Integration of Informatics throughout BSN to DNP Curriculum

The purpose of this presentation is to present the programmatic process for integration of informatics into the DNP curriculum at the College of Nursing.  The College began planning a BSN to DNP program in 2009 to be offered in addition to our present post masters DNP. Courses in this new curriculum began Fall, 2010.  The purpose of this HITS project was to meet the mandates published in NLN’s Position Statement on “Preparing the Next Generation of Nurses to Practice in a Technology-Rich Environment: An Informatics Agenda” (2008) as well as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing “Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice”(2006).  The goals for this project were to: 1) Integrate informatics into every course in the BSN to DNP curriculum; 2) Develop faculty skills in the delivery of informatics content in all courses in the BSN to DNP online curriculum; 3) Develop essential knowledge and skills in the DNP students for integration of informatics applications throughout their coursework and into their future roles as DNPs.  Each course and its content were analyzed for informatics applications, and one-on-one faculty consultation has taken place to facilitate the inclusion of appropriate informatics content in each course which has been taught in the new curriculum.  The BSN to DNP program is a 2-3 year curriculum, therefore, the integration of informatics into each course and faculty support and consultation will continue for the next two years.  The projected outcome of this project is that DNP graduates will be prepared to apply a broad array of informatics concepts and skills in Advanced Nursing Practice upon completion of this program.