1

The Impact of Technology on Nursing Practice

Name

Course

Course instructor

Date
 2

Research Question: How has technology affected nursing practice?

Introduction

Technology has had considerable effects in all spheres of life, and the healthcare industry

is not an exception. Its rapid adoption and integration have been attributed to high innovation

levels and the constant evolution of technology developments. Additionally, experts are

constantly searching for better ways, strategies, and machines to achieve set goals. Existing

literature on the impact of technology in nursing emphasizes its benefits in the healthcare

industry. Additionally, focus on emerging technology and their role in enhancing nursing

practice is also evident. However, the adjustments associated with technology integration into the

nursing practice have costs, challenges, and limitations. There is an existing knowledge gap

when it comes to the analysis of the issues associated with technology adoption in nursing. This

paper looks to review the impact of technology in nursing from a cost-benefit analysis

perspective. Using a literature review as the primary research method, the article will identify the

positive and negative impacts of technology in the nursing practice. Books, journals, peer-

reviewed articles, and credible websites are the primary sources of information in this report. The

data from these sources will help develop a plausible conclusion on how technology affects

nursing practice. 

Literature Review

Nursing is highly dependent on person-person interaction. Recent technological

advancements have found ways to augment this critical service incorporating machines and

information into everyday practice. This integration has enhanced the quality of care and

treatment outcomes. Not only is technology a viable platform for efficiency, but it is also a

critical aspect of underpinning convenience (Bagherian et al., 2017). It is vital to understand that
 3

patient experience through increased satisfaction, and personalized treatment has taken center

stage in recent years. Technology is the primary driver of these critical aspects defining the

quality of care, and the impact nursing practice has on treatment outcomes (Rouleau et al., 2017).

Crucial elements defining the efficiency of the nursing practice have also been affected by

innovation. Technology is regarded as a vital concept in reducing the average hospital stays,

waiting time, and readmission rates. Nurses use technology platforms to enhance the level of

care and speed of service delivery and thus can serve more patients in a day than before (Risling,

2017). A crucial factor to note is that these elements are enhanced in addition to a reduction in

treatment costs and an increase in the quality of care provided. 

Nurses rely on technology to enhance documentation, patient assessment, and decision

making. Technological platforms such as nursing informatics with Electronic Health Records,

Bed management Systems, and wearable devices taking center stage are vital in this endeavor

(Fagerström et al., 2017). Not only have changed the way nurses document patient information

but also how they plan, review, and execute clinical care. Technology has also improved

scheduling and increased productivity. A common challenge associated with the nursing practice

is burnout, and work-related stress since the profession is highly demanding (Konttila et al.,

2019). However, technology platforms such as resource- demand management are crucial in

fostering optimal staffing. Another example is workforce solutions, which schedules nurses

depending on caseload information and availability (Krick et al., 2019). Therefore, it is accurate

to state that technology has enabled nursing managers to control costs and service quality,

improving the nursing practice, and the professionals’ well-being. Nursing practice is bound to

experience more changes with emerging technologies likely to have a considerable impact on
 4

this landscape in the coming years. The practice is bound to continuously evolve to align with

technological development and patient demands.

Technology has enhanced nursing communication with other healthcare providers and

patients. As mentioned earlier, nursing is a personalized practice, and its effectiveness is

dependent on efficient communication and coordination. Streamlined patient communication has

closed the gap between the caregivers, enabling them to get information in real-time. For

example, patients can access test results and medical records from the patient portal, enabling

them to understand their condition and gain visibility of the treatment plan (Krick et al., 2019).

Technology fosters streamlined information management, which is essential in nursing practice.

It has enabled the nurses to share data with other professionals and even those working in other

healthcare facilities. Additionally, big data and analysis enable the nurses to identify patient data

patterns and facilitate crucial concepts such as stratification (Fagerström et al., 2017).

Communication and data management has had considerable benefits on the nursing practice,

with the information playing a vital role in providing the best possible care. 

Nurses have a crucial role in administering medications as prescribed by the doctor.

Innovation has improved and simplified this practice and hence promoting patient safety.

According to Risling (2017, p 88), new technology has reduced medical errors significantly.

Safety checks ensuring patients get the right medication, and alarm systems to ensure patients get

medication on time are critical in enhancing nursing practice when it comes to medical

administration and patient safety. A suitable example of another technology platform with a

significant impact in this practice is the Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) (Bagherian

et al., 2017). It is a vital technology in monitoring drug levels in patients and thus enhancing

their safety levels. Technology such as automated IV pumps enables nurses to set the fluids'
 5

speed as they go into the patient’s veins. Simplifying medication administration has made their

practice easier and underpinned enhanced treatment outcomes.

