TECHNOLOGY THE NORM IN TODAY’S NURSING WORKPLACE
Arkansas Tech students receive training on the latest technological tools of the nursing trade.
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o matter where a nurse ultimately chooses to spend his or her career, it’s a certainty that technology will be part of everyday work life. The days of mercury thermometers and hot water bottles are long gone, replaced by an array of technological tools that help nurses do their job with more precision and accuracy than ever before. “Technology has changed so much since I began my career in 1991,” Nancy Haese, a nurse in Vascular Access with CHI St. Vincent, said. “It has become more complex. When I started nursing, even taking a blood pressure was done by a machine only in intensive care areas. On the floor, it was taken by hand. “The nursing field I work in now has changed. Back then, doctors were the only ones to place central catheter lines, as peripherally inserted central catheters weren’t even around. Now, because of technology, I am able to place PICC lines.” Given that technology has expanded the tasks that nurses are able to accomplish, most see these advances as a positive, Haese added. “I appreciate advances in technology,” she said. “It gives nurses more opportunities to advance their knowledge of nursing care and, most importantly, helps nurses like me have more options and take better care of our patients.” The steady march of technological progress means nursing schools have had to evolve in how they educate students to keep up. In many cases this means investing in training and simulation tools that are themselves leaps-andbounds ahead of previous teaching models. “Our nursing program has grown from using static manikins and low-fidelity task trainers to high fidelity, lifelike manikins,” Shellie Maggard, assistant professor and simulation coordinator for Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, said. “Our high-fidelity simulators include a Sim-Man, two Sim-Man 3Gs, a Sim-Mom, a Sim-Newby and a Sim-Baby. We currently use
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a dedicated debriefing room that enables students to view simulations concurrently or previously recorded, reflect on their experiences and connect theory to actual practice. “In addition, ATU has added an IV Arm virtual computer program that enables students to practice their IV skills and access a simulated ventilator, a chest tube manikin trainer and a defibrillator/EKG trainer. These technological advancements have enabled our program to transform nursing students into the practice-ready nurses they need to become for a seamless transition into the workforce.” Jennifer Gernat with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing said other technology has found a place in the classroom. “We use technology in a variety of ways to enhance classroom and clinical experiences for our students,” she said. “Undergraduates utilize iPads to provide an interactive environment that enhances learning. The ability of the students and instructors to interact in real time allows for good communication and learning to take place. Students retain more from lectures and the clinical experience because of this interaction.” Gernat said the customization features available through today’s technology allow students to receive and process information in a manner that best suits them. “Online applications are used to provide students with quizzes to help with learning and studying. Students have more control over their learning and can tailor classroom and source materials to their learning style,” she said. “They also have access to a large variety of online learning materials at their fingertips. Plus, at-risk students can be identified more quickly so that instructors can help them put a plan in place to help them succeed.” One of the most visible and exciting developSpecial Advertising Section
ments in the medical field overall has been wider use of telemedicine. Dr. Nicole Ward, clinical assistant professor with UAMS College of Nursing, said the advancement not only helps connect people in remote areas directly from their homes, it allows nurses and other medical professionals to expand their reach and opens up new career options for nurses in rural areas. “For nurses, the challenge is usually deciding which job they would like to take rather than having the challenge of finding a job,” she said. “Nurses who work in a large, urban setting have access to the most advanced medical technology and usually care for the sickest patients. This gives them unique experiences that nurses practicing in rural areas may not encounter. “At the same time, one big need in the state of Arkansas is primary care providers in rural areas. This is a great opportunity for nurses who would like to live and serve patients in rural areas. With the advancement of telemedicine, sick patients who once had to travel to large urban centers are now able to receive care in rural locations. This is fundamentally transforming the environment within rural hospitals in Arkansas.” The future promises even more remarkable advancements, but no matter how science fiction things get, Maggard said, high-touch will remain the foundation for excellent nursing care. “Although our program has advanced technologically, we still embed the foundational nursing core concepts throughout our curriculum that are necessary to produce safe, qualified nurses,” she said. “ATU Nursing strives to remain current with advancements in health care while upholding the ‘high-touch’ relationship necessary between nurse and patient. It is essential to maintain that personal, trusting relationship with patients and their families.”
