, therefore a replicated/expanded follow-up survey is indicated to further explore: a) how informatics/health IT content and experience in DNP education are implemented, b) availability of informatics-prepared faculty, and c) leadership/faculty awareness of the value of health IT required to address the multiple, emerging roles for DNP-prepared nurses.
Methods: Survey questions are constructed to gather information about each DNP program: faculty, organizational characteristics, stage of adoption of informatics/HIT curricular content, and how various career tracks are taught informatics/HIT. Based on Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory (1995), human factors are important to the adoption of innovation. Questions within the survey are also framed to elicit the directors’ perceptions toward: faculty knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward informatics curricular content/courses; the DNP director’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward informatics/HIT in their curriculum; administrative/financial support for innovative approaches in simulation centers; training of non-informatics prepared faculty; and perceived blocks or challenges in implementing informatics/HIT related content.
After IRB approval, all national DNP programs (accredited, non-accredited, and seeking accreditation) (N=289) will be identified from the AACN website for inclusion as the study sample. The survey will be distributed electronically via Survey Monkey to all identified DNP program directors and followed up four times with weekly email/telephone reminders. To obtain the highest response rate possible, an email from a nationally recognized Technology Informatics Guiding Educational Reform leader and the survey will be sent to the deans of non-responding DNP program directors. These deans can complete the survey if the program director does not. All data will be integrated and analyzed using SPSS software.
To further inform the knowledge about nursing informatics/HIT, a random sample of 20 program directors self-identified as “innovators” or “early adopters” and 20 program directors self-identified as “late majority” or “laggard” will be randomly selected to determine factors of success and challenges or perceived blocks, either internal or external. This will be accomplished by phone interviews, taping content and analyzing for themes of successful strategies and challenges.
Results: Results of this study are pending and will provide the next step of evidence of Diffusion of Innovation in Education specifically for DNP programs.
Conclusion: By comparing survey results with the 2011 benchmark survey and conducting DNP program director interviews, the progress of Health IT adoption among DNP programs as well as faculty and organizational characteristics fostering nursing informatics curriculum can be evaluated.