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Like in other sectors, technology is rapidly gaining ground in the health profession. Many researchers and health practitioners say technology will increasingly take centre stage in nursing practice. They applaud nursing technologies as the one power that will truly revolutionize service delivery to patients worldwide.

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly enhanced patient care and made the lives of nurses easier. However, there are also some who argue nursing technologies are subjected to certain constraints that could potentially impact the practice negatively. Nonetheless, the following essay will discuss how technology impacts nursing practice.

The Adoption of Nursing Technologies

In the age of digitization, many health practitioners and institutions are increasingly adopting nursing technologies in their day-to-day operations. Those technologies are critical to making nursing processes more efficient, improving the quality of care and reducing errors. Here are some of the key nursing technologies revolutionizing the practice.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

Electronic Health Records are quickly becoming essential components of healthcare delivery systems globally. They store patient data in digital formats, facilitating faster retrieval of patient information. The use of EHRs also ensure improved accuracy than manual record keeping. They also enable nurses to access patient data in real-time, helping them to make informed decisions about care plans. The data generated from EHRs can also assist healthcare institutions to track the productivity of nurses and the effectiveness rates of various medications.

Telehealth/ Virtual Care Platforms

Telehealth platforms enable nurses and other medical practitioners to deliver care remotely through video conferencing and other online-based communication systems. The integration of such nursing technologies allows for remote diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients who may not have better access to the conventional healthcare providers.

Through the use of virtual care platforms, nurses can also provide on-demand education and support to patients from the comfort of their offices or homes. Those online-based platforms can also enable nurses to collaborate and share information with their colleagues worldwide.

Robotics

Robotic systems are transforming service delivery in almost all economic sectors today and the nursing profession is not left behind. Robotics are among the most revolutionary nursing technologies since they can be integrated into a wide range of departments. Robotic systems can be used in surgery to reduce the recovery times for patients who are undergoing complex procedures.

Robotics can also be integrated into pharmacy systems to allow nurses to rapidly dispense medications with very limited human interventions. Today, some institutions are also using robotics in rehabilitation settings to help therapists in delivering physical therapy exercises that are customized to the needs of every patient.

Predictive Analytics

Predictive Analytics is also touted as a revolutionary technology that holds greater promise for enhanced patient outcomes. Using Artificial Intelligence, Predictive Analytics uses data from past patients to suggest treatments with the best possible outcomes. It also allows nurses and doctors to analyse patient data quickly, thereby saving valuable time and improving patient outcomes.

The information generated by Predictive Analytics allows the nurses to work with more flexibility. They can quickly adapt to every patient’s needs by using the data to change medications or switch dosage as desired to boost the patient’s condition.

Predictive Analytics can also help healthcare providers to determine the risk level of a patient in developing chronic conditions such as heart diseases, diabetes and lung infections. That information enables the healthcare provider to determine a course of treatment tailored to the specific needs of the patient.

The Benefits of Nursing Technologies

Nursing technologies are promising a complete transformation to the entire profession. They seek to modernize nursing practices and make the duties of nurses more manageable. Here are the main benefits of technology to the nursing field.

Enhanced accessibility

Nursing technologies are bringing healthcare services much closer to the public, especially the underprivileged. They are making it easier for nurses to access patients even in the most remote locations. Thanks virtual health platforms such as mobile apps, patients can now easily access nurses from the comfort of their homes even in cases of emergencies. Technologies such as EHRs also give nurses an easier time in accessing patients’ medical records. The easy accessibility to patients and their records enable nurses to deliver prompt and effective care, tailored to the needs of every individual.

Increased communication

The integration of technology into the nursing profession also allows nurses and their facilities increased overall communication. Technology offers various resources for effective communication including instant messaging apps, intercom systems and even team collaboration tools. Nurses can use those technologies to ensure faster communication in real-time. That will ensure better coordination of care across multiple departments and by different nurses.

Reduced errors

Unlike manual record keeping that remains subject to a lot of errors, the use of nursing technologies enables nurses to avoid common mistakes. For example, EHRs ensure more accurate patient data regarding their medical history. The enhanced accuracy in patient records allows nurses to make informed decisions about patient care and treatment plans.

The use of digitized health records also offers better protection against potential data breaches or accidental loss.

The Potential Challenges of Nursing Technologies

Despite the many benefits that come with the integration of technology into the nursing profession, nursing technologies are also subjected to some challenges. It is important that nursing practitioners also know about those challenges to determine the best alternatives for more enhanced patient care. The following are some of the common constraints of nursing technologies.

Limited human interaction

Nurses are care providers who are required to develop and maintain close interactions with their patients. The use of nursing technologies threatens that proposition by hindering the contact between the nursing staff and their patients. Every patient relies on their nurse to explain the medication, conduct tests on their vitals and also provide emotional support. Technology reduces the level of interaction between patients and nurses, making it difficult to complete most of those tasks.

Privacy and security issues

New and emerging nursing technologies can also threaten privacy and security, especially when dealing with confidential patient data. EHRs store the data in the cloud or on computer systems, which is also susceptible to hacks. Hacking and other data breaches can still happen even with enhanced protections since all the technologies are built and controlled by humans.

The Future of Technology in Nursing Practice

The recent years have seen numerous advancements in technology, suggesting its increased adoption in various fields. The usage of nursing technologies is on the rise in different segments of the profession. Technologies such as the ones described above are revolutionizing the nursing practice by facilitating higher quality services, efficiency and reducing errors. Despite the few constraints of technology, we should embrace nursing technologies to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. Technology promises a future where nurses will be able to personalize healthcare delivery to the needs of every patient.

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