The digital dilemma in nursing: a critique of care in the digital age.

Wynn, Matthew

Abstract

There is an inherent tension between the nursing profession's empathetic, human-centric ethos and the impersonal nature of digital technology. However, digital solutions such as robot carers could offer convenience, dignity and reduced feelings of burden, so there is potentially a significant misalignment between nursing concepts of care and contemporary patient needs. The notion of 'care' should be reconceptualised to include digital advancements, aligning practice with changing patient expectations and technological progress. A strategy to do this could involve a philosophical overhaul of nursing care models, integration of advanced patient-centric technologies, comprehensive education and training, collaborative development of nursing technologies, showcasing successful digital integration and policy advocacy for digital care models. This transformation is essential if nursing is to stay relevant and effective in the digital era, bridging the traditional care and modern healthcare needs while maintaining its core ethic of care.

Citation

Wynn, M. (2024). The digital dilemma in nursing: a critique of care in the digital age. British Journal of Nursing, 33(11), 496-499. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2024.0023

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 19, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jun 8, 2024
• Publication Date: Jun 6, 2024
• Deposit Date: Apr 26, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 7, 2024
• Journal: British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
• Print ISSN: 0966-0461
• Publisher: MA Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 496-499
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2024.0023
• Keywords: Care, Robots, Digital Technology, Demography, Nursing Care - standards, Humans, Dignity, Ethics, Digital