[2026-01-28] Beyond Basic Skills – Exploring the Informatics Competency of Clinical Nurses in Vietnam: A Single-Center Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33165/rmj.2027.e277280Keywords:
Nursing informatics, Informatics competency, Health information technology, Digital health, Clinical nursesAbstract
Background: Informatics competency is essential for nurses in the digital health era. However, there is limited evidence regarding the informatics skills of Vietnamese clinical nurses. As healthcare systems increasingly adopt electronic health records and data-driven decision-making, it is expected that nurses will integrate informatics into their daily practice. Understanding current competency levels is critical to guide educations, training, and policy development.
Objectives: To assess the self-perceived informatics competency of clinical nurses and identify associated demographic and experiential factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Canadian Nurse Informatics Competency Assessment Scale. The instrument evaluates 4 domains: basic information and communications technology (ICT) skills, information and knowledge management, ICT use in patient care delivery, and professional and regulatory accountability. The scale has demonstrated good validity and reliability in previous studies, and the Vietnamese version showed excellent internal consistency in pilot testing. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression.
Results: A total of 175 clinical nurses participated in this study. The overall mean (SD) informatics competency score was 2.43 (0.49), indicating a moderate level of competency. The highest subscale score was in professional and regulatory accountability (mean 2.51), and the lowest score was in information and knowledge management (mean 2.36). Age, formal informatics education, frequency of social media use, and computer experience were significantly associated with competency level (P < .05).
Conclusions: Vietnamese clinical nurses demonstrated moderate informatics competency, with key influencing factors identified. Targeted training and integration of informatics education into nursing curricula and professional development are recommended to enhance digital readiness in healthcare settings.
References
Topaz M, Pruinelli L. Big data and nursing: implications for the future. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2017;232:165-171. doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-738-2-165
Booth RG, Strudwick G, McBride S, O’Connor S, Solano López AL. How the nursing profession should adapt for a digital future. BMJ. 2021;373:n1190. doi:10.1136/bmj.n1190
Hoelscher SH, Pugh A. N.U.R.S.E.S. embracing artificial intelligence: a guide to artificial intelligence literacy for the nursing profession. Nurs Outlook. 2025;73(4):102466. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102466
World Health Organization. State of the world's nursing 2020: investing in education, jobs and leadership. 6 April 2020. Accessed 5 January 2026. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003279
Darvish A, Bahramnezhad F, Keyhanian S, Navidhamidi M. The role of nursing informatics on promoting quality of health care and the need for appropriate education. Glob J Health Sci. 2014;6(6):11-18. doi:10.5539/gjhs.v6n6p11
Collins S, Yen PY, Phillips A, Kennedy MK. Nursing informatics competency assessment for the nurse leader: the delphi study. J Nurs Adm. 2017;47(4):212-218. doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000000467
Kleib M, Nagle L. Psychometric properties of the Canadian nurse informatics competency assessment scale. Comput Inform Nurs. 2018;36(7):359-365. doi:10.1097/CIN.0000000000000437
Raghunathan K, McKenna L, Peddle M. Baseline evaluation of nursing students' informatics competency for digital health practice: a descriptive exploratory study. Digit Health. 2023;9:20552076231179051. doi:10.1177/20552076231179051
Batran A, Al-Humran SM, Malak MZ, Ayed A. The relationship between nursing informatics competency and clinical decision-making among nurses in West Bank, Palestine. Comput Inform Nurs. 2022;40(8):547-553. doi:10.1097/CIN.0000000000000890
Bichel-Findlay J, Koch S, Mantas J, et al. Recommendations of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) on education in biomedical and health informatics: second revision. Int J Med Inform. 2023;170:104908. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104908
Kuek A, Hakkennes S. Healthcare staff digital literacy levels and their attitudes towards information systems. Health Informatics J. 2020;26(1):592-612. doi:10.1177/1460458219839613
