The Future of Nursing
Emerging Trends, Technologies, and Opportunities for Aspiring Nurses
If there’s one thing nurses can count on throughout their careers, it’s change. In our collective pursuit of a healthier world, the medical field is constantly innovating—and nurses are often at the forefront of implementing the latest discoveries.
From emerging technologies like AI and robotics to tools that help providers communicate better with patients or colleagues, the future of nursing has many exciting things on the horizon. There’s also a growing focus on collaboration, inclusivity, and patient-centered care, all of which can lead to better outcomes for patients and healthcare facilities alike.
Staying informed on emerging technologies and trends can help nurses deliver better patient care and succeed tremendously in their careers. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most notable advances nurses can expect to encounter in coming years, as well as some of the opportunities that should arise as a result.
Emerging Technologies in Nursing
Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the popularity of telehealth skyrocketed as nurses needed a way to meet care demands while minimizing in-person contact with vulnerable patients. This was particularly important for patients with chronic conditions who needed frequent monitoring or patients in rural or underserved areas with limited access to care.
Since the pandemic, telehealth has continued its impact on nursing, and that trend looks to continue well into the future. Telehealth appointments are often much more convenient for patients and can also help nurses use their time more efficiently. At the same time, telehealth requires nurses to learn new skills—assessing a patient through a virtual interface requires a different approach from an in-person appointment.
Remote patient monitoring is also certain to change the future of nursing, as it provides healthcare teams with important health data that can guide a patient’s care plan. Nurses can use these insights to identify issues before they escalate and deliver higher-quality patient care while also prioritizing their time and tasks more effectively.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
The rapid rise of AI and machine learning has led to numerous applications in nursing and healthcare. Because computers can analyze vast quantities of healthcare data in seconds, AI shows great promise for helping nurses make more informed patient-care decisions.
Predictive analytics are one of the most encouraging uses of AI in nursing. AI tools can analyze patient histories and real-time health data to predict the chances of a patient’s condition worsening or their likelihood of hospital readmission. By putting nurses on alert for the most likely complications, AI can enable earlier interventions and lead to better care for patients.
AI-based healthcare tools can also help nurses improve medication management by flagging potential drug interactions and even suggesting recommended dosages based on a patient’s health data. AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots also have the potential to free up time for nurses by answering common patient questions, freeing up nurses for more hands-on tasks.
Aside from the patient-care applications of AI, it’s also becoming increasingly common to help train the next generation of nurses. Learn more about how AI is transforming nursing education.
Wearable Health Technology
From smartwatches and fitness trackers to dedicated medical equipment, wearable health technology has come a long way in recent years. The ability to track health metrics like heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, and oxygen saturation can provide healthcare teams with insights that shape a patient’s care plan.
By providing nurses and other care providers with objective data, these wearable devices enable honest and open conversations with patients and any changes that may be necessary to accomplish their health goals.
Robotics in Nursing Care
While robots won’t be replacing human nurses any time soon, they have the potential to revolutionize many aspects of healthcare delivery. Robotic assistants can help nurses with physically demanding tasks like lifting and moving patients, reducing the risk of injuries from awkward positions or repetitive motions. Robots may also be used to help dispense medication and have the potential to reduce errors and infections when handling sterile pharmaceuticals.
AI-equipped robots can help nurses monitor patients remotely and sound the alarm in case intervention is required. These types of applications could be especially useful in treating patients with infectious diseases while minimizing risk to healthcare workers. Certain high-precision tasks in surgical and patient-care settings may also be improved by robotics, allowing nurses more time to focus on tasks that require critical thinking.
Current Trends in Nursing
Focus on Patient-Centered Care
Traditionally, most patient interactions with healthcare providers were decidedly one-way, with doctors and nurses taking a paternalistic approach to care decisions. But as the healthcare landscape has evolved, there’s been a dramatic shift toward care that considers a patient’s individuality, values, and circumstances.
