Effect of technology on undertaking nursing observations.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Skills Assessment
• Patient Monitoring

Background:

• Shared responsibility exists for nursing student competency in manual patient observations per Nursing and Midwifery Council guidelines.
• Over-reliance on electronic medical devices for vital signs may diminish nurses' sensory assessment skills.
• This reliance potentially compromises nursing students' competence and confidence in essential monitoring skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of electronic device reliance on nursing students' ability to perform manual patient observations.
• To highlight the importance of sensory assessment in nursing practice.
• To ensure nursing students are fit for practice regarding vital sign monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Review of current nursing education practices.
• Analysis of Nursing and Midwifery Council guidelines.
• Discussion of the implications of electronic device use in clinical settings.

Main Results:

• Electronic device dependency may hinder the development of manual nursing observation skills.
• Reduced sensory engagement by nurses can negatively affect patient assessment.
• Competence and confidence in vital sign monitoring are potentially compromised.

Conclusions:

• Maintaining manual nursing observation skills is crucial for competent patient care.
• Nursing education must balance technological integration with fundamental clinical skills.
• Ensuring proficiency in manual vital sign monitoring is essential for nursing practice readiness.