Facilitating Digital Transformation in Nursing Through Nursing Development Units: Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Health Informatics
• Organizational Development

Background:

• Nursing Development Units (NDUs) are established clinical settings focused on professional growth and learning.
• Their impact on nursing practice is well-documented, but their role in healthcare's digital transformation is less explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the characteristics, structures, and processes of NDUs.
• To identify how these NDU elements relate to digital readiness and the integration of digital tools in nursing.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of 40 publications on NDUs was conducted.
• Data were iteratively coded to identify patterns at individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels.
• Core NDU elements were mapped for connections to digital transformation capacities.

Main Results:

• NDUs function at individual (professional development, resilience), interpersonal (collaboration, shared vision), and organizational (frameworks, change management) levels.
• While not explicitly focused on digital competencies, NDU structures and processes build foundational capacities for digital tool engagement.
• Reflective practices and collaboration within NDUs are key to fostering innovation.

Conclusions:

• NDUs possess multilevel structures and processes that enhance professional and organizational capacities.
• These capacities align with prerequisites for adopting and effectively using digital health technologies.
• Further research is needed to clarify how NDUs directly facilitate digital innovation in clinical nursing settings.