Technology has become a vital part of many industries. The healthcare industry has used technology in different ways, including nurses’ and nurses’ aides, leveraging technology to offer better care to residents and patients.
While some people might view this as a positive thing where the nurse saves time and attend to more patients than before, others see the overreliance on technology to offer patient care as reduced personal interaction between the patient and the nurses. It is important to note that most nurses support using technology to improve patient care.
Here are some examples of nursing technology that have helped improve patient care:
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Electronic health records are combined with facility-specific medical records, often stored as EMR (Electronic Medical Records), and offer comprehensive information that helps medical providers receive the best care. These records do not need large storage spaces since they are digital and can be accessed from any part of the world.
Telehealth
Telehealth is one of the newest developments in the healthcare industry that enables nurses and doctors to provide care who might not be able to make a physical visit.
This electronic healthcare technology is made possible through video conferencing, where a medical professional can meet their patients where they present their symptoms, and from there, they can determine if they need a physical visit or not.
Electronic Smart Beds and Lift System
Advancements in nursing technology have led to the development of smart beds and lift systems that nurses use to take better care of their physically challenged patients.
The lift systems eliminate the need for additional staff members. At the same time, the smart beds ease the monitoring system through the integrated sensors that track patients’ vitals, including blood oxygen, heart rate, temperature, and weight.
Point of Care Technology
Point of care tech helps nurses take and record vital information from their patients. It includes a handheld table, a mobile computer cart, or a laptop used to update records and create patient treatment plans without leaving the room.
PoC helps reduce distraction-related errors and helps the patients feel safe enough since their concerns are addressed instantly, leading to increased patient satisfaction.
Wearable Tech
Wearables such as smartwatches allow nurses to easily engage with their patients even when not in the physical facility. Nurses leverage mobile technology to monitor patient vitals. Wearables are quickly becoming vital in offering patient care for chronic and acute health issues.
Digital Monitors
Electronic monitors help nurse monitor patients’ vital signs. Digital monitors vital signs automatically, including oxygen levels, ECG, and respiratory rates. This allows nurses to focus on other patient care duties, which results in overall efficiency.
These digital monitors are also used to alert nurses when the vitals reach severe levels ensuring that the patients receive the best possible care.
Automatic IV Pump
IV pumps are crucial for patients who need acute care. They efficiently deliver medication and nutrition to patients but can often be time-consuming if done manually. Automatic IV pumps allow a nurse to program the drip rate automatically, reducing the risk of human error throughout patient care.
What Are the Benefits of Nursing Technologies?
Here are some of the advantages of nursing technologies:
Improved Technologies
Nursing technologies play an important role in easing tedious nursing activities such as monitoring IV flow and keeping track of medication schedules. Automation of nursing tasks helps reduce the chances of accidental oversight and human error.
Faster and Easier Communication
Nurses can coordinate and communicate more easily with their team members through technology. They can easily update their patient chart and rely on up-to-the-minute information to help doctors determine patient treatment plans.
Prevents Burn Out
Nurses are prone to burnout. This often leads to staff shortages and increased patient load for nurses working long hours to cover their colleagues. The use of nursing technology helps them to operate more efficiently and helps them save on the most time-consuming aspects of their work. Technology also helps reduce the stress associated with most nurses quitting the profession.
