Practice nurses’ training in information technology: report on an empirical investigation

Information technology (IT) is an integral part of the development and delivery of health services. Healthcare professionals, including nurses, are in need of appropriate educational training to enable them to use IT adequately. In particular, nurses in primary care have had less access to IT training and fewer opportunities to benefit from IT. Furthermore, little evidence is found in the literature on the current situation of IT training needs and requirements for nurses in primary care. This paper discusses critical issues in the training of primary care nurses in information technology. It then reports on the PRACTIS (PRimary care nurses Access to Communications Technology and Informatics Skills) project which is addressing these issues through an empirical investigation. Preliminary results are examined. Finally, directions for further work in the training of primary care nurses are also discussed.