The use of technology in nursing has increased nurses’ ability to carry out their regular tasks. Technology has enabled nurses to spend more time with patients and less time on administrative responsibilities. Today, we will examine some of the ways that technology is impacting the nursing sector.

Front-line nurses will be better able to care for their patients by utilizing the most recent developments. Although there are advantages and drawbacks, technological advancements continue to change the medical industry. Electronic record keeping and expanding patient access to their data are examples of emerging technology. However, other hospitals will need to work with patients less willing to adopt new technology.

Benefits of adopting emerging technologies in nursing

Pagers and pulse oximeters were once the most advanced medical devices in a hospital. Today, technology spreads through every hospital area and impacts patients and the medical staff. Here are a few technological developments that are transforming the nursing industry.

Enhanced patient safety

Preventable adverse events (AE) can endanger patient safety in hospitals. Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are one of the most problematic preventable AEs as they impact patient health and strain the institution due to increased patient length of stay and direct financial losses.

Healthcare IT systems can synthesize patient information and store and display it. This enables, for example, the programming of security checks that could notify medical professionals of any potential side effects before a patient is supplied a prescription. The ability to centrally store patient information, including lab results, medical imaging, and more, can prevent costly errors.

Improved educational experience

Our healthcare system has incorporated technology as it has continued to develop and modernize. Students are well-prepared for the job because of the increased usage of technology in educational settings and its growing adoption. Educational facilities now have more modern technology and constantly incorporate cutting-edge teaching methods. Nurse educators use technology extensively to increase learning and better prepare students for graduation. Students who live in rural areas or who may not be able to physically visit educational facilities now have better access to education because of technology.

Many online educational courses are incorporating the use of technology, such as an ADN or ASN. For those who wish to earn a nursing degree and have the option to further their education, an ADN is a fantastic choice. Another excellent choice for those pursuing a nursing degree is an ASN. Like the ADN, the ASN typically has a two-year curriculum emphasizing classroom and clinical experience. The primary distinction between ADN and ASN degrees is the greater emphasis on clinical practice in ASN programs. While the coursework for ASN degrees is comparable to that for ADN programs, the clinical hour requirements are frequently higher. However, either will set you on the pathway to furthering your career.

In pursuing one of these specialized courses, you could choose to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner through an online program that fits in with your life. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in worry about the considerable shortage of mental health specialists needed to treat substance misuse and mental health disorders in communities across the US. Whichever path you choose, technology is enhancing the educational experience, and one such technology is virtual reality.

Beyond its immersive entertainment uses, virtual reality is swiftly becoming a powerful tool for engaging with and visualizing health science knowledge. With the help of technology, students can display digital overlays in the real world or be projected into a virtual reality environment. Virtual reality learning materials can also give students haptic feedback, resulting in a more genuine learning experience that involves more senses, and improves learning outcomes and memory retention. By adopting digital models of patient conditions or hospital flow environments, educators can now practice for scenarios while minimizing the impact on actual patients and their surroundings.

Lower operational costs

While doctors and nurses can screen and counsel patients over the phone, the amount of treatment they can provide is only conversational guidance. However, remote healthcare monitoring technologies, such as wearables that broadcast health data to mobile apps, enable them to remotely monitor their patients’ ailments and decide who needs to be seen and treated in person more cost-effectively. This type of technology can reduce costs by reducing hospital stays, enhancing patient education, and making it more straightforward for less-mobile patients to receive the treatment they require, in addition to saving time for doctors and patients.

Although investing in health information technology is expensive, it lowers operating costs over time. Throughout the first year of adopting technology, medical facilities experience reduced operational expenses. Smart technologies, for example, can quicken care and boost turnaround. When insurance claims are processed more quickly, thanks to electronic health records (EHR), patients can receive care more rapidly and make payments on schedule. Advanced nurses are taught how to use technology in their operational strategies. This knowledge is crucial for the nursing industry to develop as it embraces technology usage.

Bringing nursing to you

The cornerstone on which healthcare organizations are built continues to be nurses. Nonetheless, the institutions that depend on these individuals may have a severe talent shortage. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the nation’s healthcare institutions are starting to feel the effects of the talent gap. Medical facilities can avoid this nursing shortage with the aid of telehealth technologies. Regarding consultations and services, patients with chronic illnesses can now access advanced technology, such as blood pressure monitors, mobile apps and more. This allows nurses to put telenursing techniques into practice and raise their worth as healthcare providers.

Telenursing, or telehealth nursing, offers nursing services via computers and mobile devices. Telehealth is becoming a more popular form of healthcare as mobile devices become more widely used and affordable. Patients no longer have to visit their doctors in person to receive healthcare; they may now contact their primary care doctors from anywhere. Telenursing enables patients to communicate with their nurses by using computers, mobile apps and devices, remote patient monitoring and video technologies. When providing care through telenursing, nurses employ a range of tools. They can use websites or applications to communicate with their patients. By remote monitoring, they may regularly monitor patient conditions. In the area of mental health, tele-nursing is equivalent to in-person care in accurately diagnosing patients and providing effective treatment.

Reduced staff turnover

While technology is developing quickly across most industries, advancements in the healthcare sector might mean the difference between life and death. The benefits of several of these innovations are apparent, including better patient outcomes, lower total expenditures, and a decline in hospital readmission rates. However, advancements in health IT benefit people other than patients. These technological resources can significantly enhance the workplace and daily tasks of nurses in the field. It is crucial for healthcare institutions to retain staff members by fostering a healthy work environment as the need for competent nursing experts rises across the US. Health IT is one tactic that can raise the satisfaction levels of nursing personnel when implemented and trained correctly.

Nurse turnover is a significant problem that can adversely affect a healthcare facility’s financial stability and the standard of patient care. The ability of technology to increase nursing productivity and effectiveness is one of its most important advantages. With technology, nurses may easily access patient data and connect with other medical specialists, enabling them to give their patients better care. Moreover, technology can be utilized to automate specific processes such as drug administration and documentation, which can lessen the strain on nurses and increase their happiness with their jobs.

Closing thoughts

Recent technological developments have altered the medical industry, including psychiatric care. For example, records are no longer being filed manually. Instead, patients can easily access their information because of new tele-medicine products and electronic record keeping. These developments also boost nursing field productivity and effective communication.

Technology has entirely taken over our lives, which has shaped who we are. Technological breakthroughs have benefited every sector of the economy. Healthcare is not an exception, and nursing is essential to healthcare. When we talk about technology in nursing, we focus on how it can make the industry simpler and more efficient. However, the bigger picture is that it often saves lives and money. It can enable nurses to spend longer with a patient, while performing their tasks better and safer.