Development of mobile educational applications designed for nurses: A narrative review

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Midwifery Education
• Digital Health Literacy

Background:

• Mobile educational applications (apps) are increasingly utilized in healthcare education.
• There is a need to synthesize literature on their effectiveness for nurses and midwives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and synthesize existing literature on mobile educational apps for nurses and midwives.
• To understand how these apps enhance the learning experience in these professions.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review employing a systematic, structured, and comprehensive literature search.
• Searches were conducted across Medline Complete, CINAHL, ERIC, and Embase databases.
• Sixteen studies were analyzed following screening of 3512 articles, using thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged: app design elements, factors influencing learner motivation, impact on practice, and development considerations.
• A positive association was found between well-designed mobile educational apps and enhanced learner motivation.
• Tailoring apps for specific user groups and co-design with nurses and midwives are crucial for optimizing impact.

Conclusions:

• Mobile educational apps offer an innovative and engaging method for delivering information and supporting learning for nurses and midwives.
• Tailored apps significantly transform the learning experience and complement traditional clinical education.