Open Access

Jennifer Pengel, Stephanie Wullf, Anne Meißner, Gesa Borcherding, Manfred Hülsken-Giesler

• Objective: This review aims to identify and research into existing competency frameworks for digital competencies in nursing care, and provide a comprehensive map of the extent, range, and nature of competency frameworks for digital competencies in nursing. Methods: Our review was informed by the guidelines for performing a literature review as provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute. A search of the literature identified a total of 1095 articles, of which 20 publications, presenting 18 frameworks, were deemed relevant to our scoping review. The evidence is portrayed narratively in terms of the structure and objective of frameworks, methodology, geographical and temporal classification, addressees, connections, and correlations, understanding of competencies, technological focus and understanding of technology. Results: The frameworks were developed mainly based on literature reviews and follow-up expert consultations of different types. The analysis revealed different framework structures and a variety of areas of competencies, numbers of competencies and further details on these. It also identified different approaches in relation to the addressee, such as the level of education, role, environment, or type of technology. Likewise, the terminology was used inconsistently. Overall, it was noticeable that the understanding of the technology and the term “competency” varies greatly within frameworks. Also, the individual frameworks are located at very different levels of abstraction. Conclusions: Cross-national approaches show the trend, that a framework of globally accepted digital competencies for nurses is sought. Anyhow, no universally employable educational framework was found. There is considerable variance in competency frameworks for digital competencies in nursing. This review draws attention to the fact that frameworks should detail their understanding of addressees, competencies, and their understanding of technology. As different countries have different educational structures, the frameworks should be adapted to the country-specific characteristics. Besides, digital competencies should focus on care phenomena or assistance that is needed and can be sustained with the technology, a distinction between basic competencies in terms of application up to critical-reflective engagement and the ability to establish criteria for or against the use of technology in the respective care situation is to be considered useful and fields of action, settings, fields of technology or special needs should be integrated in an exemplary manner.