Impact of Advance Technology in Nursing Education and Practice and use of different technologies.
Advance Technology in Nursing Education and Practice
The use of technology in nursing education does not replace the traditional in-person learning experience, particularly for skills labs and clinical rotations necessary for nursing competencies. Instead, it complements it by providing flexibility, interactive experiences, quick feedback, and effective communication.
The nursing field always moves side by side with technological advancements and in the last few years the integration of advanced technologies in nursing education and practice as well has become most popular. Such innovations prove transnormal factor for this purpose nurses are trained, enhancing clinical care, improving patient outcomes, and streamlining healthcare processes to achieve the desired level of care. There is significant impact of digital learning platforms such as artificial intelligence Advance Technology in Nursing Education and Practice and Virtual Reality in healthcare systems.
Technology and Advancements in Health Care and nursing Education
The vastly advancing technology gives transforming impact on the nursing profession as other fields of education and professions. We can imagine the future of nursing education and clinical practice by the simulation-based education to telehealth services, technological innovations.
Use of Simulation and Virtual Reality (VR) in Nursing Education
Virtual reality simulations show nursing students what it is like to be in a real-world clinical setting and what problems and risks they may encounter there, and thus, helps them develop skills, build confidence, and prepare for clinical practice.
There is continues evolution in high fidelity simulations technology with more realistic manikins for complex and realistic complex patients’ conditions. Using such manikins’ patients’ conditions can replicate vital signs, physiological responses, and even verbal communication, enable students to experience real world clinical scenarios in a controlled clinical learning environment. Such hands-on practices not only enhance skills but also develop students’ confidence prior to handling situation of real time patient.
Augmented Reality (AR) in Education
Augmented reality in education (AR) means adding digital technology to a physical classroom to help learners understand real-life concepts better. It doesn’t replace reality; rather, it helps learners and instructors visualize otherwise abstract and obscure concepts. Let’s say you’re teaching about the solar system
Augmented reality (AR) has become significantly non preventable in nursing education in healthcare. Augmented reality AR overlays digital very implementable in the real world scenarios as compare to the virtual reality (VR) that create immersive environment in healthcare setting. Use of AR-enabled devices, nursing students can describe the anatomy of a patient by viewing 3D models implementation on the responsive simulation manikins or live patient. By such educational interventions students grasp complex concepts such as anatomical and physiological subjects.
AI-Driven Learning Platforms
These technologies improve instructional effectiveness and provide customized student support, addressing their specific learning needs (Chen et al., 2020). AI applications—from diagnostic tools to predictive analytics—play a crucial role in patient care management and clinical decision-making (Alowais et al., 2023).
Using these platforms can track a student’s progress over time and provide adaptive learning pathways, making education and learning efficient and effective as well.
AI for Clinical Decision Support
AI can aid physicians in the complex task of risk stratifying patients for interventions, identifying those most at risk of imminent decompensation, and evaluating multiple small outcomes to optimize overall patient outcomes. Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a growing role in the decision making for nursing education and practices.
Artificial intelligence derived decision support system (CDSS) can analyze a range of patient data in real life experience that is helpful for better decision making about patient care in health care settings on nursing side.
Patient can answer by theses chatbots for their quarries regrading medicine, procedures and general health status , it make nursing staffs to focus on more human base complex healthcare tasks. It also integrated in nursing education as a tool for students teaching for patient interaction and education.
During COVID-19 pandemic, the telehealth has gained significant traction. There is an option of remote patient care through video consultancy, phone calls, or messaging platforms in healthcare setting and outside it. It also provides continuous monitoring and care, specifically in chronic health conditions such diabetes, hypertension and care instructions. Patient can be assessed, educated and collaboration with other healthcare providers can be done, without patient visiting the healthcare facility.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring is unsuccessful without the tools to make it possible. As opposed to telehealth, which can be done over a personal device such as a computer or smartphone, remote patient monitoring requires a couple extra steps. This includes an RPM device.
Nursing practice includes remote patient monitoring devices, which allow nurses to track patients’ vital signs glucose levels and cardiac activity in real life monitoring from long distances. Digital devices like wearable sensors and smartwatches collect patient data and send this data to healthcare providers. It enabling early detection of potential problems and reducing the need for frequent in-person visits in healthcare facility. Especially it is beneficial for patients in rural or underserved areas and areas with limited healthcare facility availability.
