From Tele-ed to Telehealth: the need for IT ubiquity in nursing

Although numerous studies have shown that information technology (IT) improves care, makes the workplace better for clinicians, and reduces costs, healthcare-especially nursing-has been slow to adopt it for a variety of reasons. However, because of a worsening nursing shortage, couples with increasing healthcare costs and administrative overhead, nursing demands that IT become not only common, but pervasive, playing a role in every aspect of nursing, from recruitment and education, to patient care. This article will examine the several potential applications of IT to nursing and their benefits, challenges to widespread IT adoption, and the importance of IT ubiquity to the very viability of the profession.