Nurses urged to work more with IT developers

Northern Ireland’s chief nursing officer has called on nurses to engage with IT developers to design technology that will improve patient care, warning that innovations that save time are vital for the survival of nursing.

Speaking at the UK e-Health Week Nursing in Technology conference today, Charlotte McArdle said: ‘Nursing and midwifery will be very different in 10 to 15 years’ time, so we need to grasp the nettle now.'

Too many nurses do not feel confident using modern technology and nursing has failed to keep pace with technological developments, added Ms McArdle.

The event in Olympia, London, is exploring the use of technology to provide safe, effective and high-quality care.

As the population increases and the focus moves towards more person-centred care, nurses must find different ways of working, said Ms MacArdle. This will include centralising data and involving patients more in their own care, by educating them on preventive measures.