Over the last decade, the healthcare arena that includes research, education, and patient care has become overloaded with technological advances. Technology influences how nurses are educated, the way how they practice, provide and document patient care. Clinical Information Systems has already replaced paper and pencil input of information that helped to reduce errors and provide flexibility in delivering specific patient care. Vital signs including temperature and blood pressure are taken, recorded and tracked electronically, and nurses are alerted to any worrying and abnormal results. Moreover, POC bar coding, electronic medical records (EMR), personal data assistants (PDAs), and the health education system (HES) are applications that ensure efficient and accurate documentation, proper administration, and easy access to healthcare databases. Nurse researchers make use of various applications and computerized testing. Besides, they surf the Internet to gather the necessary information and then distribute their findings. Throughout history, nursing researchers have welcomed and adopted new technologies to advance nursing science and improve healthcare.
Technological advancements in the field of genomics and genetics are extremely important and have already been used for many reasons. Genetic testing, for example, helps to identify gene mutations and possible risks of developing various diseases. Prenatal and newborn screenings can determine various inherited conditions and prevent birth defects. Future applications of genomics and genetics will create genomic-based medicine where individuals will be treated for diseases that are likely to develop. Genetic sequencing and genotyping have already improved interventional and diagnostic medicine. Technological advances will help to grow new organs from patient’s tissues, and this ability will eliminate the need for donors. 3D printing is another technological advancement that prints various objects by microscopic layers of materials such as glass, plastics, ceramics, or metal. "The application of 3D printing in healthcare literally makes the body into a system of interchangeable parts” (Hurston, 2013). This technology helps to create artificial limbs and human organs for transplantation and research.
Nursing documentation is a vital element of health care information. Therefore, there are numerous information systems that were designed for nurses to expand their knowledge because newer methods and concepts to improve patient care continue to appear. Electronic health records have also become an integral part of nursing practice. “Patient documentation is a vital skill in communicating the patient's condition and organizing their care according to the patient's needs” (Cassano, 2014). Before the digital age, nurses made use of paper forms to document the information about the patient. Nowadays, electronic documentation improves information accuracy, provides a faster and easier information flow, efficient communication between healthcare professionals, and access to the necessary information, and enhances the quality of the patient care. “The electronic health record (EHR) is a digital record of a patient’s health history that may be made up of records from many locations and/or sources, such as hospitals, providers, clinics, and public health agencies” (Hurston, 2013). Using the EHRs, nurses are able to access information very quickly and react according to the situation that improves the quality of nursing practice.
Robotics is another emerging technological innovation in the field of healthcare, especially in nanomedicine and biomechatronics. Nanomedicine applies nanotechnology, a type of engineering of robotic devices and tiny machines. Nanotechnology provides nanomachines and various devices that can perform nanorobotic therapeutic procedures. Besides, there are microrobots that circulate in the bloodstream of an individual and identify disease processes. Mobile health is also a rapidly growing field of healthcare. “Mobile technology is defined as wireless devices and sensors that are intended to worn, carried, or accessed by a person during normal daily activities” (Doswell, Braxter, Nilsen & Klem, 2013). They help to conduct numerous studies and examine various health conditions. Mentally controlled electronic muscle stimulators appear as a result of biomechatronics, as well as tiny microphones and cameras that will allow the blind and deaf lead a normal life. Electroencephalography is the technology that allows the researchers read minds, especially of the paralyzed and even move wheelchairs by specific brainwaves. In addition, robots are used in various surgical procedures and to provide patient care. What is more, robotic simulation is used in research in nursing.
Nevertheless, technological progress may present some problems for the field of health care. One of the major threats of technological advances is the potential breach of security, privacy, and confidentiality of patient information. Moreover, some people believe that technological advances will make the profession of a nurse obsolete; however, information technology is an assistant to a nurse because it helps to save time, increase the accuracy of automated orders, and decrease medical errors. Nowadays, technological advances and innovations are an integral part of the nursing practice; nevertheless, adapting to them is a difficult process for nurses who have been working for many years. They need much time to learn new programs and accept computer advancements. Besides, some applications and information systems require multiple passwords or an input in each field, which can be not applicable. Therefore, this process is quite time-consuming. In addition, the process of adoption of technologies is expensive and challenging.
References
Cassano, C. (2014). The Right Balance – Technology and Patient Care. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, Vol. 18 (3). Retrieved from http://www.himss.org/ResourceLibrary/GenResourceDetail.aspx?ItemNumber=33541
Doswell, W., Braxter, B., Nilsen, W. & Klem, M.L. (2013). mHealth: Technology for Nursing Practice, Education, and Research. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, Vol. 3 (10). Retrieved from http://www.sciedu.ca/journal/index.php/jnep/article/view/2180
Hurston, C. (2013). The Impact of Emerging Technology on Nursing Care: Warp Speed Ahead. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, Vol. 18 (2). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23758419
