Technology in Nursing: Innovation in Patient Care

The Evolving Role of Technology in Modern Nursing Practice

Digital documentation and data access

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) streamline nursing workflows, improve care coordination and give nurses real-time access to patient histories, labs and care plans.

Telehealth and virtual nursing

Technology enables nurses to deliver care remotely through video visits, remote triage and virtual patient education, expanding access and continuity of care.

Clinical decision support and AI

AI-powered tools help nurses identify risks (e.g., falls, sepsis), prioritize care and support evidence-based decision-making at the bedside.

Remote monitoring and smart devices

Wearables, sensors and connected medical devices allow nurses to continuously monitor patients’ vital signs and symptoms, supporting earlier interventions and proactive care.

Key Resources for Technology in Nursing

Technology in nursing enhances patient care through electronic health records, telehealth, virtual nursing, and smart monitoring devices. It streamlines workflows, improves communication, and supports evidence-based decisions. Innovations like AI-driven diagnostics and patient screenings reduce errors and increase efficiency. By leveraging technology, nurses deliver safer, faster, and more personalized care, shaping the future of healthcare delivery.

AACN recognizes the growing use and influence of technology in nursing and offers a variety of resources to support integration in your practice.

Managing the Hack

A healthcare cybersecurity attack isn’t a matter of if, it's when. Discover strategies to prepare for and manage an attack while maintaining safepatient car

Rise of the Virtual Nurse

This article explores how virtual nurse roles have expanded and evolved and how they continue to adapt to support nurses and improve patient outcomes.

IV Smart Pumps: The Reality

IV smart pumps are everywhere in critical care – yet nurses report daily frustrations, safety gaps and design flaws. Explore nurse-led research on infusion safety.

AI in Critical Care

AI tools like ChatGPT are reshaping critical care, but concerns about accuracy, bias and hallucinations are real. Explore a measured approach to adopting AI.

Tele-Critical Care Nursing

The AACN Tele-Critical Care Nursing Consensus Statement provides hospitals, leaders and nurses with recommendations, vignettes and an implementation framework.

ChatGPT: Trust but Verify

ChatGPT is everywhere – but can nurses trust it? Explore use of this AI tool in clinical practice, research and publishing, and essentials for patient safety and integrity.

AI in Nursing: Insights and Perspectives

With AI quickly becoming a fixture in all aspects of life, it’s important to understand the technology’s application to and implications for nursing and healthcare. These curated resources will help you stay up-to-date on AI in nursing.

Critical Care Nurses in an AI-Powered World

AI is already in your ICU. Explore algorithmic bias, patient safety and why nurses' judgment remains irreplaceable in an AI-powered world.

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Integrating AI Into Critical Care Nursing Practice

AI can support critical care nurses – but only with the right policies, training, governance and ethics to keep human judgment at the center.

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Robots, Risks and the Rise of Nurse Innovators

Two nurse leaders explore how AI – from early-warning systems to robotics – can reshape workflows, improve outcomes and empower nurses.

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Getting comfortable with AI in nursing

AI is here; we need to adapt. Learn what nurses need to know about AI to lead confidently in a digital world.

Technology in Action: Nurse Success Stories

Real-world examples help bring theoretical concepts to life. The following stories illustrate the successful integration of technology into nursing practice for the benefit of patients, nurses and hospitals.

Collaborating for Better Outcomes

When bedside and virtual care teams struggle to communicate, patients pay the price. See how one CCU-VICU partnership improved teamwork and outcomes.

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Tele-ICU: A Lifeline for Nurses

For nurses whose bodies can no longer keep up with bedside demands, UAB's tele-ICU offers a powerful way to stay in the profession they love.

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Mentoring Pediatric Tele-ICU Nursing

Pediatric tele-ICU nursing blends tech, clinical expertise and compassion. Explore practical mentorship strategies to help new nurses thrive virtually.

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Additional Resources

Technology evolves quickly. Keep on top of the latest developments and trends with AACN’s growing collection of educational content and resources on technology in nursing.