Digital nursing practice theory: A scoping review and thematic analysis

Wynn, Matthew; Vasilica, Cristina; Garwood‐Cross, Lisa; Davis, Dilla

Abstract

Aims
This scoping review aims to identify existing theories associated with digital nursing practice to
add a lens on the future use of digital technologies by nurses.
Design
A review of theories related to digital technology in nursing practice was conducted following
the framework described by Arksey and O’Malley. All published literature up until 12th May
2022 was included.
Data sources
Seven databases were utilised including Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, ACM Digital Library, IEEE
Xplore, BNI and Web of Science. A Google Scholar search was also performed.
Review methods
The search terms included (nurs* AND (digital OR technol* OR e-health or ehealth or digital
health or telemedicine or telehealth) AND theory).
Results
The database searches yielded 282 citations. After screening, 9 papers were included in the
review. These described 8 distinct nursing theories.
Conclusion
The focuses of the theories included the role of technology in society and nursing. How
technology should be developed to support nursing practice. Health consumers’ use of nursing
informatics. The use of technology as an expression of caring and the preservation of
humanness. The relationship between human persons and non-human actants and the creation
of nursing technologies as caring in addition to existing technologies.
Three themes were identified including the role of technology as an agent within the patient
environment; nurse interactions with technology to achieve ‘knowing’ of patients and the
necessity of technological competence among nurses. Then, using Actor Network Theory (ANT)
a zoom-out lens to map the concepts was proposed

Citation

Wynn, M., Vasilica, C., Garwood‐Cross, L., & Davis, D. (in press). Digital nursing practice theory: A scoping review and thematic analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(11), 4137-4148. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15660

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 16, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Mar 27, 2023
• Deposit Date: Mar 20, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Advanced Nursing
• Print ISSN: 0309-2402
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 79
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 4137-4148
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15660
• Keywords: General Nursing
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15660