Doctor Educationis / Background: The increasing use of technology and informatics in the provision of nursing care encourages the consideration of whether final year undergraduate nursing students are prepared for the use of informatics in clinical care and what the current state of knowledge, skills and attitudes on nursing informatics is. Purpose of the study: The overall aim was to investigate the perceived relevance, competencies in nursing informatics and attitudes towards nursing informatics of the final year undergraduate nursing students at a selected University in the Western Cape. Methodology: A quantitative research approach using a descriptive survey design was used in the study. Self-administered questionnaires were used to investigate final year undergraduate nursing student’s perceived relevance of informatics skills for nursing, the perceived level of nursing informatics competence, and attitudes towards nursing informatics. Nursing students currently enrolled in the fourth year in their undergraduate bachelor nursing degree programme were the target population for this study (n=198). Frequencies of the perceived relevance of computers literacy skills, informatics literacy and information management skills for nursing, and competencies in computers skills, informatics literacy and information management skills and attitudes towards informatics were calculated and presented. Results: The findings suggested that even though only 28% (n=28) and 4% (n=4) of nursing students has attended computer and informatics classes respectively, 99% (n=99) confirmed that they perceive nursing informatics as relevant in nursing education and nursing practice. Computer literacy skills (4.23 sd 0.8) were rated more relevant

Technological standards appear to be needed in undergraduate nursing education, as existing research has yet to establish technological standards for undergraduate nursing students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of senior nursing students with respect to their perceptions regarding exposure to and abilities gained in the areas of information management, information literacy, and computer literacy. The framework of the study was based on Bandura's theory of self-efficacy and the Dreyfus model of skills acquisition. Using a phenomenological approach, in-depth face-to-face interviews were used with a purposive sample to collect data about the technological competencies taught to 12 participants during their nursing education. The key research questions pertained to senior-level nursing students' perceptions regarding their educational exposure to technological skills, the level of competencies achieved, and technology's impact on patient care. A thematic analysis was done. The findings from this research study are that students' technological exposure appears to vary and that there is a need for uniform exposure during their nursing education. The results of this research revealed that most students were confident about computer literacy but needed to strengthen their knowledge related to information management and information literacy. Implications for social change is a better understanding of technological competencies offered, or still needing to be included, in undergraduate nursing syllabi. Further positive social change implications of the study for health services include the promotion of clear technological graduation standards for nursing graduates entering the health care workforce.