Date of Award
12-2009
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Teaching & Learning
First Advisor
Dr. Richard Landry
Abstract
Nurses entering the workforce are faced with many challenges, but today the multiple demands of patient care are complicated by a nurse's need to keep abreast of fast-changing technology. This research is universally relevant to nursing practice in educational settings and practice areas because nursing education needs to develop strategies to teach students the skills to manage technology, while keeping the elements of caring in learning and clinical practices.
This quantitative study examined the perceptions of nursing students on caring, technology as caring, the technological influences on caring practice, and their confidence level of PDA use. Participants were students accepted into Minot State University's Nursing Program during the fall of 2008 and spring 2009 semesters.
The survey instruments included the Caring Attributes, Professional Self-Concept Technological Influences Scale and the Technology Confidence Survey. The following caring attributes were rated the highest: listening to the patients, creating a sense of trust, and a relationship between a nurse and a patient is one based on trust, truth, and respect.
With new advancements in health care delivery and technology, it is important for nurses to be technologically competent and have the ability to maintain a caring environment. This study achieved the purpose; student nurses provided their perceptions for caring attributes, technology as caring, the impact of technology ~n caring, and PDA confidence levels. The results of the statistical tests for the Influence of Technology on Caring Practice indicated one significant difference between the pre- and post-test groupings.
Due to the application of technology, nurses often become frustrated when the inevitable death of a patient occurs. In the area of Caring Communication the statistical test results indicated two items out of 28 with significant differences. Although, for all of the other research questions, there were no significant differences identified between the pre- and post-test groupings.
Advances in technology are inevitable. The findings of this study are applicable to nursing education and nursing practice because students educated today will care for the patients of tomorrow. Integrating technology and caring into the nursing curriculum prepares students for the technologically advancing world in which they will work.
Recommended Citation
Brodell, Elizabeth Gail, "Views of Student Nurses on Caring and Technology in Nursing" (2009). Theses and Dissertations. 878.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/878