Using Mobile Devices in Nursing Education.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Informatics
• Mobile Health (mHealth)

Background:

• Mobile device technology is increasingly vital in healthcare, offering nursing students access to drug, procedure, and disease information.
• Senior baccalaureate nursing students often face limitations in medication administration during psychiatric-mental health clinical rotations.
• Simulated medication discussions and administration are crucial components of psychiatric-mental health nursing education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the use of mobile devices (iPod Touch) to enhance nursing care in psychiatric-mental health clinical settings.
• To evaluate the impact of mobile device integration on senior baccalaureate nursing students' learning experiences.
• To assess the potential of mobile technology in augmenting comprehensive nursing care.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 34 senior baccalaureate nursing students participated in the study.
• Each student received a loaner mobile device (iPod Touch) with relevant software and training.
• Data collection involved pre-distribution, mid-point, and end-of-semester surveys over two 7-week semesters, focusing on simulated medication administration.
• The study focused on the iPod Touch, 4th generation wireless media player.

Main Results:

• The study assessed students' ability to simulate medication administration to psychiatric-mental health clients using mobile devices.
• Survey data provided insights into student experiences and learning enhancements throughout the two semesters.
• Preliminary findings suggest potential benefits for medication error reduction and patient safety.

Conclusions:

• Mobile devices, such as the iPod Touch, can effectively augment clinical learning experiences in psychiatric-mental health nursing.
• Integrating mobile technology may enhance nursing students' competence in simulated medication administration.
• Further research is warranted to fully understand the impact on patient safety and error reduction in real-world clinical settings.