title: Faculty and organizational characteristics associated with informatics/health information technology adoption in DNP programs.
abstract: Nursing informatics/health information technology are key components of graduate nursing education and an accreditation requirement, yet little is known about the extent to which doctor of nursing practice (DNP) curricula include these content domains. The purpose of this descriptive study was to elicit perceptions of DNP program directors relative to (a) whether and how the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN's) Essential IV standard has been met in their DNP programs; (b) whether the Technology Informatics Guiding Educational Reform Initiative Foundation's Phase II competencies have been integrated in their programs; and (c) the faculty and organizational characteristics associated with the adoption of the AACN's Essential IV. In 2011, an electronic survey was sent to all 138 DNP program directors identified on the AACN Web site with an 81.2% response rate. Findings include variation in whether and how programs have integrated informatics/health information technology content, a lack of informatics-certified and/or master's-prepared faculty, and a perceived lack of faculty awareness of informatics curricular guidelines. DNP program director and dean awareness and support of faculty informatics education, use of informatics competency guidelines, and national policy and stimulus funding support are recommended to promote curricular inclusion and the engagement of nurses in strong informatics practices.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Assistant Professor, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana; Nurse Practitioner, Indiana University Health Center (Bloomington), Bloomington, Indiana. Electronic address: catrsmit@indiana.edu.
authors.forename: Cathy R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.affiliation: Clinical Associate Professor, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Meek
authors.affiliation: Vice President for Policy and Strategic Initiatives and Professor of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland; Senior Advisor, TIGER Initiative Foundation.
authors.forename: Patricia Hinton
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D048108:Nursing Informatics
keywords: Doctor of nursing practice; Essential IV; Health information technology; Nursing informatics; TIGER