Computers and nursing. Possibilities for transforming nursing

The use of computers is becoming commonplace in the clinical setting. However, the impact of computer use and its implications for nursing have yet to be understood (Birckhead, 1978). The purpose of this article is to explore how computer technology may transform nursing. The discourse is guided by Burch's (1985) thesis that "the use of technology is non-neutral. It transforms experience, whether for better or worse, and ultimately shapes human thinking and being". If one values nursing as a humanizing activity, then most of the potential transformations can be viewed as negative. When viewed from an instrumental framework, however, the computer may have a positive rather than a negative impact because computer use promotes expediency, efficiency, and precision.