Technology and the bedside nurse: an exploration and review of implications for practice

Abstract

Bedside technology pressures nurses to integrate and master a variety of new tools, devices, and methods of monitoring patient status. We review opportunities and challenges in the relationship between bedside nursing and technology. The increasing amount of available technology has impacted bedside nurses. The relationship between bedside nursing and technology is largely positive. Big data holds great potential for translating digital patient information into expanded knowledge tools for the bedside nurse, the development of which require nursing involvement. More research is needed to explore the concept of the nurse as advocate in high-technology patient care.

Keywords: Big data; High reliability; Patient care; Patient experience; Patient safety; Quality of care; Technology.