Being a nurse is rarely a static experience as new technology, techniques, and standards regularly evolve and emerge to influence patient care.
Understandably, it can be quite challenging to keep up with industry developments when nurses are already under pressure to meet the immediate needs of their patients and the priorities of the facilities where they work. Nevertheless, understanding the tech, tools, and practices coming down the pipeline can empower nurses to provide quality patient care while making their workload more manageable.
Let’s look at how nurses can stay up-to-date on the latest advances in patient care.
Continued Formal Education
As an experienced nurse, you know how quickly the medical industry can change. This is why it is so important to commit to regular training updates and an important factor in keeping up-to-date with advances in patient care. Your choice of education and delivery methods can put you in a better position.
Wherever possible, this should go beyond the basic board-approved refresher courses required to update your license. Currently, just 51.5% of nurses enter the profession with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing. Yet, universities can often be spaces that offer early access to exploring new ideas and tools. If employers and nurses collaborate in arranging opportunities for more healthcare professionals to gain these qualifications, this could elevate the profession and ensure more staff are aware of the latest care advances.
And it’s not just traditional in-classroom learning that can contribute to knowledge. There’s also an increasing use of extended reality (XR) courses that provide practical and tangible learning experiences. With a combination of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) techniques, nurses can undergo more complex technical training in risk-free and easy-to-access environments. Not to mention that nurses can better understand how this technology may be used for direct patient care in the near future.
Social Media Content
Formal education is one of many sources of information about the latest advances in patient care. That’s why it’s essential for nursing professionals to commit to research on industry issues in general and in their areas of expertise, and social media content can be helpful here.
There are a variety of popular social media platforms, and it can be challenging to know which to seek accurate information. Instagram and TikTok can be good sources of industry influencers who provide easily-digestible audiovisual content. YouTube, on the other hand, can be better for more in-depth, long-form explainer videos and lectures. Twitter may provide links to studies and papers, too.
While social media can be an accessible form of information on advances in patient care, it’s important to maintain vigilance using these platforms. Credibility can’t always be assumed from social media influencers, and some may be driven by commercial partnerships.
For instance, medical misinformation is prevalent on social media, with one study reporting that 51% of posts related to vaccines contained misleading or incorrect data. It is vital, then, to look into the studies that support claims made on these channels and for evidence of the professional integrity of the content creators. Treat posts as introductions to ideas so you can do deeper research dives with a critical eye.
Professional Networking
Some of the best ways to stay on top of developments in patient care involve interacting with colleagues. Conversations and discussions with other professionals often provide the most practical information on what’s coming down the pipeline. So, nurses need to be actively engaged in occasional networking.
This includes taking the time to attend nursing conferences, which are a hub for nurses, researchers, and developers of medical technology. Make efforts to reach out and have conversations about what’s happening in your specific field and the experiences other professionals are having. In addition, conferences are a chance to connect with colleagues from various parts of the industry so you can influence one another’s ongoing knowledge of care advances in the future.
Another valuable approach to networking with care advances in mind is actively participating in studies.
However, one report found that only 31.6% of nurses participated in the research, mainly due to barriers related to institutional support. The local licensing board or professional organization for specific fields of practice will often be able to direct you toward projects. But you may also need to pitch your involvement to your hospital or practice. In particular, studies related to the use of new technology in clinical settings can be a key to your understanding of new care techniques in action and gaining insights into how impactful they can be.
Conclusion
Staying up-to-date on advances in patient care can be challenging, but the outcomes can be positive for everyone. Formal education and courses can help you navigate the changing standards and tools in the industry. Social media can also be a valuable source of information when approached with caution. Efforts to network at conferences and participate in studies can provide practical knowledge of developments as and when they arise.
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