Date of Graduation

8-2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Higher Education (EdD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders

Advisor/Mentor

Murry, John W. Jr.

Committee Member

Mamiseishvili, Ketevan

Second Committee Member

Miller, Michael T.

Keywords

BSN; Competencies; Informatics; Perception; Preparedness

Abstract

One rapidly expanding nursing program at a public research university in the mid-south region of the United States served as the site for this study. Recent nurse graduates were selected in a purposeful sampling from alumni who had conferred degrees from May 2007 through May 2013. Sixty-three graduates completed the online survey in Phase I and five recent graduates participated in semi-structured interviews during Phase II of the study. Data were collected utilizing a mixed methods design. Descriptive statistics explained survey and interview results. Of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs), attitude competencies reported the highest means and were very effective at providing informatics attitude competencies to graduates. The program was also reported being somewhat effective at providing skills competencies and included navigating and documenting in the electronic medical record. The most desired skills reported by participants to include as more curriculum focus were electronic medical record (EMR) navigation, hands-on experience with different technology systems, and documentation, charting, and nurses' notes with legal implications. The top comparable competencies introduced at the new nurse orientation were facility specific navigation of the EMR and computer documentation. Findings in this study served to provide additional knowledge to existing literature about competency preparedness and transition into practice. Results of this inquiry also served to provide direction for future curriculum planning involving QSEN informatics competencies at the nursing program.

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