Technology and Nursing Leadership

 

 

Technology is a huge part of a nurses career.  It is used all the time to help keep our patients safe and increase the quality of care.  It can be something as simple as taking a temperature to something more advanced such as a ventilator that is keeping a patient alive.  Everyday, nurses come into contact with some of the most advanced technology in the world.  It is important that they know how to use that technology and understand what it does. 

 

 

How much an employee knows about a certain technology, depends on the leadership.  It is important that nursing leadership understands this technology as well.  Staff nurses should be able to come to the nurse leader and ask questions; and that leader should know the answer or know where to find the answer.  It is imperative to the success of the staff nurse utilizing the technology.  If the staff nurses feel they are supported and are able to come to their nurse leader with questions, the more inclined they will be to use the technology and learn about it.  It is important for the nurse leader to be patient and open minded when approached about the technology being used.  The nurse leader needs to understand that some people are just more technologically advanced than others, and that's ok!  Being a support and allowing the staff to know that you are available is key to the success of the staff nurses. 

 

 

 

The nurse leader needs to step up to the plate with understanding and incorporating technology in their own administrative platform as well as the clinical setting.  The nurse leader can set up in-services on how to use the technology and have hand-outs available to explain how it works.  Also, it is important for the nurse leader to have some evidence based practice information to show why that technology is being used, in case there is push back from the staff nurses.  This will explain the benefits of it's use and it is coming from a credible study/article. 

 

 

 

Here is an editorial on why nurse leaders need to stay informed

 

 

Here is a reflection from a nurse leader on why technology is a gift to nursing