Peer Catherine Ndidiamaka Omeihe The National H

Peer 1catherine Ndidiamaka Omeihethe Selected The National Healthcare

Peer 1 Catherine Ndidiamaka Omeihe highlights the critical role of technology in healthcare, emphasizing both its benefits and challenges. Technology, such as CT scanners and barcode systems, enhances diagnostic accuracy, reduces errors, and improves patient outcomes, thereby extending longevity and quality of life (Kim et al., 2020). Nonetheless, the reliance on technology can diminish the human aspects of nursing care. The increased focus on electronic health records (EHRs) and machinery leads to nurses spending more time on screens than direct patient interaction, undermining holistic and compassionate care (Cuchetti & Grace, 2020). This technological distraction often results in missed symptoms and a loss of personal connection, which is fundamental to effective nursing practice.

Omeihe's work setting observes a disconnection from the patient's personhood, with healthcare providers focusing more on machines, patient throughput, and workflow rather than individual needs. This shift raises concerns about deteriorating the art of caring, which involves empathy, presence, and dignity. To mitigate these issues, educational initiatives are employed to equip nurses with skills to balance high-tech, evidence-based interventions with compassionate caregiving. Mentorship programs are also established, where experienced staff support newcomers in integrating technology without losing sight of the human element, encouraging practices like touch and presence alongside technical use. Recognition and reward systems for compassionate nursing further foster a culture that values both technological competence and empathetic engagement (Sharma et al., 2020). Ensuring that technology complements rather than replaces caring remains a key priority in healthcare.

References:

• Cuchetti, C., & Grace, P. J. (2020). Authentic intention: Tempering the dehumanizing aspects of technology on behalf of good nursing care. Nursing Philosophy, 21(1), e12255.
• Kim, T., Howe, J., Franklin, E., Krevat, S., Jones, R., Adams, K., ... & Ratwani, R. (2020). Health information technology–related wrong-patient errors: Context is critical. Patient Safety, 2(4), 40-57.
• Sharma, S., Rafferty, A. M., & Boiko, O. (2020). The role and contribution of nurses to patient flow management in acute hospitals: A systematic review of mixed methods studies. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 110, 103709.

Paper For Above instruction

In contemporary healthcare, the integration of advanced medical technologies has revolutionized patient diagnosis, treatment, and care management. Technologies such as computerized tomography (CT) scanners, barcode systems, and electronic health records (EHRs) facilitate precise, efficient, and error-reducing practices that significantly improve patient outcomes (Kim et al., 2020). These innovations have contributed remarkably to enhancing diagnostic accuracy, treatment efficacy, and safety, ultimately extending patients' lives and improving their quality of life. However, amid these advancements, concerns about the potential erosion of the compassionate, humanistic component of nursing care have emerged prominently.

While technological progress is undeniably beneficial, it has inadvertently created challenges in maintaining holistic, person-centered nursing. Nurses often find themselves overwhelmed with data entry, machine operation, and documentation responsibilities, which divert their attention from direct patient engagement (Cuchetti & Grace, 2020). This shift to technology-centric care frequently results in impersonal interactions, where the art of caring—embodying empathy, presence, and dignity—is compromised. Such disconnection can lead to missed subtle symptoms, overlooked emotional needs, and diminished patient satisfaction, undermining the foundational principles of nursing care that prioritize compassion and human connection.

The reliance on technology, in many healthcare settings, has contributed to a perceived loss of 'caring'—the relational and emotional aspects that uphold quality nursing practice. In these environments, nurses often focus on operational metrics, patient counts, and technical tasks, inadvertently neglecting the holistic needs of patients. This trend highlights an urgent need to balance technological proficiency with the humanistic elements of nursing. Maintaining this balance ensures that patients feel valued not only as recipients of medical interventions but also as persons deserving dignity, empathy, and personalized attention.

In response to this challenge, healthcare facilities are adopting strategies to reinforce the integration of caring with technology. Educational interventions are crucial, equipping nurses with skills to deliver high-tech, evidence-based interventions while remaining compassionate. For instance, training programs emphasize the significance of touch, eye contact, and verbal reassurance, even when utilizing technological tools. Furthermore, mentorship programs involve experienced nurses guiding new staff to develop competencies that harmonize technical skills with compassionate care. Recognizing and rewarding nurses who exemplify empathy and holistic care promotes a culture that values both technological adeptness and interpersonal skills.

Leadership plays an essential role in fostering an environment that prioritizes patient-centered care alongside technological innovation. Transformational leaders advocate for policies and practices that reinforce the importance of empathy, individual attention, and respectful communication. By creating a workplace culture where caring is explicitly valued and rewarded, healthcare organizations can mitigate the depersonalizing effects of technology and sustain the art of nursing amid rapid technological advances.

Ultimately, integrating technology with compassionate care is not only feasible but essential for high-quality healthcare. Technology should serve as a tool that enhances, rather than replaces, the human connection central to nursing. Striking this balance requires ongoing education, supportive leadership, and a committed organizational culture dedicated to preserving the core values of nursing—dignity, empathy, and holistic care. When successfully integrated, technology can support nurses in providing more effective, personal, and compassionate care, ensuring that patients experience healing not only through clinical interventions but through the emotional and relational aspects that define quality nursing.

References

• Cuchetti, C., & Grace, P. J. (2020). Authentic intention: Tempering the dehumanizing aspects of technology on behalf of good nursing care. Nursing Philosophy, 21(1), e12255.
• Kim, T., Howe, J., Franklin, E., Krevat, S., Jones, R., Adams, K., ... & Ratwani, R. (2020). Health information technology–related wrong-patient errors: Context is critical. Patient Safety, 2(4), 40-57.
• Sharma, S., Rafferty, A. M., & Boiko, O. (2020). The role and contribution of nurses to patient flow management in acute hospitals: A systematic review of mixed methods studies. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 110, 103709.
• Aiken, L. H., Clarke, S. P., Sloane, D. M., et al. (2012). Hospital staffing, organization, and quality of care: Cross-national findings. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 24(5), 502-510.
• Benner, P. (1984). From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice. Prentice-Hall.
• Johnson, M., & Webber, P. (2010). Caring science, mindful practice: Implementing a model for health and healing. Springer Publishing Company.
• McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2014). Theoretical Foundations of Nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Pelzang, R. (2010). Time to learn: Stress and flexibility in nursing care. Nursing & Health Sciences, 12(2), 181-187.
• Reed, P. G., & Shearer, N. (2012). Evidence-based practice and nursing: The critical component of holistic nursing care. Holistic Nursing Practice, 26(4), 241-244.
• Ulrich, C. M., et al. (2014). Nurses' perceptions of caring and caring science: A cross-cultural study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(1), 58-69.