Technology in Nursing: Impact, Ethics, and Staying Current

Introduction

My decision to pursue a career in nursing was driven predominantly by a caring nature, which aligns closely with the demands of the profession. While that caring nature was the fundamental motivator, other contributing factors included the nature of the work and the professional benefits that come with being a nurse. For example, the supportive work environment required to coordinate patient care effectively fosters a cordial relationship with colleagues and enables continuous learning from more experienced practitioners in the field (Pepito & Locsin, 2019). Such exposure allows nurses to choose from a range of specializations, including critical or emergency care, pediatrics, geriatrics, or disease-specific care.

Nursing work extensively involves administering medication, meeting patient needs, and documenting the progress of care for each patient during a shift — records that are handed over to the incoming nurse to continue. The flexibility of working hours and the accommodation of nurses' learning goals in duty assignments also drew me to the field ("Seven Nursing Technologies Transforming Patient Care," 2022). Notably, the nursing profession offers a unique opportunity to earn an income while continuing to learn, as meaningful work can begin at various academic milestones along the career path.

Impact of Technology on the Nursing Profession

Technology has transformed the nursing profession through the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs), improved coordination of care among providers, automation of certain care processes such as portable patient monitoring, and faster generation of laboratory results. According to Hofmann (2015), medical organizations rely on up to 30 different technological solutions across their operations, ranging from human resources and financial management to clinical practice systems. The introduction of electronic health record-keeping increased efficiency in care delivery by enabling easy access to medical records, eliminating the need for patients to carry their records to every visit (Bailey, 2021). The implementation of centralized management systems also improved nurse scheduling through resource-demand management tools that analyze caseload data and staff availability — functions built into workforce management solutions that help managers control operating costs.

According to Gottlieb (2003), the main applications of technology in the healthcare environment produce benefits such as fewer appointment delays, lower cancellation rates, and improved operational efficiency. Because nursing is an information-intensive profession, technology facilitates instant access to information at the point of need, directly supporting nurses' decision-making. This has increased accuracy in the care process by reducing errors that were previously caused by information-sharing discrepancies and human mistakes (Fox, 2016). Remote monitoring tools and point-of-care alerts, for instance, notify nurses immediately when a patient requires assistance or an emergency arises. Automated measurement tools and graphical representations of core patient assessments also assist nurses in adhering to evidence-based standards of care, contributing to better patient health outcomes.

Amid this technological integration, nurses can apply the "head, hand, and heart" approach — blending practical knowledge, technical skills, and empathetic understanding — to provide humane and sensitive care. This approach optimizes patient safety and quality of care while enabling nurses to devote greater attention to a patient's broader circumstances, including social, environmental, and economic factors that influence their welfare. For nurse leaders, technology serves a core function in promoting a vision and facilitating the monitoring of progress toward organizational goals.

Importance of Remaining Current with Technology

The integration of technology across care settings has fundamentally changed the care environment. Consequently, remaining current on new FDA-approved technologies is critical for ensuring a nurse's competence to deliver care using these tools effectively. Proficiency in emerging technology is essential for nurses to meet the evidence-based requirements of care delivery and the ethical standards of the profession. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) calls for a tiered approach to data access, wherein staff members access only the data necessary to perform their responsibilities (Huston, 2013). These measures are designed to ensure the confidentiality and security of patient data (Hofmann, 2015). Remaining current is therefore not merely a professional preference but an ethical obligation.

The theory of technological competence in nursing centers on three core processes: mutual designing, participative engagement, and technological know-how. Technological know-how involves the competent use of technology to treat and care for patients, with the understanding that technology should remain secondary in the caring process — the nurse is the principal (Garcia-Dia, 2020). Mutual designing refers to the nurse and patient collaboratively designing a care plan and identifying where technology is necessary. Participative engagement involves implementing the care plan and evaluating the patient's response relative to desired health outcomes. Familiarizing oneself with new technologies equips nurses with the technical know-how required to balance compassionate care with effective use of tools.

Some patients may be skeptical about the use of technology in their treatment. It is the nurse's responsibility to judge whether a particular technology is critical or can be avoided without compromising the patient's health outcome. Where technology is essential, the nurse must educate the patient on its efficacy and importance so that the patient can make an informed decision (Garcia-Dia, 2020). Without sufficient technical knowledge of the tools in their work environment, nurses are limited both in their ability to counsel patients and in their capacity to determine whether a specific technology is genuinely necessary for the nursing process.

Nurses who are familiar with emerging technologies are also better positioned to contribute to technological development and implementation in healthcare. Rather than using technology ubiquitously without evaluating its implications, nurses can draw on firsthand clinical experience to assess the efficacy of specific tools and advocate for technologies that genuinely advance care objectives (McNamee & Edwards, 2006). Identifying where technology is critical — such as in routine tasks or situations requiring extreme accuracy — is essential for ensuring that the costs of implementation are reflected in measurable improvements to patient outcomes and operational efficiency (Huston, 2013).

Conclusion

Subscribing to online or physical publications helps nurses maintain familiarity with technological developments in their field. Advancing academic qualifications also aligns with the nursing profession's commitment to lifelong learning (Pepito & Locsin, 2019). Continuing education exposes nurses to emerging technologies and equips them with the skills needed to implement and use those technologies effectively in care settings. This approach not only helps nurses remain current but also supports career advancement and the development of deeper technological literacy — all of which ultimately benefit patient care.