Using technology to help relieve the nursing shortage

AORN Journal,  Oct, 2002  

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The American Academy of Nursing convened an interdisciplinary conference of more than 20 organizations to focus on using innovative technologies to enhance patient care delivery, according to a July 22, 2002, news release from the academy. This conference was called in response to the nursing shortage, growing dissatisfaction among nurses, and the public's demand for safe health care.

The conference was held in Washington, DC, July 12 to 14, 2002. Nurses, pharmacists, physicians, hospital trustees, administrators, manufacturers, health policy analysts, architects, software engineers, and others participated. They focused on using technology to redesign the practice environment and care delivery systems and, thus, improve nurse retention and the quality of health care.

Current and future nursing shortages will affect American health care adversely. Although efforts to increase the supply of nurses are essential, the demand side of the equation also must be addressed. Inefficient use of nurses' time has been unrecognized as a factor contributing to the nursing shortage. Using technology should make nurses' jobs easier, allowing them to devote more time to direct patient care. Although implementing new technologies in health care opens the door to new possibilities, challenges should not be underestimated.

American Academy of Nursing Cites Technology as One Solution to the Looming Nursing Shortage (news release, Washington, DC: American Academy of Nursing, July 22, 2002).

COPYRIGHT 2002 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group