Are you practicing as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in the US? Interested in learning more about different nursing technologies? Are you wondering how nursing technologies are used in the industry? You are at the right place.
In this article, you will learn about the impact of nursing technology and the different nursing technologies being used in the industry today. Let’s dive in.
Impact of Nursing Technology
Over the past few decades, there has been a drastic advancement in the area of technology. These technological innovations have transformed the healthcare sector as well. These evolving technological advancements have changed healthcare professionals from maintaining records manually to maintaining patient records using technology.
Technology in the nursing industry has helped nursing professionals to improve their performance efficiency and communicate more effectively with patients. As records are maintained electronically, nursing professionals and patients have more accessibility to the patient’s data than before.
There are a few nurses who have shown opposition to the emerging technology in the healthcare industry, as the rise in technology use may take away the opportunity for personal interaction with their patients. A survey, completed by 600 nurses, has shown that about 82% of nurses believed that these technologies have made a positive impact on patient care.
There are about 7 main technological advancements in the nursing industry that may have had a positive impact on the healthcare industry.
7 Nursing Technologies
Living in this world with constantly evolving technology, the healthcare industry has not been left behind when it comes to using technologies for more efficiency at work. Let’s discuss some of the nursing technologies used in the industry today.
- Smart beds.
- Wearable devices.
- Electronic Health Records (EHR).
- Portable monitors.
- Electronic IV Management.
- Centralized command centers.
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).
Let’s discuss the 7 nursing technologies in detail.
SMART BEDS
When it comes to nursing technologies, the very first thing that comes to our mind is smart beds. Smart beds help nurses keep a track of the patient’s vitals, movements, and weight. They play a vital role in keeping patients comfortable and safe during their long stay at the hospital. Smart beds keep patients from falling down and getting injured.
These smart beds help nursing assistants ensure the safety of the patients under their care. This technology gives CNAs an in-room monitor that offers them regular updates about the patient’s movements and other patient-related information. This technology also helps identify any change in the patient’s pattern, which can pave the way to a different understanding of the patient’s condition, or even a new diagnosis.
WEARABLE DEVICES
Wearable devices are another technology that is trending among people who are health conscious. The technology in these wearable devices helps to keep track of the person’s respiratory rates, exercises, sleep schedule, and heartbeat.
These wearable devices help to keep track of the patient’s health and physical activities. They offer access to a huge amount of the patient’s data to help with the healthcare process from diagnosis to recovery. Wearable devices also helps to avoid human error when dealing with patient information or data.
ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS (EHR)
Electronic Health Records (EHR) is a technology used to replace the method of filing papers to record patient information. EHR technology helps CNAs to document and retrieve information related to the care offered to the patient.
The information stored on the main computer system can be accessed by anyone on the healthcare team, including doctors and patients whenever required. As far as electronic records are concerned, security issues might be a threat. For that reason, the HIPAA law is implemented to make sure that the electronic records of the patients maintained by healthcare organizations are safe and secure.
PORTABLE MONITORS
Portable monitors are equipment used to keep a track of the patient’s information. Using these monitors, CNAs are able to view the patient’s health records wherever and whenever they want to.
Even if a CNA is busy assisting a patient, these portable monitors help them monitor the patient’s vital signs, such as oxygen saturation, ECG or EKG levels, and respiratory rates. The records of this patient information are transmitted to a central monitor on a regular basis. This also gives an alarm notification to concerned CNAs in case of an emergency.
ELECTRONIC IV MANAGEMENT
Even before the Electronic IV management system was introduced, a CNA would administer an IV drip to the patient. A CNA would have to stay beside the patient throughout the process to ensure that the flow of the medicine was not interrupted.
This process was time-consuming and prevented the nursing assistant from providing support to the other patients under their care. Electronic IV management systems have made this an easy task.
A CNA starts the IV drip and then allows the machine to monitor the rest of the process. If a problem arises, the IV management system itself can either rectify the problem automatically or contact the CNA remotely.
CENTRALIZED COMMAND CENTERS
Centralized command centers are a relatively new technology used in healthcare organizations in recent years. It allows the healthcare professionals on the team to easily access and manage clinical technology, supply details, and capacity.
Software applications, such as dashboards, are used to offer real-time updates. This software helps doctors and nursing professionals stay aware of the availability of rooms, OR schedules, and discharge-related information. This helps healthcare professionals work efficiently to improve patient experiences.
RADIOFREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)
Last but not the least, the last on the list of nursing technologies is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Hospitals and other healthcare organizations use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices to keep track of information, such as equipment, drugs, and patient records.
This technology uses electromagnetic fields to track and identify tags that have electronically stored information. They are also used to track the shipping and delivery process of pharmaceuticals, as well as storage of these supplies to prevent theft or loss.
Wrapping Up
As discussed above, nursing technologies have made an impact in the healthcare industry, making many things easier for healthcare professionals to handle and access. This technology has also given patients the opportunity to access their own healthcare records whenever required. The healthcare industry may see many more technological implementations in the near future.
If you are planning to take the CNA exam, make sure to check out our free practice test. Our practice test will help you take your exam preparation to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What kind of technology is used in nursing?
Some of the technologies used in the nursing industry are as follows:
- Wearable devices.
- Smart beds.
- Electronic Health Records (EHR).
- Portable monitors.
- Electronic IV management.
What technology is emerging in nursing?
Some of the technologies emerging in the nursing industry are as follows:
- Virtual reality.
- Internet of Things (IoT).
- Artificial intelligence.
CNAs use these technologies for better patient care delivery and to optimize routine operations critical to patient care.
What kind of tools and equipment do nurses use?
Some of the tools and equipment used by nurses in the healthcare industry are as follows:
- Thermometers.
- Protective gear.
- A stethoscope.
- Surgical scissors.
- Blood pressure cuffs.
- A gait belt.
What should nurses carry?
Some of the things nurses should carry with them are as follows:
- A stethoscope.
- A notepad, pen, and highlighter.
- Bandaging supplies.
- IV flushes.
- A watch.
- Hand sanitizer.
- A pair of gloves.
What are the 4 fields of nursing?
There are about 4 fields of nursing in the healthcare industry, and they are as follows:
- Mental Health Nursing.
- Adult Nursing.
- Learning Disabilities Nursing.
- Children’s Nursing.
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