Translating innovative technology‐based interventions into nursing practice

Abstract

Nurses play an important role in delivering high-quality care. The current nursing shortage has significant implications for patient care and healthcare systems. The United States is projected to face a deficit of 200,000–450,000 registered nurses by 2025 (McGhee, 2024). About 22% of direct-care nurses contemplate leaving within a year due to inadequate staffing levels, excessive workloads, and excessive physical demands (Beale, 2023). The shortage has exacerbated workloads, contributed to burnout, and heightened turnover rates. Therefore, the implementation of diverse technological solutions has been proposed to respond to the shortage (Beale, 2023). Consequently, technology-based interventions are shaping nursing practice and healthcare systems (Phillips, 2020). Technology interventions in nursing practice include a wide range of tools and applications designed to improve patient care, enhance communication, streamline workflows (Buchanan et al., 2020), and support clinical decision-making. These include telehealth, mobile health (mHealth) apps, artificial intelligence (AI), robots, and wearable devices. As technology advances, nurses gain access to sophisticated tools to enhance practice and improve patient outcomes. For example, telehealth enables remote healthcare delivery, including virtual patient monitoring, consultations, and triage, potentially reducing emergency department visits (Booth et al., 2021). A wide-lens nursing perspective of mHealth involves utilizing mobile applications to support patient education, health monitoring, medication management, communication, and access to clinical resources. These apps are designed to enhance efficiency, facilitate communication, and improve patient outcomes by providing valuable tools and information to nurses. mHealth apps offer nurses opportunities to deliver personalized and effective care while adapting to the increasingly digital landscape of healthcare (Booth et al., 2021). Artificial intelligence (AI) has grabbed the attention of the healthcare world with the potential for technology to gain the ability to learn through exposure to what has been written or otherwise created. AI systems are emerging in healthcare technology to enhance patient care and quality of life (Kosasi et al., 2023; Tan & Taeihagh, 2021). While AI in nursing is still in early stages, it shows promise in enhancing nursing practice by improving care delivery, patient outcomes, and healthcare processes (Buchanan et al., 2020; Malla & Amin, 2023). Currently, AI applications such as speech recognition, data mining (Topaz et al., 2019), and physical deterioration prediction (Hannaford et al., 2021) are available. With the current applications, future AI advancements can support nurses in delivering individualized evidence-based care and integrating pertinent data (Abuzaid et al., 2022). The utilization of robots in nursing practice could potentially lead to improved patient outcomes. Technological advancements have led to the development of nursing robots, envisioned as potential collaborators to address understaffing and provide effective healthcare to persons with disabilities (Christoforou et al., 2020; Khan et al., 2020; Miyagawa et al., 2019). As technology aids in various procedures such as surgery, it has extended to other realms of healthcare, from treatment to rehabilitative care (Soriano et al., 2022). As AI-enabled robots take over routine repetitive manual care tasks, nurses can focus on delivering personalized care (Tan & Taeihagh, 2021). In addition to handling repetitive manual tasks, robots in nursing practice can address loneliness in patients (Soriano et al., 2022). Virtual chatbots can enhance patient communication, while robots show potential in improving emotional and social support that is currently provided by nurses. Assistive robotics can improve patient-nurse communication, potentially enhancing care efficiency (Christoforou et al., 2020). AI-enabled clinical decision support systems assist nurses in making evidence-based decisions by providing real-time information, treatment recommendations, and alerts about potential risks or errors (Rao et al., 2022). However, challenges to incorporating robots into nursing practice include concerns regarding data privacy, ethical considerations, and cost effectiveness. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration by nurses, technologists, policymakers, and stakeholders to develop comprehensive strategies that prioritize patient safety, ethical standards, data privacy, and cost-effective healthcare delivery (Booth et al., 2021). Navigating technological advancements in healthcare settings has significant practice implications. Nurses must remain updated on innovations, continuously improve their skills and knowledge regarding new technologies, and adapt to patient needs to ensure optimal care delivery. Comprehensive training for nursing staff on technology use to address these concerns is essential. Nurses should collaborate with healthcare providers to integrate technology into personalized care plans for patients with chronic conditions. They should ensure that technology complements existing care strategies and enhances the overall patient experience. They should continuously evaluate technology-based interventions as technology evolves. This includes collecting feedback from nurses and patients, monitoring outcomes, and adjusting as necessary to optimize technology use in nursing practice and healthcare. By leveraging technology effectively, nurses can enhance their ability to deliver patient-centered care, promote health outcomes, and adapt to the changing demands of healthcare delivery. Incorporating the mentioned technologies into nursing practice requires careful planning, training, and support to optimize benefits while addressing challenges like data security, interoperability, and user acceptance. Technology-based treatments are reshaping nursing practice, improving patient outcomes, and fostering innovation. It is important for nurses to remain abreast of emerging trends and integrate technology effectively into their daily responsibilities (Keyworth et al., 2018). Dr. Juyoung Park contributed to developing the conception and design of the manuscript and drafting the manuscript. Dr. Hyochol Ahn contributed to writing the implications of technological advancements in the healthcare setting and critically reviewing, revising, and editing the entire manuscript for important intellectual content. Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no data set was generated, given its nature as an editorial article.

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