Computer literacy: expected learning outcomes in nursing studies and the reality.

Information technology has been taught as part of nursing curricula for several years. With computer literacy now a basic requirement in clinical nursing practice, it is important to look more seriously at the standards and methods of teaching information technology at nursing colleges. In this study the objectives of teaching information technology and the content of information technology studies were evaluated by nurse educators (n = 162) and by an expert panel (n = 15). Nurse educators and the expert panel had more or less identical views on what those objectives should be. The quality and outcomes of information technology teaching in nurse education have never been measured in Finland before. In order to find out the consumers' point of view, student nurses were asked to assess their knowledge and skills in computer use. The student nurses (n = 373) felt that they had a reasonable command of the theoretical knowledge in information technology. However, their keyboard skills were confined to the use of word processors.