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The transforming effect of handheld computers on nursing practice
1Department of Nursing, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, 19383, USA. bthompson@wcupa.edu
Nursing Administration Quarterly
|November 2, 2005
Summary
Handheld computers enhance nursing by decentralizing communication and providing point-of-care information. Implementing this technology can reduce healthcare costs and improve patient care quality.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Informatics
- Health Information Technology
- Digital Health
Background:
- Nurses require immediate access to patient data at the point of care.
- Decentralized communication and electronic health records are increasingly vital in modern healthcare.
- The US government advocates for the integration of mobile technology in healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the impact of handheld computers on nursing practice.
- To highlight the benefits of mobile technology adoption in healthcare.
- To encourage nurse administrators to promote the use of handheld devices.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on handheld computer use in nursing.
- Analysis of the effects of various handheld resources (calculators, databases, EHRs, communication devices) on nursing workflows.
- Discussion of governmental recommendations for healthcare technology implementation.
Main Results:
- Handheld computers facilitate decentralized communication and provide essential point-of-care information.
- The use of electronic health records on handheld devices improves data accessibility.
- Mobile technology integration can lead to cost reductions and enhanced patient care.
Conclusions:
- Handheld computers are transformative tools for nursing practice.
- Widespread adoption of this technology is necessary to improve healthcare efficiency and outcomes.
- Nurse administrators play a key role in promoting the integration of handheld computing in healthcare.