technology and nursing

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jul 30, 2014

I have no idea what you mean by "nursing related instructions". But I am sensing a bit of arrogance in your post. Maybe it is unintended, but you are suggesting that you're special because other nurses are not able to deal effectively with technology. If so, you couldn't be further from the truth. Just because we're nurses does not mean that we aren't highly skilled in other areas. I began programming back in the 80's - learning on my own in order to automate some clinical tasks. Currently, I consider myself a proficient database programmer & I'm very comfortable with languages for web development .... and I am not unique among my nursing colleagues.

There are two categories of healthcare 'technology'; biomedical (equipment) & information. Frankly, the vast majority of working nurses in the us are also "technology literate" - on many different levels - in both areas. There is an incredible amount of equipment involved in acute care clinical services - and all of it is routinely utilized and managed by nurses, including trouble-shooting issues as they arise. If you are referring to software for documentation - that truly is a non-issue. Electronic health records are not the 8th Wonder of the World, they are just a means of documentation.

If you have formal credentials/education in computer science or biomedical technology, don't hesitate to mention this to potential employers. Go ahead and list any additional 'skills' on your resume. However, I doubt whether it will make a difference in obtaining an entry-level nursing job. Humility will pay off in the long run.