Mobile Applications for Nursing Education and Practice
Nurses use these programs to support their daily workflow, data entry, birth data tracking and analysis, documentation practices, for the hospital Electronic Health Record, to facilitate documentation at the bedside, for integrated management of chronic conditions, for longitudinal health data, to manage data.
Educational Apps for Nursing Students
Learning theories are the main guide for educational systems planning in the classroom and clinical training included in nursing. The teachers by knowing the general principles of these theories can use their knowledge more effectively according to various learning situations.
- NCSBN Learning Extension– Medication Flashcards
What it offers: This simple app downloads a medication library to your phone. Great for students preparing for exams or nurses who need a quick reference point.
Availability: iOS and Android; free
- NCLEX RN Mastery– Study Aid
What it offers: Prepare for the NCLEX RN exam with hundreds of practice questions and sample quizzes. When you give a wrong answer, the app gives you a detailed reason why (which helps you ace it next time).
Availability: iOS and Android; free download with in-app purchases: otherwise monthly fees
- PEPID– Drug and Clinical Resource
What it offers: With versions for different professions, including nurses, EMTs, physicians, students, and more, this app provides detailed information for all elements of patient care. Students gain a credible and complete resource guide for coursework, lab exercises, and clinical practice.
Availability: iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and mobile browser compatible; subscription fee
- Epocrates– Clinical Care Assistant
What it offers: This app streamlines searches for information on prescription drugs, drug interactions, and pill identification. As a nursing student, you can prevent mistakes on exams and, most importantly, provide proper treatment when providing patient care.
Availability: iOS and Android; free, with an upgrade for disease and diagnostic access, or enterprise subscription
- Medscape– Informational Resource
What it offers: Published by WebMD, this free app provides access to a medical directory, continuing education, medical news tailored to your specialty, and a clinical reference library. The news aspect of this app helps students stay up to date in the industry.
Availability: iOS and Android; free
- WebMD– Access full WebMD Resources
What it offers: This is the app version of the WebMD website. Because Web MD’s primary audience is the general public, nursing students can use the available resources on the app to practice describing care to patients with non-medical terminology.
Availability: iOS, Android, and Amazon; free
- Med Mnemonics– Nursing/Nursing Student Support
What it offers: This app provides over 1,500 acronyms, rhymes, and memory tricks to help nurses quickly learn numerous medical conditions, symptoms, and other medical terminology.
Availability: iOS and Android; nominal fee
- Taber’s Medical Dictionary– Comprehensive Medical Dictionary
What it offers: This is a mobile version of one of the best medical dictionaries on the market. The app includes photos, videos, audio pronunciations, and functionality to save favorite entries. This dictionary has more than 65,000 definitions to help nursing students study for tests.
Availability: iOS, Android, and mobile browser compatible; annual subscription fee
- Nursing Central– Comprehensive Reference Resource
What it offers: Nursing Central offers information and reference for diseases, drugs, and tests for nurses, as well as a literature search function. The app includes access to Davis’s Drug Guide, Taber’s Medical Dictionary, Diseases and Disorders, and MEDLINE Search and Journals, among other databases.
Availability: iOS and Android; annual subscription fee
- NurseGrid– Scheduling and Communication
What it offers: NurseGrid was developed by nurses to help manage the scheduling process. The app lets you schedule across all worksites, view who’s on your shift, message other nurses, and much more. A manager version is also available.
Clinical Apps for Nursing Practice
Nursing students have a unique perspective on how smartphones and mobile apps can support learning in clinical practice. Nursing faculty need to undertake more rigorous research to determine if mobile technology can improve learning outcomes, how best to personalize mobile apps to students needs and ensure both hardware devices and educational software can be integrated in practice to support clinical training.
Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Nursing Documentation
Electronic health records (EHRs) are digital records of a patient’s medical information that can be used to support nursing documentation. EHRs can help nurses record a patient’s health status, needs, and responses to care. They can also help with clinical reasoning about a patient’s future care.
EHR Systems
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are a digital version of a patient’s medical chart that can be used by nurses to document and manage patient information. EHRs can improve patient care, communication, and experience.
Voice Recognition for Documentation
Speech recognition (SR) is increasingly used directly by clinicians for electronic health record (EHR) documentation. Its usability and effect on quality and efficiency versus other documentation methods remain unclear. To study usability and quality of documentation with SR versus typing.
Wearable Technology in Patient Care
With EHR systems universally replacing paper charts and records, nurses can access patient information in real time. This efficient data management tool reduces errors, streamlines documentation, and enhances communication among the health care team.