One of the most notable disadvantages of technology in nursing practice is reduced by

patient interaction. This aspect is a critical area of research given that emerging technologies

indicate that the gap is bound to widen. Technology is bound to change the concept of nursing as

a person- person interaction, a characteristic that has defined this profession since its inception.

Silva et al., (2017, p 18) claim that nursing practice depends on the relationships developed with

the patients and their families. Compassion, empathy, and human touch have a considerable

impact on treatment outcomes. The emergence of robotic nurses in countries like Japan is bound

to change the nursing practice forever. It will eliminate the person to person engagement and

interactions and hence affecting treatment outcomes. According to Koivunen & Saranto (2018 p

26), information technology with telehealth and electronic health records in real-time leading the

way foster the gap between the patients and the nursing practitioners. Both parties are bound to

lose value catching up on an aspect that will have an adverse impact on the nursing practice. 

As mentioned earlier, technology is evolving rapidly, and nurses have to develop new

strategies to keep up with the adjustments. While curriculum changes and nursing development

programs are vital tools in equipping the nurses with the required knowledge and skills,

technology adaptation in nursing causes a generational divide (Hara et al., 2016). It is vital to

note that 50% of nursing practitioners are baby boomers. They are considered rigid and slow to

adapt to new technologies as opposed to the millennials and generation Z. This concept has

serious implications on the nursing practice, with those considered to lack tech-savvy skills

feeling demoralized or left out in the race to catch up with emerging innovations in healthcare

(Silva et al., 2017). Equipping the nurses with the skills required to adapt to new technologies is
 6

an expensive affair. Health facilities and schools have to incur high costs in this endeavor. The

limitation of costs is also associated with the installation of these technology platforms in

healthcare organizations. 

A critical challenge facing technology adaptation is privacy, data, and security threats.

Patient information targets many individuals and entities looking to benefit illegally (Silva et al.,

2017). Nursing practitioners have to develop the ethical standards required to protect the privacy

of their patients. Furthermore, they have to develop and gain knowledge regarding cybersecurity.

Cybercrime has become commonplace, with the culprits targeting hospitals for patient

information. This has considerable implications on the nursing practice with the health facility’s

reputation at stake owing to cyber attacks. Closely associated with this issue is the problem of

equipment malfunction. Nurses who are dependent on technology face a daunting task once it

fails. The reliance on power and servers put the patient at risk, with many nursing practitioners

not able to do a thing if those platforms fail (Koivunen & Saranto, 2018). Technology has also

been associated with a lack of attention to detail. Nurses rely on it too much, and while it is

considered faster, smarter, and more accurate, it does not mean there is no room for error.

Nursing practitioners relying on technology might not think for themselves since they put their

entire trust in a machine's ability to deliver as expected (Rouleau et al., 2017). Lack of human

efficiency could have detrimental implications on the nursing practice since technology does not

have the final say. 

Findings

From the content analysis of the secondary sources, it is evident that technology has

changed nursing considerably. The adjustments nurses are experiencing are not superficial,

rather based on the profession's core concepts and foundation. Technology has affected nursing
 7

training with educators focusing on equipping the trainees with the skills and knowledge

required to use technology platforms (Hara et al., 2016). Tech-savvy skills are now essentials

with the ability to adjust and align with emerging technological platforms playing a central role.

Additionally, healthcare's technological landscape has had immense implications on how nurses

interact with patients and deliver services (Konttila et al., 2019). Aspects like communication

and documenting of patient health records have improved and hence increasing the quality of

care. Additionally, nurses reach patients in remote areas using Telehealth platforms or those

experiencing shortages of healthcare practitioners (Koivunen & Saranto, 2018). It has also led to

the introduction of freelancing in nursing practice, a concept that was earlier unheard of in this

field. 

The challenges associated with technology in nursing practice indicate that there is a need

for continuous improvement. Researchers and experts agree that there are critical issues facing

nursing practice as a result of technology adaptation. The decline in person to person interaction

is said to be the worst that can occur in the profession. Emerging technologies like robotics

indicate that the human touch in nursing practice is headed for a downturn, a concept many

individuals feel is unwarranted (Archibald & Barnard, 2018). Over-reliance on technology is

another critical challenge that nurses face due to integrating innovation into their practice. Lack

of attention to details and elimination of human efficiency has adverse implications on the

nursing practice. It endangers the patients and removes the aspect of creativity, which is critical

in growth and improvement.

