Nurses, Nurse Entrepreneurs and New Media
Nurses have always been at the forefront of new technologies. From MARs and bedside laptops to alphanumeric pagers and other wireless technologies adapted for the health care setting, nurses often find themselves as “testers” of new technologies that sometimes come to the private sector before they hit the streets, so to speak.
With so-called “new media”, many nurses quickly realized the power of social media, blogging and other digital applications from the beginning. The early nurse bloggers who realized the power of blogging and self-publication basically created the nurse “blogosphere” themselves through self-promotion, reciprocal links and connection with other health care innovators taking advantage of the Internet. They were and are true nurse entrepreneurs.
Some savvy nurses who were already nurse entrepreneurs have consistently used the Internet for marketing and self-promotion, using websites, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and other standard new media tools to move their businesses and professional careers forward. Other nurses saw what was happening online and realized that there was ample opportunity for money to be made by nurse entrepreneurs in these new areas, so those who had not joined the party early on made haste to jump on the bandwagon as soon as they could. Many continue to follow in those footsteps.
Nurse coaches, nurse consultants and other nurse innovators have embraced new media as a vehicle for their personal and professional advancement, and we now find nurse entrepreneurs infiltrating many strategic places within the world of new media, providing content for online venues that serve both other nurses and the general public.
Social media, blogging, coaching, and other forms of nurse entrepreneurship have paved the way for more and more nurses to reshape their lives and careers, leveraging nursing knowledge and new media know-how into new arenas of professional engagement for nurses.
When members of the public think of a nurse as a kindly caregiver in a white cap, uniform and shoes, they are certainly utilizing an outmoded yet persistent image that is still largely propagated by the media. However, many nurses are aggressively redefining exactly what it means to be a nurse and a nurse entrepreneur, and it is our self-definition that will, in the end, define who we as nurses truly are.
@MayHAChealth Your point has been a valid concern for many experienced nurses who are not as familiar with utilizing technology in their practice. Nurses are having to evolve with the technological age as the system seems to be full steam ahead on the HIT train.
As an example, my company provides direct patient care, and we do employ a variety of healthcare professionals with varying degrees of clinical and technological experience. Technology is a very big part of our practice here.
First and foremost, I invest in people. Part of that investment is utilizing technology that will help elevate our practice by decreasing errors, saving time, and essentially allowing us the opportunity to spend more time educating our patients.
Another part of that investment is helping my staff with that huge learning curve that they perceive as daunting. I don't ever want it to feel forced, and from personal experience, nurses feel more comfortable in an offsite (more casual) environment to help facilitate learning. This investment is just part of doing business, and the ROI can be tenfold.
As Anna stated, it's just human nature to resist change. We feel comfortable with routine. It comes down to a little behavior modification. We're an intelligent and dynamic group of professionals. With the right support, we will thrive. If we hold a firm stance on our investment in people (our fellow nurses), then success for both the nurse and the patients we serve isn't far behind.
@MayHAChealth Your point has been a valid concern for many experienced nurses who are not as familiar with utilizing technology in their practice. Nurses are having to evolve with the technological age as the system seems to be full steam ahead on the HIT train. As an example, my company provides direct patient care, and we do employ a variety of healthcare professionals with varying degrees of clinical and technological experience. Technology is a very big part of our practice here. First and foremost, I invest in people. Part of that investment is utilizing technology that will help elevate our practice by decreasing errors, saving time, and essentially allowing us the opportunity to spend more time educating our patients. Another part of that investment is helping my staff with that huge learning curve that they perceive as daunting. I don't ever want it to feel forced, and from personal experience, nurses feel more comfortable in an offsite (more casual) environment to help facilitate learning. This investment is just part of doing business, and the ROI can be tenfold. As Anna stated, it's just human nature to resist change. We feel comfortable with routine. It comes down to a little behavior modification. We're an intelligent and dynamic group of professionals. With the right support, we will thrive. If we hold a firm stance on our investment in people (our fellow nurses), then success for both the nurse and the patients we serve isn't far behind.
Don't you also feel that modern technology is alienating some older, more experienced nurses? We train nursing regarding the adaptation and integration of HIT for home care providers and we often see resistance from older nurses who we feel, are more experienced and in a perfect position to capitalize on IT solutions. However, getting them to embrace a new way to "nurse" is sometimes difficult.
Don't you also feel that modern technology is alienating some older, more experienced nurses? We train nursing regarding the adaptation and integration of HIT for home care providers and we often see resistance from older nurses who we feel, are more experienced and in a perfect position to capitalize on IT solutions. However, getting them to embrace a new way to "nurse" is sometimes difficult.
@MayHAChealth The adoption of new technologies by older, more experienced nurses is an interesting thing. Personally, I have witnessed both resistance and open embrace. I think that across the board as human beings regardless of our age, we tend to be resistant to change. However, I do acknowledge that sometimes technology can be intimidating to nurses who are not accustomed to relying on it in their daily lives or their places of work.
It is incumbent upon those who are introducing the technology within the workplace, for example, to provide ample support, training, and resources for all nurses who are expected to adapt to the change, including the older, more experienced nurses.
Truly, the introduction of technology can NEVER replace the central role that seasoned experience plays in the delivery of quality healthcare. And institutions will forget that lesson at their own peril.
@MayHAChealth The adoption of new technologies by older, more experienced nurses is an interesting thing. Personally, I have witnessed both resistance and open embrace. I think that across the board as human beings regardless of our age, we tend to be resistant to change. However, I do acknowledge that sometimes technology can be intimidating to nurses who are not accustomed to relying on it in their daily lives or their places of work. It is incumbent upon those who are introducing the technology within the workplace, for example, to provide ample support, training, and resources for all nurses who are expected to adapt to the change, including the older, more experienced nurses. Truly, the introduction of technology can NEVER replace the central role that seasoned experience plays in the delivery of quality healthcare. And institutions will forget that lesson at their own peril.