Digital technology and teaching methods in nursing education: a scoping review protocol

In a rapidly evolving world shaped by digital transformation, digital technologies are increasingly being used in healthcare. To use them effectively, nursing staff, patients and their caregivers need the appropriate skills. To date, digital literacy in general, digital skills and (digital) technologies have played a minor role in German nursing curricula. In addition, little is known about the use of technology in nursing education and about effective ways to enhance digital competence. This scoping review aims to identify current literature on innovative and experiential-based teaching and learning methods for developing competence in technology and digitalisation for nurses and informal caregivers, as well as digital technologies that are being used in this educational context.

This scoping review, which will be designed and conceptualised using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for conducting scoping reviews, will take place from April 2025 to January 2026. The search will be conducted on the databases CINAHL, Emcare, Embase, Medline and ERIC. Screening and extraction will be peer reviewed and follow predefined criteria, as well as opportunities for free-text responses. The extracted data will be analysed using absolute and relative frequencies. Free-text responses will be analysed using qualitative content Analysis.

As an ethics vote is not required to conduct a scoping review, this will not be obtained. The results will be disseminated via open access publication in a peer-reviewed journal and through presentations at conferences.