Technology continues to scale globally in every sector, and
healthcare is no exception. From online job applications and
software/computerized orientation education to electronic patient charting,
technology is already a key component of healthcare even before the nurse gets
to a patient’s bedside.
Technology and the generation gap
As healthcare continues to become more intricate and
demanding, it is important that health care centers establish a strong,
competent nursing team that works cohesively to provide patient-centered care. But
this is not a very easy process, considering that today’s workforce comprises
four distinct generations with a diverse age-group: traditionalists, baby boomers,
generation X, and generation Y. Each age bracket offers a unique set of traits,
values, and work views, and while the older generations (traditionalists, baby
boomers, and generation x) were required to mentor the new, novice nurses,
technology has changed the scenery.
Everyone acknowledges that advancement in technology in healthcare is necessary to streamline and hasten the process of information retrieval. The generation Y nurses are already comfortable and tackling technology with gusto, but many older nurses feel undermined and intimidated by the new requirements that involve electronic medical records, significant use, and other technologies in the workplace.
To help them become more technologically informed, empowered, and healthy, these seasoned nurses have to call on the expertise of the younger generation. So, the tech-savvy nurses are taking up a mentoring role to ensure smooth implementation of new technologies in the workplace. By mentoring their co-workers, the younger staff members feel valued, more respected, and self-assured. Seasoned nurses respect and appreciate the technical expertise of generation Y, and are more willing to exchange their knowledge for mutual growth.
Bridging the gap between technology and healthcare
Technology in healthcare is advancing rapidly as government
incentives encourage institutions to implement and upgrade medical electronic
records. A traditionally humanistic art, nursing is being pushed into a
technologically dense atmosphere, which may become a stressor for the seasoned
nurses. For nurses to stay ahead of the curve, some registered nurses are
opting to specialize in IT and convert to nurse informaticists, whose roles
include:
- Nurse communicators – work hand-in-hand with other nurses to assist in the implementation and training of computer programs, and also identify and attend to computer system needs
- Nurse programmers – they write, modify, and upgrade computer programs used by nurses
- Nurse managers – administer or manage information systems
- Nurse vendor representatives – demonstrate systems to prospective customers
Healthcare facilities are opting to work with nurse
specialists as opposed to IT professionals, because they have knowledge or
experience with the nursing practice. But you cannot simply get training in
nursing informatics without first completing nursing training, since
informatics is a nursing specialty requiring an advanced degree.
IT is an inevitable part of clinical care, and nurses need to prepare for the changes. They need to be flexible and open to what is coming, remain educated on changing trends, and work with professional organizations and their co-workers to adapt to the new demands.
This is a guest post from Marian College. Marian College is a nursing school located in California, providing
students the opportunity to begin a successful career in vocational
nursing. Marian College currently features 2 campus locations: Los
Angeles, CA and Van Nuys, CA. Start a career in nursing!
Image courtesy of stockimages from Freedigitalphotos.net
