Reassembling nursing in the digital age: An actor-network theory perspective.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Theory
• Sociology of Health and Illness
• Science and Technology Studies

Background:

• Traditional nursing theories struggle to capture the complexity of modern digital healthcare.
• Rapid technological advancements and societal shifts necessitate new theoretical frameworks.
• Existing paradigms may not fully address the interplay of human and nonhuman elements in nursing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to the nursing profession.
• To propose ANT as a novel perspective for understanding nursing in digital healthcare.
• To enhance existing nursing theory by incorporating ANT's focus on actor relationships.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis applying Actor-Network Theory principles to nursing.
• Examination of nursing as a social assemblage of human and nonhuman actors.
• Discussion of ANT's utility in understanding technology's role in nursing practice.

Main Results:

• Nursing can be conceptualized as a socio-technical assemblage involving nurses, patients, policymakers, technologies, and policies.
• ANT provides a framework to analyze the dynamic interactions between human and nonhuman actors in healthcare.
• Applying ANT can lead to a more holistic and adaptable model for nursing theory and practice.

Conclusions:

• Actor-Network Theory offers a valuable perspective for understanding contemporary nursing in technologically advanced healthcare.
• Nursing education and practice must adapt to the interconnectedness of human and nonhuman elements.
• ANT enhances theoretical models but requires consideration of its limitations, such as ethical complexities.