The impact of technology on various professions is undeniable in the current era, and nursing is no different. In the age dominated by data analytics and artificial intelligence, the healthcare industry is actively incorporating technology to streamline processes and alleviate the workload on nurses and medical staff.
Telehealth nursing, for instance, enables virtual monitoring of patients, allowing nurses to execute tasks remotely, gather data, and manage chronic diseases. Electronic health records offer quick and easy access to vital patient information, while smart beds can track patients’ movements and vital signs, promptly notifying medical teams of any sudden changes. Intravenous infusion pumps now feature touchscreens and icons for remote management, and advanced machine language algorithms, coupled with artificial intelligence, provide data-driven clinical decision support to nurses and doctors, enhancing diagnostics and predicting patient outcomes.
The rapid pace of technological advancements is leading to significant breakthroughs, transforming the landscape of human health and wellness care. These innovations have brought about substantial changes in the structure and arrangement of the healthcare sector. According to McKinsey Global Institute, approximately 800 million workers across the globe may be substituted by robots by the year 2030, highlighting the profound impact of technological evolution.
It is imperative for healthcare professionals to acquaint themselves with emerging technologies in healthcare, understanding their capabilities and learning how to effectively collaborate with intelligent machines. Failure to do so may lead to job displacement or frustration among human healthcare professionals who perceive that artificial intelligence can perform their tasks more efficiently.
In a technologically advanced landscape, nurses play a crucial role in overseeing patient care and coordinating with healthcare colleagues and technologies to ensure optimal delivery of services. With routine tasks handled by technology, nurses can devote more time to meaningful patient interaction, delving into the patient’s condition, preferences, establishing emotional connections, and responding attentively to their needs.
There is a pressing need to revamp nursing education, incorporating technology and machine learning into the curriculum and addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with leveraging technology as a valuable tool in healthcare.