Discussion:
For my advanced practice nursing degree, my area of interest is nursing informatics. A nursing theory that I find extremely relevant to this field is Rozzano Locsin's technological competency as caring in nursing theory. According to this theory, "technology and caring coexist and are used to know persons as caring - more fully as participants in their care rather than as objects of care," (Locsin, 2016). As the use of technology continues to expand exponentially in nursing, clinicians are often faced with the issue of how to maintain patient centered care as a priority in nursing in the face of increasing technological advancements and expectations as they relate to these advancements. Locsin's nursing theory can be used to guide the resolution of this concern because it shows that technology and caring are not mutually exclusive, but rather technology can actually lead to increased abilities to care for a patient.
For example, I once had a patient that was pregnant and was admitted to my unit with transaminitis. The patient was taking a number of medications and expressed concern about how her baby was doing in light of this. This was clearly stressful for her, so I called her OB-GYN to see if we could get a fetal ultrasound ordered for her. The exam was cleared and when I told the patient, she was so relieved. The exam showed the baby was doing well and my patient thanked me so much. Through having this technology available, I was able to better care for my patient. This deepened our relationship and the trust that the patient had for me, and this ultimately lead to better patient outcomes.
If nurses apply Locsin's theory to their practices, they will find that technology does not supersede caring, but it instead compliments and facilitates caring. They will see that technology leads to increased efficiency and that having the right tools will allow them to offer the best possible care to their patients.