Faculty and student perceptions of computer applications in nursing

The purpose of this study was to describe a) faculty, baccalaureate, and master's students' perceptions of their level of current knowledge and their level of desired knowledge about aspects of computer applications in nursing, and b) faculty's perceptions of the level of knowledge about computer applications in nursing that baccalaureate and master's students should have. In addition, the following hypothesis was tested: faculty's perceptions of their level of current knowledge about aspects of computer applications in nursing is positively associated with computer usage. The sample included 124 baccalaureate students, 105 master's students, and 71 faculty members from a school of nursing at a large urban university. Data were collected using a modified version of Judith Ronald's questionnaire which addressed 21 computer areas (Ronald JS: Learning needs and attitudes of nursing educators with respect to computers, in Dayhoff RE (Ed.): Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Symposium on Computer Applications in Medical Care. New York, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 1983, pp 523-527). Results indicated that students and faculty had low levels of knowledge about computer applications and desired high levels. Faculty thought that baccalaureate graduates should have moderate levels of knowledge and that master's graduates should have high levels of knowledge. The areas of how to use a computer and how computers help nurses care for patients were high priorities for learning. Faculty computer usage was shown to be positively associated with reported current knowledge. Findings indicate the need for faculty opportunities for learning in the area of computer applications in nursing and the need to Integrate such content into curriculums.