  Furthermore, technology is subject to failure and malfunctions, and these issues directly

affect nursing practice. On the other hand, the patient’s treatment outcomes depend on the

nurse’s ability to deliver quality services regardless of whether the machines are working. The
 8

challenge of improving the nurses’ ability to protect patient information and flag down

cybercrime brings about the need for tech-savvy skills in nursing (Hara et al., 2016). This is

closely associated with the generation gap, which is emerging in this sector, with the baby

boomers finding it hard to keep up with the evolving technology.

Conclusion

In the contemporary world, the provision of healthcare is dependent on technology.

Nurses rely on innovative platforms to enhance the quality of care, patient safety, and treatment

outcomes. Analysis of the impact of technology on nursing practice indicates that innovation has

had considerable positive implications on this profession. It has ripple effects in a healthcare

facility’s performance, reputation, and ability to achieve its core mandate. Technology plays a

critical in improving the efficiency of service delivery, coordination, and communication, which

are critical elements in nursing practice. The disadvantages of technology in nursing are limited.

The threat of person to person interaction, lack of attention to details, over-reliance on

technology platforms, privacy, and data security have minimal implications on the practice.

Aspects like high costs of installation and equipment malfunction common when it comes to

technology adaptation. 

A cost-benefit analysis of the impact of technology on nursing practice shows that the

advantages surpass the limitations. There is considerable potential for more improvements in the

practice with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented

reality, and quantum computing looking to revolutionize healthcare. There is a need to focus on

improving nursing education to equip professionals with the skills, knowledge, and ability to

capitalize on technology for better treatment outcomes. Future research should look into the
 9

projected impact of emerging technology on nursing practice. The research needs to focus on the

limitations and the most reasonable mitigation measures. 

 10

References

Archibald, M. M., & Barnard, A. (2018). Futurism in nursing: Technology, robotics and the

fundamentals of care. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(11-12), 2473-2480.

Bagherian, B., Sabzevari, S., Mirzaei, T., & Ravari, A. (2017). Effects of technology on nursing

care and caring attributes of a sample of Iranian critical care nurses. Intensive and Critical

Care Nursing, 39, 18-27.

Fagerström, C., Tuvesson, H., Axelsson, L., & Nilsson, L. (2017). The role of ICT in nursing

practice: an integrative literature review of the Swedish context. Scandinavian journal of

caring sciences, 31(3), 434-448.

Hara, C. Y. N., Aredes, N. D. A., Fonseca, L. M. M., Silveira, R. C. D. C. P., Camargo, R. A. A.,

& de Goes, F. S. N. (2016). Clinical case in digital technology for nursing students'

learning: An integrative review. Nurse Education Today, 38, 119-125.

Koivunen, M., & Saranto, K. (2018). Nursing professionals' experiences of the facilitators and

barriers to the use of telehealth applications: a systematic review of qualitative

studies. Scandinavian journal of caring sciences, 32(1), 24-44.

Konttila, J., Siira, H., Kyngäs, H., Lahtinen, M., Elo, S., Kääriäinen, M., ... & Utsumi, M. (2019).

Healthcare professionals’ competence in digitalisation: A systematic review. Journal of

clinical nursing, 28(5-6), 745-761.

Krick, T., Huter, K., Domhoff, D., Schmidt, A., Rothgang, H., & Wolf-Ostermann, K. (2019).

Digital technology and nursing care: a scoping review on acceptance, effectiveness and

efficiency studies of informal and formal care technologies. BMC health services

research, 19(1), 400.
 11

Risling, T. (2017). Educating the nurses of 2025: Technology trends of the next decade. Nurse

education in practice, 22, 89-92.

Rouleau, G., Gagnon, M. P., Côté, J., Payne-Gagnon, J., Hudson, E., & Dubois, C. A. (2017).

Impact of information and communication technologies on nursing care: Results of an

overview of systematic reviews. Journal of medical Internet research, 19(4), e122

Silva, Í. R., Leite, J. L., Trevizan, M. A., Silva, T. D., & José, S. A. P. (2017). Connections

between research and health care assistance: emerging challenges for science, innovation

and technology in nursing. Texto Contexto Enferm [Internet]. 2017Nov [cited 2018 Fev

19], 26(4), e2470016.