Wilson College Online Blog

Just as technology is now woven into the fabric of everyday life, it has also become an increasingly integral part of the healthcare system. Medical professionals use technology to communicate with patients and colleagues, record and interpret health information, diagnose illness, treat patients, and dispense medication. 

Nurses work with various technological tools on a daily basis to support patients’ care and streamline their routine tasks. While nurses rely on their clinical expertise and compassion to provide quality nursing care, they also now need to understand how to use technology to be able to do their jobs effectively. In many ways, the use of technology in nursing care is driving efficiency, accuracy, and better patient outcomes.

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who want to build the technological skills they need to enhance their practice and adapt to the evolving demands of modern healthcare facilities can consider pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing . 

Technology Trends in Nursing

Advancements in healthcare technology continue to transform how nurses deliver care and carry out their day-to-day tasks. From electronic records to artificial intelligence (AI) , the latest technology tools are reshaping workflows and expanding the clinical possibilities for nurses. 

The most impactful trends in nursing technology include the following:

• Electronic health records (EHR): Digital medical records are almost universally adopted across healthcare systems. Roughly 9 in 10 office-based physicians and nearly 100% of hospitals use EHRs, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The use of EHRs helps nurses access real-time patient information, minimize documentation errors, and improve communication between care teams.

• Telehealth: Although its usage has declined from its pandemic peaks, telehealth remains an important complement to in-person care, expanding access to care for patients in rural and other underserved areas. Nurses routinely see patients via telehealth to assess their symptoms and monitor their chronic conditions.

• Portable diagnostic devices: Handheld vital sign monitors, mobile ultrasound tools, and wearable sensors enable nurses to provide on-the-spot care to patients across healthcare settings, from hospitals to patients’ homes.

• Robotic assistance: More and more healthcare systems are using collaborative robots, or cobots, to alleviate nurses’ workloads. These robots can handle many routine tasks—such as transporting lab specimens or even drawing blood—allowing nurses to focus on their more pressing patient care responsibilities.

• AI tools: AI is having a significant impact in healthcare. A 2024 report from Microsoft revealed that nearly 80% of healthcare organizations use AI in some capacity. This groundbreaking technology can aid nurses in diagnosing disease, augment their clinical decision-making, and automate their routine tasks.

• Electronic medication management systems (EMMSs): These systems streamline medication administration, including the prescribing, dispensing, and disposing of medications. EMMSs help minimize the risk of human error and improve patients’ safety.

Why Nurses Need Tech Skills

While nurses don’t necessarily have to be experts, the growing use of digital technology in nursing means all nurses need to have some level of technical proficiency to be able to do their jobs.

Nurses spend a significant amount of time navigating digital systems and devices, whether for documenting care, diagnosing disease, reviewing lab results, or collaborating with team members. Being skilled at using these tools not only helps nurses improve their workflows and care delivery but also helps reduce medical errors and mitigate the risk of burnout. 

A nurse’s technical proficiency can make the difference in detecting early warning signs of disease or delivering timely interventions, as well as improve cohesiveness and ensure continuity of care. Technological competence can also empower nurses to better educate and advocate for patients. For instance, nurses trained to use telehealth platforms can guide patients through virtual visits, helping them understand how to access care and use devices from home.  

Additionally, as healthcare organizations adopt more advanced tools, nurses are often the first to engage with these technologies in real-world settings. Their ability to master and troubleshoot the use of these tools can directly impact the quality of the care they and their team provide. 

5 Key Tech Skills for Nurses

To thrive in a modern healthcare environment, nurses need to build a set of skills that align with today’s most commonly used technologies. Healthcare employers increasingly prioritize technological proficiency—from EHR expertise to AI fluency—when hiring new nurses.

The following five competencies are especially important in delivering nursing care that is more accessible, efficient, and safe. 

1. EHR and Informatics Proficiency

EHR and health informatics systems are essential technologies in modern nursing. Nurses need to be able to document, access, and interpret patients’ data when making clinical decisions and ensuring the continuity of patients’ care. Nursing professionals with informatics expertise can leverage this data to improve the care they deliver and patients’ outcomes. 

Informatics skills can also be used by nurses to streamline their administrative workflows, support their research and innovation, and improve patients’ safety by reducing errors.

2. Telehealth Communication Skills

Telehealth has become a staple of healthcare delivery, facilitating greater access to care, particularly for patients in remote or underserved communities. Nurses need to be adept at conducting virtual consultations, monitoring patients remotely, and using digital communication tools effectively. 

This includes understanding how to assess patients without in-person cues and even to troubleshoot basic technology issues during video visits. Training in telehealth is considered essential for new and experienced nurses alike. 

3. Portable Healthcare Device Expertise

From smart beds and digital patient monitors to handheld diagnostic devices, portable technology is now part of everyday nursing practice. Nurses need to understand how to operate these devices and interpret the data they generate to inform patients’ care. Because of their mobility, these tools also empower patients to take a more active role in their treatment and health management, especially in home health settings. 

4. AI Fluency

With the growing integration of AI into healthcare processes and systems, nurses need to develop foundational AI fluency. This includes understanding how AI is used for various tasks, such as predicting risks and documenting clinical tasks, as well as its potential limitations and ethical implications. 

As the link between AI tools and patient care grows stronger, nurses who can work confidently alongside this technology will be better equipped to deliver quality care. 

5. Ethical Understanding 

Though not strictly a technological skill, being able to maintain ethical standards is crucial as nurses integrate technology into their practice. Nurses are responsible for documenting and maintaining vast amounts of private patient data, so protecting this information is intrinsic to their role. They need to have a deep understanding of the importance of data security and how to handle health data responsibly.

The ethical use of nursing technology also requires cultural competence and a focus on transparency, particularly as data analysis and AI tools become more common elements of care delivery.

Using Technology to Advance in Your Practice 

Technology continues to reshape the nursing profession. By developing their technological skills, nurses can work more efficiently and improve the care they deliver to patients, enabling them to stay at the forefront of a healthcare landscape that increasingly depends on digital solutions.

If you’re looking to become a more tech-savvy nurse, consider enrolling in the LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Wilson College Online. With coursework in informatics and statistics, the program can help you build the skills you need to leverage technology and data for smarter decision-making and better patient outcomes. And with a flexible, asynchronous format, you can balance your studies with your career.

Take the first step toward a more confident, future-ready nursing practice with Wilson College Online.

Recommended Readings

How to Become a Research Nurse

9 Essential Soft Skills for Nursing

LPN vs. RN: Comparing Nursing Roles

Sources:

American Academy of Pediatrics, General Tips in Telehealth Implementation

American Nurses Association, “How Technology Is Changing the Nursing Industry”

American Nurses Association, “What Is Nursing Informatics”

Frontiers in Medicine, “The Integration of AI in Nursing: Addressing Current Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions”

Health Resources and Services Administration, Telehealth Training and Workforce Development

Heliyon, “Nurses’ Perspectives on Privacy and Ethical Concerns Regarding Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Healthcare”

IntelyCare, “Technology in Nursing: 5 Ways Today’s Practice Is Affected”

JMIR Medical Education, “Telehealth Education in Allied Health Care and Nursing: Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey of Students’ Perceived Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, and Experience”

Microsoft, “Microsoft Makes the Promise of AI in Healthcare Real Through New Collaborations With Healthcare Organizations and Partners”

Nursing Outlook, “N.U.R.S.E.S. Embracing Artificial Intelligence: A Guide to Artificial Intelligence Literacy for the Nursing Profession”

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health IT Playbook: Electronic Health Records

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office-Based Physician Electronic Health Record Adoption