3D Printing in Nursing Education
3D printing is a valuable tool in nursing education and patient care, as it allows students and medical professionals to create and use scale models of organs and body parts.
Customized Anatomical Models
3D-Printed Models as a Learning and Teaching Tool for Abnormal or Uncommon Anatomy. 3D prints also helped to provide learning aids for structures that are often difficult to sample as specimens, such as those with pathologies and rare anatomical variations.
3D-Printed Medical Devices
By leveraging 3D printing, medical educators can create anatomically accurate models that closely mimic real human structures, providing an invaluable opportunity for students and trainees to visualize and manipulate complex anatomical systems offering a level of realism and interactivity that traditional education.
Robotics in Nursing Practice
How Nurse Robots Offer a Helping Hand. The strength of robot nurses lay in their ability to assist. They can help out in repetitive tasks, such as medical supply retrieval, food and medication delivery, and patient movement and transfer. Robots can also assist by the training staff.
Robotic Assistants
Assistive robotic systems can be divided into the following six fields of applications: Information and patient data processing, assistance with activities of daily living, fetch and bring activities, telepresence and communication, monitoring, safety and navigation, and complex assistance systems.
Robotic Surgery Training for Nurses
The robotic nurses are responsible for preparation of the surgical field of each robotic procedure, and should be fully oriented which instruments will be used before the start of surgery. They arrange the instruments over the surgical tables in a standardized manner, and revise the instruments “Check-list”.
Blockchain Technology for Data Security
Blockchain provides a secure method for storing data across a distributed network. This decentralisation ensures that data is not stored in a single location, reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorised access.
Future Trends
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) In Nursing Education
It expected that AR and VR play a significant role in both education and clinical practice in nursing settings.
Implementation
- For the Training on simulating complex surgical procedures.
- To provide patient Care for distraction therapy for pain management.
Blockchain Technology
It is an advanced database mechanism that allows transparent information sharing within a business network or health care systems. Blockchain database stores data in blocks that are linked together in a chain one after another. It can enhance data security and interoperability in healthcare systems and nursing care.
Genomics and Personalized Medicine
Such advancements are making nursing professionals capable of playing a pivotal role in the genomic and health care precision. Key aspects of how nurses contribute to genomics and precision healthcare:
- Patient education and counseling
- Family history collection
- Interpreting genetic test results
- Medication management
- Risk assessment and screening
- Data collection and analysis
Summary or Conclusion
We can say that integration of advanced technology in nursing education and practice is a cause of transforming the profession. On the other hand, innovations present numerous benefits. There are many challenges that must be addressed to ensure effective and ethical implementation of these technologies along with their benefits. The nursing professionals can enhance patient care outcomes and advance the future of healthcare when there is a culture of fostering a culture of continuous learning and embracing technological advancements.
Read Also as Reference
- Chen, J., Zhang, C., & Wang, J. (2021). Artificial intelligence in nursing education: A systematic review. Nursing Education Perspectives, 42(2), 78-85.
- Hayden, J. K., Smiley, R. A., & Gross, L. (2014). Simulation in nursing education: Current regulations and practices. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 5(3), 14-21.
- Jeffries, P. R. (2016). The NLN Jeffries simulation theory. Wolters Kluwer.
- Kruse, C. S., Stein, A., Thomas, H., & Kaur, H. (2017). The benefits and challenges of electronic health records. Journal of Medical Systems, 41(8), 125.
- McCutcheon, K., Lohan, M., Traynor, M., & Martin, D. (2018). A systematic review evaluating the impact of online or blended learning vs. face-to-face learning of clinical skills in undergraduate nurse education. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 74(7), 1545-1563.
- Piwek, L., Ellis, D. A., Andrews, S., & Joinson, A. (2016). The rise of consumer health wearables: Promises and barriers. PLoS Medicine, 13(2), e1001953.
- Smith, A. C., Thomas, E., Snoswell, C. L., Haydon, H., Mehrotra, A., Clemensen, J., & Caffery, L. J. (2020). Telehealth for global emergencies: Implications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 26(5), 309-313.
- Topol, E. (2019). Deep medicine: How artificial intelligence can make healthcare human again. Basic Books.
- Turja, T., Van Aerschot, L., Särkikoski, T., & Oksanen, A. (2018). Finnish healthcare professionals’ attitudes towards robots: Reflections on a population sample. Nursing Ethics, 25(1), 106-117.
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