Being a nurse is a challenging but gratifying job that allows you to make a difference in many people’s lives. Technology will not replace nursing any time soon because it requires the foundation of what makes us human – caring, compassion, and paying attention. However, technological advancements can relieve nurses of many dull and repetitive chores. As a result, these tools have the potential to become more widespread in nurses’ daily work. Let’s explore some of those technologies and explain how they will support the healthcare industry in 2023.
Electronic health records
This was one of the first areas where hospitals, physician clinics, and other healthcare businesses implemented technology. The database stores patient information and can be accessed from many devices, meaning it cannot be misplaced. This contains patient visit dates and times, treatment provided, prescriptions supplied, doctor’s notes, and other essential information. Every day, nurses use EHRs to best care for their patients.
Telehealth
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has become commonplace. Many patients have now experienced how adaptable teleconferencing is. With 38% of patients using telehealthcare in 2022, this figure is expected to rise further. Telehealth allows patients to obtain detailed care without worrying about travel or waiting hours. For nurses, this means they may meet with their patients with less worry about lateness or no-shows impacting their schedule. This, together with greater use of technology in hospitals, indicates that telehealth will continue to grow in 2023.
Online education
Aspiring nurses and those looking to further their careers are switching to online education due to its flexibility. Of course, online education was always going to happen. However, the COVID-19 pandemic thrust it into the limelight, and now it has become the norm, with more and more universities offering more online nursing programs. Programs like Uindy online nursing courses prepare students for satisfying careers in nursing, advanced practice, education, and leadership. Graduates are prepared through high-quality education, a culture of service and inclusion, and extensive student assistance, including clinical placement services as needed.
Wearables
Health trackers are no longer just a fad! They provide healthcare staff with crucial data about their patients. Technology, ranging from smartwatches to other wearable health gadgets such as heart rate trackers, enables real-time insights and a more thorough understanding of medical disorders and associated treatment requirements.
Smart Beds
Hospital beds are becoming increasingly high-tech to help healthcare staff improve the patient experience. Smart beds, which may differ from hospital to hospital, may incorporate sensors that monitor patient vitals such as temperature, blood pressure, and pulse rate. Various sensors aid in the reduction of problems such as bedsores and injuries. The time it takes to modify the bed settings for the patient is also reduced with technology-enhanced beds.
Automated IV Pumps
Over the last decade, IV pumps have evolved from simple equipment that fed IV fluids or pharmaceuticals at a set rate to computerized pumps, ensuring an exact dose is administered. In addition, IV pumps can be set to start and stop at specific times, administer medicines at different rates depending on the condition, and communicate with other devices.
Predictive Analytics
Predictive analytics is a novel nursing tool with great potential for improved patient outcomes. Predictive analytics, with the use of AI, evaluates data from previous patients to recommend a course of therapy with the best probable outcome. Aside from treatment plans, predictive analytics enables health care practitioners to quickly examine patient data, saving time and improving patient outcomes. For example, AI may detect the need for a blood test faster than a person, resulting in faster test collection and, eventually, more immediate results. This knowledge enables the care team to work with unparalleled freedom. They can swiftly respond to their patient’s needs, using the data to switch medications or modify the dosage if necessary to enhance their health.
Bottom Line
Take a look around. Technology is all around us. And it is changing the planet. Regarding the healthcare system, some nurses admit they are terrified of a nightmare future in which robots steal their jobs and entirely replace them in delivering patient care. Are technologies gradually replacing nurses or significantly assisting them in patient care? That is a million-dollar question and a hotly debated topic that sparks disputes about technological advances and their impact on the nursing sector. Despite the hazards and concerns, the answer is that, currently, technologies are not being used to replace nurses. They are more like supplemental solutions to benefit those involved in caregiving.