Abstract:

World of technology has opened a new window in teaching and learning. Development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the impact of this technology on science have led to creation of new areas such as electronic-Government, electronic-Learning and electronic-medicine. In addition, access to computers and internet and Computer-Based Education (CBE) may facilitate the teaching and learning.
On the other hand, it seems that the demographic changes, increasing complexity in knowledge-based healthcare and lack of enough health care staff all lead to an increase in need of technology use, particularly computer-based technologies, in theoretical and clinical education of healthcare area.

Nowadays, many universities and educational institutions use electronic learning and its subset, self-e-learning, as a new approach in teaching methods. E-learning is also a convenient method for continuing education and life-long learning, which are very necessary in the world today, because this type of learning can overcome the geographical and professional limitations.

Moreover, the computer and related learning technologies have created a new revolution in the world of nursing education and influenced students, teachers and learning programs in nursing Schools. On the other hand, it is also helpful and effective on many important activities of clinical nurses including evidence-based nursing, increasing the quality of care; enhancement of patients’ safety and nurses' collaboration with other health care team members.

Electronic storage of nursing data provides ability to organize and use these data quickly and conveniently through use of computer systems. Also, these systems provide a common language for nurses in nursing care, which provides nurses with ability to share their knowledge and experiences anywhere in the world with colleagues and to overcome the limitations of time and space by learning from each other.

In addition, there are two important concepts in teaching and learning in today's world discussed as below:
Life-long learning and self-directed learning that have been linked to each other by use of a computer and internet. This is very important for nurses in the world today, where knowledge and clinical skills are in a rapid change.

In general, some of the advantages regarding use of E-learning in nursing education are as below:
- Saving time and having time flexibility
- Facilitation of communication and collaboration between health care team
- Attaining computer skills
- Attaining skills of self-learning, self-motivation, self-satisfaction and enjoying learning and teaching
- Creation of safety for both the patients and the nurses
- Using online databases to keep nurses update
- Online use of new research

It seems that the most important strategies to improve nursing education in all levels include increasing the required support for development of E-learning and overcoming its related obstacles.

Therefore, this article aims to describe the importance, necessity and the need for use of computer-based technologies in nursing education and learning. In the present article, several important issues including the nursing students education, nursing staff education, training the nurses in new methods of nursing documentation by use of a computer, and finally, training the nurses in use of nursing process through computer facilities are offered.

Keywords:

Nursing education, computer, technology, electronic learning, ICT, e-learning, life-long learning, self-directed learning, evidence-based nursing.