‘Essential’ for digital to be embedded into nurse education

Leaders from Europe, Asia, and Africa have called on nursing and midwifery regulators to back educational institutions in integrating digital technologies into their teaching programs.

The requests are made in order to guarantee that upcoming generations of nurses worldwide are capable of spearheading the digital revolution in their field.

It is evident that we cannot entrust this matter solely to a handful of nurse specialists who are enthusiastic about technology.

At the ongoing International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress in Canada, nurses from various countries exchanged ideas on their innovative strategies for embracing digital transformation.

Professor Natasha Phillips, the previous leader of nursing informatics in England, stated during a conference that the process of digitalization should encompass the world and have a forward-thinking approach.

Furthermore, she urged nurses globally to establish a cohesive and synchronized perspective on how the field should operate amidst a digitally advanced, interconnected, and reformed world.

Professor Phillips emphasized that one of the main benefits of embracing digital technologies should be the liberation of time to focus on the interpersonal aspects of care.

Her statement emphasized that a common occurrence is the conversion of traditional methods of operation into digital platforms.

As a result, overloaded nurses find themselves investing significant amounts of time recording patient care.

According to Professor Phillips, nurses dedicate approximately 15% of their time to recording care details and about 10% of their time to gathering information.

"In my view, the forthcoming period appears as an opportunity to retrieve that time and utilize it for interpersonal connections," she expressed.

In the meantime, Professor Phillips emphasized the importance of nations promoting nurses to take charge of the advancement of digitalization.

Natasha Phillips presenting at the Global Association of Nursing Practitioners Conference 2023.

She expressed the importance of connecting with our colleagues who are not in the nursing field in order to establish a strong and knowledgeable groundwork, specifically in terms of implementing nurse-friendly technologies.

We need to focus on the creation of expert nurse leaders who possess a profound comprehension of technology and data science, particularly at the point where technology is being developed in conjunction with nursing practices.

“We should offer them our backing and boost their voice.”

Nevertheless, according to Professor Phillips, there is a significant amount of work required worldwide to enhance the digital skills of nurses working directly in healthcare settings.

She stated: "We cannot rely solely on a small group of digitally inclined nurse specialists to tackle this agenda."

All nurse leaders, regardless of their positions, have a responsibility to engage in the endeavor to impact policy choices regarding the allocation of resources for digital health.

It all begins by acknowledging that digital technology concerns every nurse. We should unite as a collective effort, a worldwide influence on healthcare, made achievable by the use of digital tools and information.

Professor Phillips, who was serving as CNIO until this year, spearheaded a research project called the Phillips Ives Review. This nationwide initiative focuses on assessing the technological preparedness of nurses.

She informed the ICN Congress that it was probable for this evaluation to be released in August.

According to a report in Nursing Times, it was mentioned in May that the review will emphasize the unexplained differences in the way nurses are trained to work with digital technologies.

Professor Phillips made this point during the congress, asserting that it is essential for nurses to collaborate in order to guarantee that future nurses are equipped with the necessary knowledge and abilities to effectively engage with cutting-edge technologies.

She stated: "We discovered that unless we make significant changes to education, we will continue to lag behind as a field and be constantly influenced by digital advancements."

This is unfavorable for nurses, this is unfavorable for patients, and it is definitely unfavorable for populations.

She stated that "altering regulations is necessary in order to make a significant impact on this matter".

She further stated: "This is not solely a concern for the United Kingdom; it impacts nurses globally."

A digital strategy cannot and should not be created alone - we need to participate in its implementation and ongoing development.

The same calls were repeated at another press conference, which took place at ICN Congress. Nurse regulators from different parts of the world gathered to talk about the growing importance of updating regulations to align with the advancements in digital technology in nursing education.

At the official gathering, Dr Myrna Doumit, the head of the Order of Nurses in Lebanon, an authoritative organization, expressed the crucial need to incorporate digital technology into nursing education, as stated to Nursing Times.

She expressed, "We are faced with generations who are born into the realm of technology, therefore, if we do not adapt accordingly, we will fail to engage them."

"We must leverage technology to cultivate an attractive image of the nursing profession among the younger demographic."

Dr. Doumit further emphasized the importance of incorporating digital technology into nurse education, as it is an integral component of the healthcare system, according to regulators.

"We must educate them on how to handle it, enabling us to equip them for upcoming situations," she stated.

In the meantime, Dr. Edna Tallam-Kimaiyo, the head of the Nursing Council of Kenya, stated to Nursing Times that it is essential for regulators to assist educational institutions in integrating digital technologies into their teaching programs.

She emphasized the utmost importance of adequately training the senior nurses.

Dr. Tallam-Kimaiyo stated that practical as well as educational changes were necessary when it comes to regulatory reforms.

She mentioned that certain institutions in Kenya have embraced the concept of "reverse-mentors", in which younger nurses provide assistance to their older counterparts in getting accustomed to the latest technologies.

Dr. Tallam-Kimaiyo emphasized the importance of connecting the divide between conventional methods of delivering healthcare and acknowledging that artificial intelligence will eventually assume some responsibilities.

"It's a dialogue that we must initiate at this moment," she supplemented.

Take a look at our latest lineup of Nursing Times online events centered around digital technology. These include webinars and a platform for discussions. The objective behind these events is to encourage and assist nurses and midwives in actively participating in the digital revolution happening in both hospital and community environments. For additional information, please visit this link.