Advances in technology continue to impact every industry, and nursing is no exception. With the current nursing shortage, there is a need for innovations to support the nursing profession.
Recent data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics show that more than 275,000 additional nurses are required from 2020 to 2030. By taking advantage of these innovative nursing technologies, healthcare organizations can momentarily counter the shortage and ensure adequate patient care.
This article outlines the latest developments in healthcare technology and how they are being incorporated into the nursing practice.
Robotics
Healthcare is rife with errors due to demanding schedules and an increased number of patients. Research revealed that there were approximately 750,000 nursing errors in the US in 2010. Their fatality rates ranged from 44,000 to 90,000. The same study also indicated that one in every 300 errors could result in death.
These nursing mistakes can be as straightforward as forgetting to report a change in a patient’s condition. Innovative robotics technologies empower nurses to reduce monotonous tasks such as medication management, navigating and greeting patients, and carrying medical devices. This way, they can spend more time caring for their patients.
By helping nurses to do what they are supposed to, they can work toward improving patients’ health and delivering the highest level of care.
Telehealth
The emergence of telehealth has also helped nurses provide better care. Nurses are frequently patients’ initial point of contact when they seek medical attention. In many healthcare settings, nurses can also serve as the central resource for health education and long-term health monitoring.
Thanks to telehealth, nurses can be accessible to numerous patients. Nurses can spend more time between appointments because, as Forbes reports, telemedicine consultations are typically 20% shorter than in-person visits. Telehealth consultations help nurses spend less time charting and moving between patients, allowing them to communicate with patients one-on-one and giving them more individualized treatment.
Moreover, telemedicine nursing has enabled nurses to monitor patients from a distance. Nurses can manage patients with chronic illnesses more quickly and safely by using remote patient monitoring to lower the number of hospital readmissions. As the baby boomer population ages, telehealth will only continue to grow as it can better meet patients’ needs when they cannot travel independently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen a 154% uptick in telehealth visits from March 2019 to March 2020.
Video conferencing apps
Technology also has a role in nursing education. Gone are the days when the only way to earn a nursing degree was by being physically present on a university campus.
Recent technological developments such as learning management systems and video conferencing apps have allowed nursing students to access online education and earn their post-degree masters without having to take time off from work or relocate and look for a new job.
By taking an online FNP master’s degree program at the University of Indianapolis, nurses can improve their expertise and gain more autonomy in their practice.
Taking advantage of innovative nursing technologies
Nursing technologies will continue to grow as the world adapts to the post-pandemic era. Learn how to take advantage of these cutting-edge technologies by signing up and enrolling in a program today.
