Identifying Informatics Competencies for Nurse Leaders within an Academic Medical Center and Understanding Perceived Relevance at Varying Levels of Leadership: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Health Information Technologies (HIT) are becoming increasingly integrated into patient care and nursing practice. The literature notes that the incorporation of these technologies is not only having an impact on the skills required of bedside nurses, but on nurse leaders from the unit-level to executive positions. Past research has resulted in recommendations for nursing informatics (NI) competencies for nurse leaders. However, there has been little guidance on whether these skills are perceived as relevant at all levels of nursing leadership and if they adequately address the range of competencies that nurse leaders' believe they need to successfully support HIT-related initiatives. In this study, we examined nurse leaders' perceptions surrounding NI competencies using qualitative methods to account for complexity and organizational context. An electronic survey presented established NI competencies to nurse leaders at four different levels of leadership within a large academic medical center to assess perceived relevance. The results of the survey were validated through interviews with key informants, and indicated which NI competencies were perceived as relevant for each leadership role and the contextual factors that influenced participants' perceptions. These insights informed the development of role-specific NI competency lists and provided insights on how competencies may be tailored to align with the context of specific roles and team dynamics. Additional findings included role-specific challenges understanding NI competencies, the importance of leadership behaviors in supporting NI, how functional unit culture may impact perceptions of competencies, and the need to support nurse leaders in developing NI competencies. Contributions from the research include role-specific NI competency lists and qualitative methodology that accounts for organizational context. Study findings also offer new insights to the literature and provide guidance on future areas for research: factors nurse leaders' associate with competency relevance, issues with comprehension of NI competencies, and how local culture may influence perceptions of competencies.