Abstract
In 2020, we conducted a mixed methods study comprised of a cross-sectional survey in which we applied a modified version of the 21-item Canadian Nurse Informatics Competency Assessment Scale and one-on-one interviews to explore self-perceived nursing informatics competency and readiness for future digital health practice. A total of 221 senior-level students in BScN programs in western Canada participated. This article reports on results related to the factor structure and internal consistency reliability of the 26-item (version 2) of the Canadian Nurse Informatics Competency Assessment Scale. Exploratory principal component analysis with the varimax rotation revealed a four-component structure, explaining 55.10% of the variance. All items on the Canadian Nurse Informatics Competency Assessment Scale 2 had good loadings, except item 7, which did not load to any domain but was retained based on an evaluation of the [alpha] value and item relevance to nursing practice. A few items shifted to different domains. The overall reliability of the Canadian Nurse Informatics Competency Assessment Scale 2 was ([alpha] = .916) and its subscales: information and knowledge management ([alpha] = .814), professional and regulatory accountability ([alpha] = .741), and use of information and communication technology ([alpha] = .895). This study provided preliminary evidence for the factor structure and reliability of the Canadian Nurse Informatics Competency Assessment Scale 2 among nursing students. Further testing is recommended.