Digitalization and Technological Innovations in Surgical Nursing

The writers of this chapter claim that in surgical nursing, digitalization and technical developments have drastically changed patient care procedures. Digital tools including electronic health records, artificial intelligence-supported decision systems, wearable devices, simulation technologies and augmented reality have helped nurses to make clinical decisions, guarantee patient safety and raise the quality of treatment. Furthermore underlining the need of digital capabilities in professional growth are redefining nurse roles in robotic surgical applications and supporting nursing education with simulations. Although telehealth technologies provide access and flexibility to help surgery patients follow-up, the ethical and legal aspects of digital applications also provide significant topics of conversation. This chapter explores in a multidimensional sense the consequences of digital change on surgical nursing practices.