Information Technology Is a Constantly

Information Technology is a constantly growing field just as nursing is. In order to keep up with advances in each area, studying technology as it relates to healthcare would be a wise choice for anyone considering a career in this field. As society progresses, we rely heavily on technology in order to become more effective and more efficient in our jobs. The field of healthcare encompasses many different occupations with nursing being one of them. The field of nursing has evolved from years past and will continue to do so in the coming years. Integrating information technology into nursing will only serve to make the profession more attractive to potential students since technology is a daily part of the majority of our lives and occupations.

As future students are beginning their education for entrance into the field of nursing, they should be prepared for a curriculum that not only covers all aspects of nursing but technology as well. They should expect to study a curriculum that integrates technology with their chosen field. New nurses as well as seasoned nurses are expected to be familiar with information technology. In fact, the integration of technology into nursing is now required by the Health Insurance and Portability Act regulations. Since electronic health records will become universal by 2014, nurses and all healthcare workers are required to be in compliance (Fetter, 2009). It is expected that in the near future, many hospitals and healthcare facilities will become virtually paperless. If this is the case, it is imperative that nurses are taught the necessary information technology skills needed in order to remain competitive in their field.

Patients are becoming more technology savvy today and surfing the internet to find out information on their ailments and in turn discussing their findings with nurses. As a result of this, nurses must increase their knowledge of technology by not only taking courses, but also by discovering and learning different and relevant technologies on their own. In the nursing field, there is becoming a concept such as the digital divide among nurses. Even though many nurses are familiar with the Internet and access it on a daily basis, there are some nurses who are familiar with other emerging technologies as it pertains to nursing and there are some nurses who feel that navigating the Internet is the only technology they need to know (Lupianez-Villanueva et al., 2011).

There is more that needs to be done in order to bring all nurses up to a speed where they are competent and comfortable using information technology. Information technology must become a mandatory part of nursing curriculum in colleges and universities nationwide. There is a known shortage of workers in this field and the shortage will continue to grow if there is a growing reluctance to learn new technologies. As more and more newly educated nurses are entering the field, the lack of integrated technology nurses should decrease.