Smartphone Use by Nurses in Acute Care Settings.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Informatics
• Healthcare Technology
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Smartphone use in acute care settings is controversial, citing security and personal use concerns.
• Existing policies often restrict personal smartphone use, despite widespread adoption.
• Understanding nurse perspectives is crucial for developing effective guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of personal smartphone use among nurses in acute care.
• To identify nurses' preferred smartphone functionalities for work.
• To explore nurses' perceptions of smartphone benefits and drawbacks in acute care.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to 735 nurses across six acute care facilities.
• The survey assessed personal smartphone usage, preferred functions, and perceived pros and cons.
• Participants were primarily point-of-care nurses over 31 years old.

Main Results:

• 98% of nurses reported using personal smartphones in acute care settings.
• Nurses identified accessing medication, procedure, and disease information as key benefits.
• Nurses over 50 were less likely to use smartphones or agree with their benefits.

Conclusions:

• Smartphones are integral tools for point-of-care nurses, offering significant benefits for information access.
• Realistic policies are necessary to integrate smartphones effectively, enhancing patient care while mitigating distractions.
• Healthcare facilities should acknowledge current usage patterns and adapt policies accordingly.