The challenges of caring in a technological environment: critical care nurses’ experiences

Abstract

Experienced critical care nurses are able to transcend the obtrusive nature of technology to deliver expert caring to their patients. However, the journey to proficiency in technology is very demanding and novice nurses have difficulty in caring with technology. Relevance to clinical practice. It is recommended that more emphasis be placed on supporting, assisting and educating inexperienced nurses in the critical care area and that the use of technology in nursing be given serious consideration.

Association between job strain, mental health and empathy among intensive care nurses

“…Empathy levels among the participants in our study were lower than that of nurse practitioners (Hojat et al , ). ICU nurses practice in a technological care environment, which could tend to dehumanize their work (McGrath, ) and reduce their level of empathy (Lützen et al , ). During the debriefing, study participants were made aware of how important empathy is for intensive care patients.…”

Devastatingly Human: An Analysis of Registered Nurses’ Medication Error Accounts

“…Technology often "inserts itself" between patients and nurses (O'Keefe-McCarthy, 2009, p. 786), despite attempts of experienced nurses to navigate it (McGrath, 2008). Nurses frequently view technologies that control medication in terms of their ability to control nurses' labor (Armstrong, Choiniere, & Day, 1993).…”

Patients' experiences of technology and care in adult intensive care

“…Previous research has suggested that the presence of technology may distract nurses from the psychological care of patients (Hofhuis et al . , McGrath ). Lee () and Price (), in their respective qualitative studies, revealed that nurses perceive technology to place increased demands on their time, allowing less time in which to establish a nurse‐patient relationship and to be involved in personal care.…”

“…In addition, Kongsuwan and Locsin () suggested that technological mastery incorporates compassionate caring. Similarly, McGrath () identified that the nurse participants thought that excellence in nursing care was dependent on nurses' expertise and technological skill adding that technology enabled nurses to know their patients.…”