Integrating Technology in Nursing Education
Integrating Technology in Nursing Education
Introduction
Nursing is among the most critical professions in the world. Nurses work hand in hand with physicians in order to provide the best health care services to different patients. Like other professions, nursing is subject to extensive evolution. These evolutions are evident from a theoretical perspective as well as from an operational perspective (Ball, 2010).
In recent decades, technology has changed the nature of operational frameworks in almost all professions. Physicians use sophisticated equipments to treat patients and nurses use modern technological platforms to assess the patient’s conditions. Technology has an inherent capacity to enhance the quality of health care (Mastrian, 2010). This applies America and other countries. Technological inputs in nursing include modern medical equipments and electronic health records among others.
Problem Statement
Despite the vital role played by technology in health care, nursing education is yet to streamline the integration of technology into the profession. This calls for comprehensive research in order to examine the improvement of nursing education in order to embrace technology (Bonnel, 2010). Through such education, nurses will acquire sufficient skills in the use modern technology. Without education, it is difficult for the nurses to understand all the technicalities involved in handling technology. This is an essential perspective for streamlining the quality of health care.
Purpose Statement
This research paper seeks to present a framework for improving nurse education in order to embrace technology. The research will employ a mixed approach. This is an approach that encompasses the evaluation of quantitative perspectives, as well as quantitative perspectives. Through this approach, it will be easier to attain the various objectives of the study.
Research Questions
- How does education affect the use of technology in nursing?
- How will improvements in nursing education impact the use of technology in health care?
- To what extent has technology been used in nursing?
- To what extent does nursing education cover the use of technology in health care?
Methodology
The research encompasses both qualitative and quantitative methods. From a qualitative approach, the main area of focus pertains to the implication of the use of technology in health care. This might comprise of different perspectives such as perceptions among nursing professionals. The qualitative perspectives also probe the implications of nursing education on the use of technology. On the other hand, the quantitative perspectives involve the collection of actual data. Consequently, numerous variables will be used while structuring the quantitative aspects of the study. The mixed method is among the most effective platforms of streamlining the effectiveness of research (Tappen, 2010). This is because it provides a framework for examining different types of variables.
Quantitative Research
Following are the two main research questions for the quantitative framework of the research.
- To what extent has technology been used in nursing?
- To what extent does nursing education cover the use of technology in health care?
Different variables will help in investigating these research questions. Firstly, it is vital to scrutinize the number of health care facilities that embrace technology in their respective nursing departments. Although some health care organizations have exemplary frameworks for technology, not all have integrated it into nursing departments. It is thus essential to examine the actual extent to which organizations employ technological platforms within their nursing units. It is also vital to examine whether nursing practitioners in health organizations are proficient in the use of modern technology platforms in their day to day operations (Ball, 2010).
In some organizations, some nursing practitioners are proficient in the use of technology while others are not. Nursing competency is thus an essential variable for consideration during the quantitative research. Another dimension of assessment during the quantitative research pertains to the nursing curricula. Different nursing schools have different platforms for integrating technology within the nursing studies.
Consequently, nursing curricula can affect the implementation of technology. This is an essential aspect of consideration in the research (Mastrian, 2010). It is also vital to assess whether nursing schools have established the necessary platforms for integrating technology in nursing education. This variable is essential in assessing the nature of education as pertains to the implementation of modern technology in nursing.
Qualitative Research
Following are the two main research questions for qualitative research in the study.
- How does education affect the use of technology in nursing?
- How will improvements in nursing education impact the use of technology in health care?
The evaluation of these questions will not involve any form of empirical analysis. In essence, the qualitative framework of research helps in obtaining as much information as possible (Tappen, 2010). Firstly, the qualitative framework will seek to understand the effect of nursing education in the use of technology. There are numerous contexts that might help in understanding this aspect. For instance, it is vital to investigate the relationship between nursing education and the implementation of technology in nursing.
In essence, the nature of nursing education might have positive or negative implications on the implementation of technology in nursing (Mastrian, 2010). Without the critical aspects of technology, it is difficult for nurses to employ technological platforms in health care. On the other hand, nurses are at a better position to implement different technological platforms if the education curriculum facilitates for such perspectives. For the qualitative framework, it is also vital to probe the perceptions of nurses with regard to the improvement of education in order to enhance the implementation of technology in nursing. Consequently, it is possible to develop an effective nursing curriculum that considers the use of technology.
It is also vital to examine the perceptions of nursing educators with regard to the current standards of nursing education (Tappen, 2010). These are critical stakeholders towards the enhancement of nursing education standards in line with current technological requirements. The qualitative framework also encompasses an evaluation of the impact of nursing education on the integration of technology in health care.
Summary
This paper provides an analysis of the research framework for the study. The issue at hand pertains to the evaluation of improvement of education in order to embrace technology in nursing. The analysis encompasses a mixed approach. This is an approach that includes qualitative analysis, as well as quantitative analysis. The four research questions will help in obtaining the relevant information as pertains to the study. Without education, it is difficult for the nurses to understand all the technicalities involved in handling technology. This is an essential perspective for streamlining the quality of health care. The study will serve as an excellent platform for reforms in nursing education. Such reforms are vital in enhancing the quality of patient outcome.
References
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