Technological advances shape many aspects of our lives. Some of the biggest impacts of tech-driven innovation can be found in the nursing field, where improved patient data access, artificial intelligence, and other emerging concepts are driving changes in health care delivery. Professionals equipped with advanced nursing degrees can use these technological advancements in nursing to help health care facilities work to improve patient outcomes.
How Technology Impacts Nursing
Technological innovation has always played a big role in health care. Basic procedures such as blood work and X-rays were once major breakthroughs. Today, tech-driven advances in computers and information technology have had a game-changing effect on the nursing field. Innovations such as electronic health records and wearable health tech have made it possible for nurses to create proactive patient care strategies, extending their influence on a patient’s health beyond the confines of medical facilities. These strategies can ultimately encourage patients to engage in healthier lifestyles, which can reduce health care costs.
It is essential for nurses to learn and understand new technologies as they emerge. Advanced practice nurses must develop strong technical and computer skills to complement their advanced analytical, communication, and critical-thinking competencies. Programs such as an online BSN to DNP program can help nurses gain the skills they need to properly implement new technology. Advanced training will also enable nurse leaders to instruct nursing staff on how to correctly utilize the technological innovations in their patient care duties.
Technological Advancements for Nursing Specialties
The scope of technology influencing the nursing industry has a wide range of applications that extend to various specialties. Advanced practice nurses looking to narrow their professional focus need to understand how technological advancements in nursing can impact the type of specialized care they administer to their patients.
Regis College’s online BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice program, which offers the following five areas of concentration, prepares students to integrate technological innovation with the focused path of care they choose to pursue.
Psychiatric Mental Health
This concentration utilizes modern psychotherapy techniques and knowledge of psychopharmacology to administer care to mental health patients throughout their lifetime. One of the key ways that technological advancements in nursing are enhancing psychiatric mental health methodologies is through artificial intelligence (AI). For example, an AI program can assist in the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans through voice analysis. This tool can help advanced nurses create a health care plan with greater efficiency — one that focuses on a specific mental health issue while minimizing guesswork.
Pediatrics
Pediatric nurses care for children, ranging from infants to teenagers. This specialization has its own set of challenges, as patients may not always be willing to sit still for a proper diagnosis. Fortunately, tech-driven breakthroughs in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have produced equipment such as flexible receiver coils that make it possible to obtain accurate readings of infants or children who have trouble sitting still. Not only can this equipment provide more accurate data, but it can also make it easier for nurses to collect the data needed to build comprehensive care strategies.
Family
Nurses specializing in family care treat patients of all ages. Because of the wide scope of the specialization, it can be critical for nurses to incorporate creative ways to be available to their patients. Tech-driven innovations such as telehealth applications allow patients to proactively observe their own health remotely, on their own schedules. This can reduce the number of clinical visits, which in turn can help nurses be in a better position to deliver care on more critical matters.
Women’s Health
Nurses in this specialty play a leading role in implementing tech advances geared toward women’s health. A key example of this is wearable technology, such as wrist wearables that capture temperature changes. Nurses can use these devices to record changes in temperature associated with the menstrual cycle and thus track fertility, which could allow them to devise more efficient reproductive strategies for their patients.
Adult Gerontology
Adult gerontology nurses focus their care on health challenges pertaining to elderly patients, such as chronic illness and palliative care. These patients may be more likely to have multiple ailments, which could make care delivery especially challenging. The increased use of technology in monitoring patient health can make it easier for nurses to track the overall conditions of aging patients. New monitoring technologies enable nurses to deliver more streamlined care and inform family members of a loved one’s health in greater detail.
The Human Touch Behind the Tech
Even as technological innovation provides new ways to care for patients, it’s critical to remember that the tech is not effective without advanced practice nurses using their professional skills to properly implement it. Learn how Regis College’s online BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice program can help students refine these skills, which can serve as the backbone of effective health care delivery.
Recommended Readings
What Kind of Nurse Should I Be? Examining Advanced Practice Nursing Paths
What Degree Does a Nurse Practitioner Need? Why Advanced Programs Are Critical
What Are Some Doctor of Nursing Practice Specialties?
Sources
Bioscience Reports, “Modern Fertility Awareness Methods: Wrist Wearables Capture the Changes in Temperature Associated with the Menstrual Cycle”
Health Facilities Management, “Nurse-Call Technologies Evolve to Improve Care”
Medical Xpress, “Artificial Intelligence Can Diagnose PTSD by Analyzing Voices”
National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Commentary and Reflection Related to the Perspectives of Nurses Toward Telehealth Efficacy and Quality of Health Care”
Signa Vitae, “Nursing and Implementation of Modern Technology”