An Emphasis on Technology

Technology has advanced and improved numerous aspects of our lives. It has revolutionized the information and entertainment industry, thanks to instant communication making it possible to reach millions of readers, viewers, and listeners all at the same time. Technology has also changed the face of businesses, with computerized records making it easier than ever to keep up with clients and grow the organization. Technology has even reached our daily lives, which is seen in the gadgets we carry, such as cell phones, iPods, and new tablet computers. With all this in mind, it should come as no surprise then to hear that the nursing industry is catching up and adapting to new technology as well.

Nursing is a fast-growing industry. In fact, there are about 2.6 million registered nurses working today, making nursing the largest health care occupation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This number is projected to increase well into the next decade, fueled by the number of nursing students currently learning about the field and honing their skills. Many nursing programs now require nursing students to complete technology courses so that they may become more adept at using technology to better do their jobs and provide care to patients.

Some of these technologies being taught in nursing schools and being utilized on the field in physicians' offices and hospitals simply make things easier and more accurate, such as record-keeping technology to maintain patient medical histories, while others are just downright cool, such as wireless patient and materials locating systems.

Some hospitals already have nurses using wireless communication devices that will link them to other nurses and medical professionals. These devices allow them to streamline their duties so that they do not waste time and effort responding to a situation that is not part of their job, according to a report published by the California Health Care Foundation. Nurses can also cut down on wasted time trying to conduct non-patient communication, such as communication with a hospital department or laboratory, by using Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) to speak with personnel immediately. This immediate communication is possible using VoIP due to the fact that the device used to send and receive messages is always on the person, unlike wall-anchored telephones.

Another cool thing that nurses are incorporating into their work is real-time tracking of everything within their domain, including medical supplies and patients. Oftentimes, and especially at busy health care facilities, nurses can have a difficult time tracking down the supplies they need as well as the patients they are helping. Some patients tend to wander off to other parts of the facility without informing anyone, and sometimes medical supplies, like IV pumps, seem to do the same thing. With real-time tracking, everything has a small transmitter placed on it and nurses simply have to use a locating device to see exactly where everything (and everyone) is in the building. This certainly cuts down on the amount of time wasted scouring every inch of a hospital for something.

Nursing students are learning to use and take full advantage of these types of technologies, as well as many more that can make health care even more efficient.

By-line:
Kitty Holman, regularly writes on the topics of nursing colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: kitty.holman20@gmail.com.