Most, if not everyone, has had experience with a technology-based tool that you found beneficial in work or school. Why was it beneficial? If it was not beneficial, please explain. Now picture this tool, or a new one, for future use. How would this look? Use your imagination and incorporate how nursing informatics would play a role in this future tool. Utilize the Quality and Safety Education in Nursing (QSEN) website for informatics and explain how this organization could standardize your future tool.
Introduction
Technology-based tools have become an integral part of our daily lives, both in personal and professional settings. These tools have played a significant role in enhancing efficiency, improving communication, and facilitating access to information. Within the field of nursing, the utilization of technology-based tools, in conjunction with the emerging discipline of nursing informatics, has shown great promise in revolutionizing healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes. In this essay, we will explore the benefits of technology-based tools, discuss their potential future applications, and examine the role of nursing informatics in shaping this future.
Benefits of Technology-Based Tools in Work or School
Technology-based tools have proven to be highly beneficial in both work and school environments. One of the primary advantages of these tools is their ability to enhance productivity and efficiency. For example, the use of electronic health records (EHRs) in healthcare settings has streamlined the documentation process, reducing the time spent on paperwork and allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care (Toh, Ng & Koong, 2019).
Furthermore, technology-based tools enable seamless communication and information exchange. The emergence of teleconferencing and videoconferencing applications has made it easier for individuals to collaborate and communicate effectively, regardless of their geographical locations. These tools have played a crucial role in facilitating distance learning and remote work, allowing individuals to connect and share knowledge despite physical barriers (Cortina, 2020).
Moreover, technology-based tools provide access to a vast amount of information, enabling users to stay updated with the latest research, developments, and trends in their respective fields. Online databases, search engines, and digital libraries have revolutionized the way information is disseminated, making it easily accessible to individuals anywhere and at any time (Korhonen, Häyrinen & Saranto, 2019).
Future Applications of Technology-Based Tools
In envisioning the future of technology-based tools, several exciting possibilities come to mind. One potential future tool could be a highly advanced virtual reality (VR) augmented simulation system for nursing education and training. This futuristic tool would provide nursing students with immersive and realistic scenarios where they could practice their skills, make critical decisions, and experience various clinical settings in a controlled and safe environment (Levett-Jones et al., 2015). This VR system could incorporate patient simulators, life-like environments, and interactive feedback mechanisms to enhance the learning experience and help students develop critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills (Levett-Jones et al., 2015).
Nursing Informatics and its Role in Future Tools
Nursing informatics, as defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA), is the specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information management and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice (ANA, 2018). The field of nursing informatics plays a critical role in shaping the future of technology-based tools in nursing.
The Quality and Safety Education in Nursing (QSEN) website provides valuable insights into the role of informatics in nursing education and practice. QSEN emphasizes the importance of incorporating informatics competencies into nursing curricula to prepare future nurses for the evolving healthcare landscape (QSEN, n.d.). These competencies include information literacy, information management, and clinical information systems management (QSEN, n.d.).
By standardizing the integration of informatics competencies, QSEN ensures that future nurses are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively utilize technology-based tools in their practice. This standardization promotes consistency in the learning outcomes and competencies expected from nursing graduates, consequently improving the quality and safety of patient care across healthcare settings (QSEN, n.d.).
In conclusion, technology-based tools have greatly benefited individuals in work and school environments, enhancing productivity, communication, and access to information. In envisioning the future, technology holds the potential to revolutionize nursing practice through the development of advanced tools such as virtual reality augmented simulation systems. Nursing informatics plays a crucial role in shaping this future, ensuring the integration of informatics competencies and standardizing the use of technology-based tools in nursing education and practice. Through the collaborative efforts of organizations like QSEN, the future of technology-based tools in nursing looks promising, with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and transform healthcare delivery.