a. Analyze the issues related to the use of advanced technology.
Nurse educators have a challenge of teaching nursing professionals how to be leaders because leaders are necessary to make changes. In order for the health care organizations to expand and provide adequate care to patients, leaders are required to bring new ideas, creativity, and motivation to grow to organizations. Profound changes and expansions in health care and technology are occurring. As a result, a need exists for continuous learning and review of evidence-based research to stay up to date on the most current recommendations for the best treatment and prevention of disease. Advances in technology for patient monitoring, telehealth, and communication are continuously changing and impacting the education of nurses (Heller, Oros, & Durney-Crowley, 2013). Internet and technology is now mainstream making it difficult to keep policies and practices up to date. In addition, this process is very time-consuming (although critical for the expansion of nursing education on the best quality patient care) for the educator to continue to update their resources in which they use to develop knowledge and practices educating students (Milstead, 2013). Therefore, it is a priority for nurse educators to continuously learn about the changes to technology and use it to their advantage to spread knowledge and instill the same desire of lifelong learning to future professional nurses. It is also becoming priority for nurses to use technology to educate in classrooms, as classroom sizes are increasing drastically and more online skills and resources are being used to reach a larger number of students. Health care is expanding and with the expansion comes change.
Reference
Heller, B. R., Oros, M. T., Durney-Crowley, J. (2013). The Future of Nursing Education: Ten Trends to Watch. Retrieved from http://www.nln.org/nlnjournal/infotrends.htm
Milstead, J. A. (2013). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (4th ed). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
Throughout my development as a nurse educator at Children's Hospital, I have witnessed how advancing technology requires continous learning from multiple disciplines. Nurses must continously be using research and evidence-based practice to provide the best quality care for patients. An example where I have witnessed this in practice is the implementation of new large volume infusion pumps in the Intensive Care Unit or the implementation of computer EPIC charting throughout the organization. With the growing health care needs and continous changes, technology must advance as well. In addition with the implementation of the new pumps, the hospital required multiple mandatory training, which is time-consuming and a financial barrier that must be overcome by both staff and the institution. Examples such as this are issues that must be adressed with the changes in technology and helath care. Advancing technology requires contious research and studying to ensure the nursing staff and other disciplines are staying competent and can continue to provide safe, high-quality care. I have also witnessed and utilized the advancing technology and internet to reach a variety of nurses with education updates and skill teaching as well as gather information to create an overall focus for advance nursing policy.
