Retention and application of information technology skills among nursing and midwifery students

Abstract

Pre‐registration nursing and midwifery students are under considerable pressure to acquire the necessary information technology (IT) skills by the time they embark on a professional nursing career. There is a multitude of research findings detailing the use of computer‐based learning materials, IT training initiatives and how such materials are beneficial to learners. There is, however, relatively little in terms of the extent to which students are given the opportunity to use such skills during study periods over an extended period of time. This paper explores related issues by presenting the results of a study into the extent to which a cohort of undergraduate nursing and midwifery students retained and applied IT knowledge six months after the initial training period. The results reveal an interesting disparity between the skills taught and their retention and use in practice. Concerns are raised over the risk of such skills being forgotten by the time students enter professional nursing careers.