Background: A Digital Roadmap for Nursing and Midwifery (2019) has been developed by the HSE to facilitate national engagement on what actions need to happen for nursing and midwifery and to initiate and progress strategic and policy decisions about information and digital technology in nursing and midwifery.
One of the key goals of the Roadmap is to build a digital workplace. Recognising the changes in healthcare due to the advent of digital technologies and taking into account all aspects of professional practice, developing digital capabilities for nursing and midwifery is a fundamental component of this to provide support for individuals and organisations within the professions.
The Australian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) has recently developed a capabilities framework for Australian nurses and midwives. This work was completed in partnership and for the Australian Digital Health Agency with the input and support of the major nursing and midwifery professional associations, education and representative bodies. Following extensive national consultation, the Framework was released in October 2020.
Loretto Grogan, National Clinical Information Officer for Nursing and Midwifery approached AIDH to explore the possibility of adapting the Framework for the Irish healthcare setting. AIDH responded with a proposal which was welcomed by the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director, ONMSD National Digital Advisory Group and the Digital Capabilities Development Group.
Alongside the AIDH proposal, colleagues in Northern Ireland were also exploring the requirement for a Digital Health Capabilities Framework. Following engagement, a collaborative arrangement in the development of an All-Ireland framework for nurses and midwives was agreed. This proposal was discussed with key nursing and midwifery leaders in Northern Ireland, and in particular the office of the Chief Nursing Officer, gaining approval to progress.
There is an opportunity to leverage off the work completed to date and the knowledge gained through the project to contribute to the development of an all-Ireland Framework.
The Framework: The National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework has been created to:
- define the digital health knowledge, skills and attitudes required for professional practice
- complement existing individual knowledge, skill, and attitudinal frameworks, and
- provide a solid basis for tailored learning
It outlines the capabilities required to support individuals and organisations in extending their digital health development rather than providing a rigid set of competencies. It is intended to enable and inform and is not intended to be adopted as a professional standard but should be used as a resource to guide individuals, employers and educators in their workforce and professional development planning and delivery.
Most importantly, the Framework intends to promote and encourage positive attitudes in relation to the increasing introduction and adoption of technology and innovation. The Framework consists of five domains:
- Domain 1 – Digital Professionalism
- Domain 2 – Leadership and Advocacy
- Domain 3 – Data and Information Quality
- Domain 4 – Information-enabled Care
- Domain 5 – Technology
The five domains sit within the context of nurses and midwives’ roles, workplace settings and the professional standards that apply to their practice. It recognises the breadth of the disciplines of nursing and midwifery and the fact that they operate within existing professional structures and rules.
Consultation: A phased consultation process was undertaken across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. To date this has involved the dissemination of a questionnaire with an opportunity for written feedback and a series of 14 consultation workshops. Recruitment of participants for the consultation was purposeful based on their area of practice or work. This was to ensure broad representation across all areas of practice and work domains and broad representation of the various roles within those areas of practice and work domains.
Analyses of the feedback from the consultation process is complete and The Framework is currently being adapted for our healthcare settings. We will be disseminating the All-Ireland Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework widely for final review and feedback by nurses and midwives at the end of April. The HSE would value feedback from our registrants on this important work. In addition, we would like to thank colleagues for your help and input to date. It is appreciated.
References: Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director. (2019). Digital Roadmap for Nursing and Midwifery 2019 - 2024.
Australian Digital Health Agency. (2020). National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework.
