Summary
The digital transformation of the healthcare sector involves the development of telemedicine, the use of cloud technologies, the improvement of electronic document management, and the creation of complex automation systems for medical organizations. All these services are aimed at providing healthcare professionals of all levels with means to improve and innovate their work. Moreover, the implementation of electronic portals and mobile applications guarantees a new level of accessibility of medical services for the population. Overall, digitalization is perceived as a positive change for the healthcare industry as it opens new perspectives and opportunities for making health-related services more sustainable and efficient. However, it must also be noted that the development of digital innovations poses specific challenges for healthcare professionals. This literature review will analyze the existing evidence of the advantages and disadvantages of bringing nursing into the digital age.
Digital Tools for Nursing Education
One of the most important uses for digital technologies in nursing is the provision of learning means for students and working nurses. Continuous education is a vital part of competent nursing, and the digital age provides multiple opportunities for organizing it more effectively. McDonald et al. (2018) state that there is a gap in existing research regarding the real efficiency of e-learning for nurses. The authors provide a systematic review of scholarly articles on the issue, appraising twenty sources in total. The results show that, while e-based learning programs are more flexible in terms of teaching methods, their effectivity is not higher than real patient simulation (McDonald et al., 2018). The most beneficial learning style should include both online and offline learning (McDonald et al., 2018). Kavanagh et al. (2021) also supply that in the digital age, nursing competency depends heavily on actual and accessible education. They state that a paradigm shift occurred with the rapid digitalization of the healthcare industry, which brought new challenges for nurses (Kavanagh et al., 2021). Nursing education must be advanced by the introduction of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) care, digital support tools, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to overcome these challenges.
Johnson and Carrington (2022) also advocate for the use of technologies in nursing education. The authors emphasize that while digital tools are actively used in nursing care, they are not yet fully included in the nursing metaparadigm. Johnson and Carrington (2022) argue that, ultimately, technology is vital for nursing education, as it provides many advantages such as easy access to knowledge, more variable training, and support in patient care. Wink and Todd (2021) support this claim, stating that the 21st-century medical library should be digital, as it provides a wide array of available resources. Traditional libraries have become rather obsolete in the digital age, and new online databases are on their way to becoming a norm. However, it is important to note that many healthcare professionals may struggle with adopting digital tools and systems due to many factors, such as age, worldview rigidity, and lagging in digital knowledge (De Leeuw et al., 2020). Nurses who have trouble with using new technologies often lack digital education, and this issue must be addressed when implementing e-health means (De Leeuw et al., 2020). Organizations should provide on-site training and peer support for nursing staff to encourage them, which might be a significant challenge for organizational strategy.
Managing Patient Information with Digital Tools
Maintaining actual and comprehensive information about patients is a herculean task that falls squarely on nurses’ shoulders. The use of digital means such as online databases, mobile applications, and interconnected systems can offer great relief in that regard. Alrahbi et al.’s (2020) study revealed that the stakeholders are rather interested in adopting those means but there are several challenges to it. The article states that organizational strategy and technical barriers are the main issues, with lack of readiness for introducing big data and IoT being close second (Alrahbi et al., 2020). Williams (2022) states that district nursing services are aimed at implementing technological means into their work, especially for record assessments. However, the author adds that the active use of digital tools is a threat to the person-centered approach in nursing, which becomes a real disadvantage. Williams (2022) insists that reconceptualization is required in this regard: nurses should remain patient-oriented while introducing digital means into their work, and a delicate balance must be maintained. Robards et al. (2018) supply that digital healthcare offers better access to health services for marginalized youth, and the industry should take note of that specific benefit.
Use of Electronic Medical Records and Telehealth in Nursing
Electronic medical records (EMR) are becoming more and more widespread in the healthcare industry, and there are mixed responses to that trend. Njane et al. (2021) analyze the use of EMR in the perioperative setting in their article, defining nurse’s perceptions of this tool. The authors state that the majority of perioperative nurses were confident in their ability to adopt and effectively use the EMR system, stating that it poses a substantial help in the high-risk environment. The benefits of adopting EMR into the work of perioperative nurses greatly outweigh the potential disadvantages, which is why the system currently dominates the healthcare sector (Njane et al., 2021). Telehealth is also gaining more popularity in the industry, as the technology allows health-related services to be provided to remote and rural locations. Lee et al. (2018) highlight that telehealth-based physical therapy provides many advantages for musculoskeletal practice through remote monitoring of patient’s condition, online interaction, and overcoming barriers to accessing health services. Still, it is important to critically review the growing practice of telehealth, the authors claim, as it is still in development. Nevertheless, telehealth can transform many areas of the healthcare industry, and it has become an important tool for nurses to master.
Reference List
Alrahbi, D.A. et al. (2020) “Challenges for developing health-care knowledge in the digital age,” Journal of Knowledge Management, 26(4), pp. 824–853. Web.
De Leeuw, J.A., Woltjer, H. and Kool, R.B. (2020) “Identification of factors influencing the adoption of health information technology by nurses who are digitally lagging: In-depth interview study,” Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(8). Web.
Johnson, E. and Carrington, J.M. (2022) “Revisiting the nursing metaparadigm: Acknowledging technology as foundational to progressing nursing knowledge,” Nursing Inquiry, 30(1), pp. e12502. Web.
Kavanagh, J. and Sharpnack, P. (2021) “Crisis in competency: A defining moment in nursing education,” OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 26(1). Web.
Lee, A.C., Davenport, T.E. and Randall, K. (2018) “Telehealth physical therapy in musculoskeletal practice,” Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 48(10), pp. 736–739. Web.
McDonald, E.W., Boulton, J.L. and Davis, J.L. (2018) “E-learning and nursing assessment skills and knowledge – an integrative review,” Nurse Education Today, 66, pp. 166–174. Web.
Njane, A. et al. (2021) “Perioperative nurses’ perceptions pre-implementation of an electronic medical record system,” Studies in Health Technology and Informatics [Preprint], 284, pp. 522-527. Web.
Robards, F. et al. (2018) “How marginalized young people access, engage with, and navigate health-care systems in the digital age: Systematic review,” Journal of Adolescent Health, 62(4), pp. 365–381. Web.
Williams, F. (2022) “The use of digital devices by district nurses in their assessment of Service Users,” British Journal of Community Nursing, 27(7), pp. 342–348. Web.
Wink, D.M. and Todd, A. (2018) “Nursing education and the 21st century library,” Nurse Educator, 43(4), pp. 170–172. Web.