Paper
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
628
Perceptions on Technology in the Future of Nursing Education
Lois H. Neuman, BSN, MS, PhD, LHNeumanConsultants, Potomac, MD, USA
| Learning Objective #1: identify three findings from the study on nurse perceptions of technology. |
| Learning Objective #2: discuss two recommendations from the survey findings applicable to the future of nursing education. |
Given the expansion of technology in healthcare and education coupled with decreased numbers of personnel due to downsizing, restructure, and retirements, healthcare and nursing education experienced shortages of qualified nursing staff and educators. As a result, over the past 5-10 years, nursing education embraced numerous teaching/learning strategies such as virtual reality, simulations, chatrooms, e-mail, Blackboard, and Powerpoint, transmitted by long distance or blended methods. From all appearances, technology filled the void left by faculty vacancies and efficiently served as a human replacement strategy in the United States and abroad.
A review of the literature on teaching/learning strategies in nursing education revealed numerous studies on outcome, evaluation, student perceptions, and comparisons of technology and face to face but nothing on faculty perception of the change in education delivery, their role, and future expectations. From 2002-2006, attendees at a session on the Future of Nursing Education at 16 conferences were asked to complete a 19-item questionnaire for submission at the end of the presentation. This session will present at least three findings on the perceptions of 477 respondents who completed the questionnaire that capture insights of nurses; some with over 25 years experience, before they retire or leave the workforce, and will raise questions for further examination on technology as a human replacement strategy in nursing education. Attendees will take home nurse perceptions on technology in the future of nursing education, ideas for the nursing learning environment, and ways for technology to assist, not burden, future educators.