The Future of Nursing Informatics in a Digitally-Enabled World

Abstract

The nursing profession has a history of embracing novel technologies that support the delivery of compassionate, person-centred care. The emergence and rapid adoption of ‘intelligent’ technologies that have the ability to act autonomously, but that are often embedded and ‘invisible’ to users, is challenging the nursing profession to reconsider their role in the health system of the future. Using a socio-technical lens the authors examine artificial intelligence and process automation technologies because of their significant potential to become much further embedded into nursing work and disrupt the healthcare system as we know it. Opportunities for nurses to transform their role in the healthcare value chain, will arise from the profession’s proactive reconceptualization of the nursing role in an era where technology is moving from discrete transaction processing and monitoring applications to pervasive computing. But the nurse’s traditional patient and family advocacy role will remain important, as policy, regulatory and ethical challenges arise from the development and use of these emergent digital technologies. The rapidly changing healthcare ecosystem demands nursing involvement in the research, design, adoption and use of emergent digital technologies. The subtle normalization of these technologies into the nursing role will require new nursing knowledge and skills, and different relationships between nurses (i.e., practice, education, research, leadership) and other actors (i.e. patients, physicians, technologies) in the healthcare ecosystem of the future.

Glossary

Artificial intelligence

Technology that has the ability to perform actions or tasks (e.g., decision-making) which would normally require some degree of human intelligence

Big Data

A term used to describe the extensive volume of both structured and unstructured data generated in the healthcare system

Collaborative robotics (cobots)

Robotics process automation that work in close collaboration with humans to complete shared tasks

Dialectical learning

An approach to learning through examination and discussion

Disruptive technologies

Technologies that provoke change and innovation, resulting in new or unanticipated opportunities

Emergent digital technologies

Technologies that are developing and evolving to become useful or impactful in a variety of settings across society, including healthcare

External modality

Factors impacting change and adaptation that the organization can try to influence but not control

Inertial conflict

Resistance to change

Internal modality

Factors impacting change and adaptation that are within the scope of influence or control of the organization

Intrapreneur

An individual that provokes or supports transformative change within an organization

Lifecycle

The phases of a specific process from beginning to conclusion, commonly reflecting software development or project management

Marginal analysis

An approach to options analysis by calculating the incremental impacts of change on cost and revenues

Mind mapping

Graphical representation of the connection between concepts and ideas

Nanorobotics

An emerging field of research focused on microscopic robots used to target specific diseases such as cancer

Non-repudiation

A security authentication with a high degree of confidence

Normalization

The process of becoming accustomized to a specific concept or process, such as the use of technology to perform a specific task, so that it this is perceived to be part of a normal routine.

NRO

Non-repudiation of Origin, which documents evidence of origin of the message, and prevents denial of the message by the originating party

OODA loop

An approach to decision making that involves Observing information, Orienting or interpreting information, Deciding on a course of action, and Action

Operational management

The day to day management of the healthcare system, which includes a variety of departments or services such as human resources, administrative, finance, and inventory

Organizational ambidexterity

Two approaches to change reflecting both adaptability and alignment

Performance indicators

Specific criteria that are measured at specific points in time to evaluate performance and/or change

Process automation technologies

Automation that reengineers processes to minimize human effort and increase both efficiency and productivity

Rose diagram

Nightingale’s visualization depicting mortality causes

Service management plan

Plan to provide oversight or resolution to an issue related to a specific service or product provision

Socio-technical

Refers to the relationship between technology and the social aspect of actions that are influenced by the inclusion of technology in activities