Abstract:

In recent years the nature of Healthcare has changed within the UK as technology has increasingly become a core part of nursing practice and the ways in which patient care is planned and delivered. However, familiarity and confidence with use of technology is not consistent across the nursing student population. There is evidence to suggest that barriers to Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) use are experienced by some groups of student nurses, particularly mature female learners. It is acknowledged that this lack of confidence and competence can have an impact on their professional development. This research studied the way in which a group of mature, female nurses utilised ICT and was based within a pre-registration programme in a UK School of Health. The programme includes a substantial element of work based learning within the associated NHS Trust.

This qualitative study used interviews and observation to explore the biographical, university and clinical placement use of ICT of the study sample.

The study addressed three main questions :
1) How are mature, female nursing students accessing and using ICT within nursing education?
2) What are the barriers that may prevent mature, female students from accessing and using ICT within nursing education?
3) What actions do mature, female nursing students consider may be taken to improve their knowledge and subsequent use of ICT in both their academic studies and clinical placement work?

Findings demonstrate the importance of biographical history and personal approach to ICT, support on the programme and support in clinical placement. The study articulates the perception of being ‘ locked out’ hierarchically, generationally and emotionally in relation to ICT and as such poses significant challenges. The findings identify challenges for the way in which government and regulatory policy is being effectively enacted for specific groups of nurses. It raises an issue centred on ensuring that these groups of nursing students are ‘ logged in’ rather than ‘locked out.’

Keywords:

Information, Communication and Technology, nurse education, student nurses, barriers to education, technology, nursing practice.