Introduction
The rate at which technologies are developed and made available to the public has been on a steady rise over the past few decades. Research indicates that the capabilities of computers double every twelve to eighteen months and the change is always accompanied by a similar increase in the capabilities of information technology that utilize them (TEF 2016). McGrath (2013) presents similar sentiments, pointing out that the rate at which new products and advances in technology are introduced into the global market and adopted by users is on the rise. The healthcare industry is one of the key sectors that has been transformed greatly due to the fast pace of technological advancements. Nursing care delivery, a component of the healthcare industry, has experienced tremendous changes as a result of the adoption of new technologies.
Advances in technology have facilitated the discovery and utilization of better diagnostic procedures and treatment therapies. They have also enhanced the way caregivers interact with patients, allowing for timely intervention and better management of chronic disorders (Huston 2013). However, the advances in technology have also come with a fair share of negative effects such as the high costs incurred in their acquisition and adoption. Additionally, there is a need for nurses to acquire new sets of skills, which consequently affect their performance as grasping new concepts may prove challenging (Anderson 2013; Rouleau, Gagnon and Côté 2015). The argument presented in this paper is that the advances in technology have had both negative and positive effects on the delivery of nursing care. However, the benefits derived outweigh the negative effects.
The New and Emerging Technologies in Nursing Care