Two leading academics have argued that a major upsurge in digital skills training and support for nurses is required if full benefit is to be gained from the digital revolution in healthcare.
In an article based on their research, Professor Dawn Dowding and Dr Sarah Skyrme from The University of Manchester highlight the role that the digital revolution—particularly AI—is expected to play in addressing challenges in the NHS, such as the recruitment and retention of nursing staff.
They said: “Moving to a digital environment with care provided remotely and contact via digital technologies rather than face-to-face provides both challenges and opportunities for the existing nursing workforce.”
To do this, they believe that nurses must be able to use digital tools.
The impact of the digital revolution on healthcare services
The article states: “The digital revolution has the potential to free up nursing time; one potential outcome of the generation of AI-based tools is that they will take on routine tasks and administrative duties.
“This could lead to a shift in the approach to staffing services that may encourage some nurses to stay in practice longer and provide opportunities for delivering care in individualised, remote ways.”
But for any digital solution to work effectively, the authors believe there is a need for good infrastructure, including Wi-Fi and access to the appropriate hardware and software.
Inequalities in technology training
“There is a lack of equality in the availability of internet access among the general population, with individuals on the lowest incomes (and often the highest healthcare needs) more likely to be without internet access or devices to connect to Wi-Fi,” they said.
Because of this, the authors stress the need for nurses to be properly trained in using digital technology.
“Resources to enable nurses to develop digital skills are required,” they explained.
“Many organisations offer their own training, and NHS England has produced a number of digital capability frameworks, though currently not one specifically focused on the nursing workforce.
“In addition, we need to ensure that nurses graduating from education programmes have the skills to perform in a digitally enabled NHS.”
Enhancing digital skills in the workforce
“It is often assumed individuals who have ‘grown up’ with digital technologies and use them daily will automatically have the required skills,” the report said.
“However, our research clearly shows that this is not the case, and teaching students to use the types of tools currently used in the NHS and care sector requires a well-targeted approach.”
Concluding, The University of Manchester academics urge government and NHS policymakers to focus investment on enhancing the digital skills of the nursing workforce.