Altmiller G, Pepe LH. Influence of technology in supporting quality and safety in nursing education. Nurs Clin North Am. 2022;57(4):551-562. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2022.06.005
Dang TH, Nguyen TA, Hoang Van M, Santin O, Tran OMT, Schofield P. Patient-centered care: transforming the health care system in Vietnam with support of digital health technology. J Med Internet Res. 2021;23(6):e24601. doi:10.2196/24601
Tran DM, Thwaites CL, Van Nuil JI, et al. Digital health policy and programs for hospital care in Vietnam: scoping review. J Med Internet Res. 2022;24(2):e32392. doi:10.2196/32392
Guo J, Liu J, Liu C, Wang Y, Xu X, Chen Y. Nursing informatics competency and its associated factors among palliative care nurses: an online survey in mainland China. BMC Nurs. 2024;23(1):157. doi:10.1186/s12912-024-01803-5
Quach TBY, Nguyen TPL, Huynh TPH. The clinical decision-making of Vietnamese nursing students and related factors: a cross-sectional survey. Belitung Nurs J. 2025;11(2):126-132. doi:10.33546/bnj.3686
Wu Y, Wang Y, Ji M. Competencies related to informatics and information management for practicing nurses in select countries in Asia. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2017;232:86-96. doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-738-2-86
Hajizadeh A, Khodavandi M, Eslami Z, Irannejad B, Monaghesh E. A systematic review of informatics competencies: requirements for nurse managers in healthcare organisations. J Res Nurs. 2023;28(4):301-311. doi:10.1177/17449871231177165
Golz C, Peter KA, Müller TJ, Mutschler J, Zwakhalen SMG, Hahn S. Technostress and digital competence among health professionals in Swiss psychiatric hospitals: cross-sectional study. JMIR Ment Health. 2021;8(11):e31408. doi:10.2196/31408
Longhini J, Rossettini G, Palese A. Digital health competencies and affecting factors among healthcare professionals: additional findings from a systematic review. J Res Nurs. 2024;29(2):156-176. doi:10.1177/17449871241226899
Khezri H, Abdekhoda M. Assessing nurses' informatics competency and identifying its related factors. J Res Nurs. 2019;24(7):529-538. doi:10.1177/1744987119839453
Pimmer C, Mateescu M, Gröhbiel U. Mobile and ubiquitous learning in higher education settings. A systematic review of empirical studies. Comput Human Behav. 2016;63:490-501. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.05.057
Hwang JI, Park HA. Factors associated with nurses' informatics competency. Comput Inform Nurs. 2011;29(4):256-262. doi:10.1097/NCN.0b013e3181fc3d24
Honey ML, Skiba DJ, Procter P, Foster J, Kouri P, Nagle LM. Nursing informatics competencies for entry to practice: the perspective of six countries. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2017;232:51-61. doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-738-2-51
Dumbre D, Upendra S, Waghmare S, Zacharias BS, Salve P. Digital empowerment in nursing: a cross-sectional exploration of digital competencies in healthcare services among nurses. J Educ Health Promot. 2025;14:26. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_439_24
Wosny M, Strasser LM, Hastings J. Experience of health care professionals using digital tools in the hospital: qualitative systematic review. JMIR Hum Factors. 2023;10:e50357. doi:10.2196/50357
Zaman N, Goldberg DM, Kelly S, Russell RS, Drye SL. The relationship between nurses' training and perceptions of electronic documentation systems. Nurs Rep. 2021;11(1):12-27. doi:10.3390/nursrep11010002
McKenna L, Efendi F, Sommers C. Digital health in Indonesian nursing: a scoping review. Comput Inform Nurs. 2026;44(1):e01326. doi:10.1097/CIN.0000000000001326
Martins MMFPDS, Trindade LL, Vandresen L, Leite MJMGC, Pereira CMG, Landeiro MJL. Technologies used by nursing managers in Portuguese hospitals. Rev Gaucha Enferm. 2020;41:e20190294. doi:10.1590/1983-1447.2020.20190294
Yang L, Cui D, Zhu X, Zhao Q, Xiao N, Shen X. Perspectives from nurse managers on informatics competencies. The Scientific World Journal. 2014;2014:391714. doi:10.1155/2014/391714
Kleib M, Nagle L. Factors associated with Canadian nurses' informatics competency. Comput Inform Nurs. 2018;36(8):406-415. doi:10.1097/CIN.0000000000000434
Sharikh EA, Shannak RO, Suifan T, Ayaad O. The impact of electronic medical records' functions on the quality of health services. Br J Health Care Manag. 2020;26(2):1-13. doi:10.12968/bjhc.2019.0056
Alshammari MH, Alenezi A. Nursing workforce competencies and job satisfaction: the role of technology integration, self-efficacy, social support, and prior experience. BMC Nurs. 2023;22(1):308. doi:10.1186/s12912-023-01474-8
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 by the Author(s). Licensee RMJ.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
