Abstract:

Nurses make clinical decisions and provide information and treatment “in the moment”. In turn, professional nursing practice must be sensitive, effective, and responsive to patient needs and have the capacity to adjust to changing circumstances. Professional nursing practice must also be based on an appreciation of the right of healthcare recipients to information that is both understandable and timely and which supports patient decision-making and self-determination. This balance of patient-centred approaches and evidence-based decision-making is central to quality nursing practice and commonly underscores nursing curricula (Edgar, 2013). However, translating these concepts into practice reality is challenging.

This presentation summarizes an innovative technology-enhanced teaching-learning-practice approach. Second year nursing students at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College (DC) participated in trialing the use of iPad mini devices for both practicum and classroom learning. Through this teaching-learning-practice innovation, both evidence and knowledge translation (patient teaching) strategies are placed in the hands of future healthcare providers as they are learning their profession and directly at the point of care. Enhancing nursing student digital literacy skills and moving them beyond the classroom to the point of care has potential to impact both the healthcare experience of patients and the practice experiences and attitudes of nursing students (Johansson, Petersson, Saveman & Nilsson, 2012; Schlairet, 2012). Findings to date from mixed method data collection will be presented. Student perspectives on the benefits and challenges associated with the movement toward technology at the point of care will be discussed. Next steps in terms of expanded research will be presented.

References
[1] Edgar, T. (2013). Effectiveness and satisfaction of iPad integration in the undergraduate classroom. (University of Pennsylvania). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 81.
[2] Johansson, P., Petersson, G., Saveman, B., & Nilsson, G. (2012). Experience of mobile devices in nursing practice. Vard I Norden, 32(4), 50-54.
[3] Schlairet, M.C. (2012). PDA-assisted simulated clinical experiences in undergraduate nursing education: A pilot study. Nursing Education Perspectives, 33(6), 391-4.

Keywords:

Educational innovation, nursing, technology for education and health care.