Professional Experience Placement

This article by Farrell (2016)  explored nurses’ perspectives of iPhone usage in an acute care setting supports the findings I published previously regarding nurse supervisors and student access and use to mobile or portable devices for learning and teaching. Farrell (2016) notes that the use of smartphones or indeed any mobile digital device, is becoming necessary for clinical use among healthcare professionals and students. She indicates that bedside access enables continuity of care.  Unintended consequences  such as distraction are also mentioned. Farrell (2016) has added to the growing voice of nurses who recognise leadership is necessary for cultural change in embedding mobile technology within healthcare environments.  There is an urgent need for deploying mobile technology within patient care regimens to improve workflow and engage in opportunistic health promotion and education and encourage patient-centred participatory care.

This study was supported by the ARC and commercial vendors who can probably see the benefit or enhancing technology within healthcare settings.  However, their involvementby providing hardware and support enabled a clearer picture of the use of using iPhones within an acute care setting. Focus groups of participants were undertaken to elicit their perceptions. The findings provide direction for Australian app developers of health information and highlight the data issues associated with BYOD. Additionally, lead time and training were highlighted as being inadequate, which once again demonstrates that although mobile technology is ubiquitous in our personal and work environments, there is specific preparation that needs to be undertaken regardless of our level of expertise. The assumption that clinicians and students ‘know’ is erroneous and is reported as a barrier to success in many studies involving informatics deployment. Farrell (2016) reports the benefits of the use of iPhones regarding patient or client care. A reduction in the time taken to meet patient needs through the quick, easy access and communication and decision-making between members of the healthcare team were reported.  Small screen size and unease of using a telephone at the bedside were reported as challenges. As others have mentioned the there is a need for change in culture within nursing to enable mobile technology to be used, in situ. Interestingly Farrell (2016) reported that nurses used the technology for organising continuing professional development, but it is not reported whether nurses used the iPhone to engage in CPD activities.

Farrell (2016) concludes by stating that there is a need for leaders and managers to ensure these technologies are adopted, especially as there are opportunities to improve health outcomes.

If you have any comments about using mobile technology in an acute care setting you are welcome to post them here.  Please join us @PEPCommunity.