Societal Trends in Nursing and Patient Education

Societal Trends in Nursing and Patient Education
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Societal Trends in Nursing and Patient Education
Nursing is an important profession for any society’s survival. It allows individuals, families, and communities to attain, maintain and recover a high quality of life. Over the years, healthcare has undergone numerous changes to help people maintain optimal health. In this age, the one social trend affecting change in nursing is technology. This essay is an analysis of the impact of technology on the learning curriculum, nursing practice, and strategies to help maximize its potential in healthcare.
In recent years, the use of technology has increased in nursing, so has its role in nursing education. Technology has been tipped to improve practice efficiency and healthcare quality while also reducing healthcare costs. As such, it has become a societal trend that has trickled down to the learning institution of nursing. This is being done to prepare and equip learners to integrate technology into their practice. Technology is also able to transform teaching by ushering new modes and approaches to the curriculum. Easy access to information courtesy of technology creates a rich environment for learning where students can innovate and challenge different aspects of past curriculums.
The introduction of technology to nursing curriculums has transformed numerous aspects of learning. Online education is a significant aspect that has been made possible by integrating technology in nursing schools and practices. Online degrees are now available offering flexibility and convenience, consequently allowing more people to pursue a degree in nursing. Simulated environments are another area where technology has been integrated into the curriculum. Simulation with electronics has allowed instructors to use training mannequins and program them to mimic scenarios the learning nurses might encounter in clinical practice. Mobile technology has also been effective in giving students access to textbooks, drug reference diagnoses, and apps to help in organizing information.
At the moment, there is still discussion as to whether technology such as AI does more harm than good concerning professional standards and competencies. However, medical practitioners and patients are slowly buying into the new reality of technology driving healthcare provision. For instance, a survey of more than 600 nurses conducted by LinkedIn had 82%, an overwhelmingly positive view of how technology is affecting patient care CITATION Bet18 \l 1033 (Kutscher, 2018). Healthcare practitioners can encourage their patients to be more involved in the care process, which results in increased compliance and patient satisfaction. Technology has been helpful in this aspect by fostering communication via messages, emails, or online portals, consequently improving patient-centered care.
The ability of nursing and interprofessional teams to have open communication and mutual respect is important in nursing. Technology has aided in this aspect by providing new avenues for teamwork and shared decision-making, consequently resulting in quality patient care. For instance, mobile devices impact the workflow, efficiency, and quality o...