Demand Analysis of the Cybersecurity Knowledge Areas and Skills for the Nurses: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a preliminary analysis of the cybersecurity market demand in the nursing and health sector. Currently, the market demand study is ongoing under the Digital Europe Programme CyberSecPro project, which strengthens the role of higher education institutions as a provider of practical and working life skills. The project promotes reliable digital transformation in critical sectors, such as healthcare. The rapid development of e-health emphasizes the central position of cybersecurity in healthcare organizations that are increasingly the targets of cyber-attacks. This descriptive literature review explores what a nurse needs to know about cybersecurity. Our results show that awareness of cyber risks is weak in the healthcare sector. Understanding cyber risks and recognizing the effects of one's own activities increases the cybersecurity of the entire organization, therefore cybersecurity training for nurses should be increased. Our study suggested that nurses’ most important cyber skills are their own cyber-safe way of operations, identifying cyber threats related to equipment, identifying the effects of cyber disruptions, and acting in a cyber disruption situation. Future nurse training programs should be updated to include these skills. Additionally, the teaching of nurses must be developed so that it meets these competence needs.