The trend toward patient-centered care also means that rather than simply addressing a patient’s most pressing health issues, nurses look at their patients more holistically—with consideration for the social, emotional, and cultural factors that also influence health outcomes.
Delivering patient-centered care requires nurses to communicate effectively and with empathy to understand each patient’s concerns and walk them through their options. Particularly as the future of nursing becomes increasingly reliant on technology, nurses with polished “soft skills” should be highly valued for their ability to connect with patients.
Interprofessional Collaboration
In the past, healthcare teams functioned in silos, largely separated from one another. However, the move toward more holistic care models has encouraged a new level of collaboration between providers—including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, social workers, and others.
Collaboration between different healthcare disciplines helps to address the overall picture of a patient’s health rather than treating one symptom at a time. A collaborative approach between care teams often leads to more satisfied patients and better health outcomes—which in turn leads to more successful healthcare organizations. Interprofessional collaboration also encourages better working relationships between healthcare providers and creates opportunities for growth as they learn from one another’s expertise.
Diversity and Inclusivity in Nursing
Healthcare leaders and policymakers are increasingly recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusivity in nursing. A nursing workforce that reflects the varied backgrounds of their patients facilitates better communication with people from different cultures. It also makes for healthier organizations, thanks to a variety of perspectives from people with different lived experiences.
Aside from the benefits to individual patients, diversity in nursing can also help create healthier communities, thanks to outreach and awareness programs that connect with underserved populations. From health education to preventative care, inclusivity is the driving force behind solving systemic inequities—both within healthcare and beyond.
Continued Education and Lifelong Learning
Rapid advances in treatments, technologies, and medical knowledge mean nurses are never really done learning. Whether it’s new devices, software platforms, or patient-care techniques, most nurses will have to adapt and evolve their way of working multiple times throughout their careers.
To provide the highest-quality care for their patients, nurses must remain proactive in keeping their skills and understanding up to date. Continuing education gives nurses more tools to draw upon when treating patients and can also lead to lucrative career advancement opportunities.
Most of the highest-paying nursing jobs—like nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, or nurse midwives, for example—are specialized roles that require additional schooling and certifications beyond a BSN degree.
Opportunities for Aspiring Nurses
Specialization in Emerging Fields
As the future of nursing takes shape, the healthcare industry is bound to see new career
opportunities for nurses who keep their skills current. Modern medicine’s growing reliance on huge amounts of health data should lead to a rising demand for nursing informatics—a career that combines clinical expertise with technological prowess.
Advances in genomic science are also creating opportunities in genetic nursing, both in research labs and clinical environments. Genetics nurses help detect and treat hereditary conditions and use their advanced training to customize treatment plans and educate families about genetic health issues and risk factors.
Other emerging nursing specialties include public health nursing, forensic nursing, and nurses who specialize in disaster preparedness and response. All of these fields rely on the latest advances in science, technology, and data analytics—and the perspective of a trained healthcare provider.
Telehealth Nursing Careers
The rapid adoption of telehealth has led to expanding remote work opportunities for tech-savvy nurses. Delivering high-quality telehealth care requires a unique skill set—including learning new technology, effective digital-first communication, and adapting patient-assessment skills to a virtual platform.
Remote case management is a common career for telehealth nurses—often related to coordinating care for patients with chronic conditions. In this field, nurses provide education and support to help patients stick to their treatment plans, and determine when in-person follow-ups may be necessary.
Triage is another growing career in telehealth nursing, where nurses remotely provide initial patient assessments. Remote triage can help prioritize medical resources to keep facilities running smoothly and ensure each patient receives the appropriate care.
Leadership and Advocacy Roles
The experience and perspective nurses gain from years on the clinical floor are incredibly valuable in several leadership and advocacy roles. Their frontline experience is irreplaceable for creating policies and procedures that keep patients safe and encourage healthcare professionals to thrive.
From clinical supervisors to the executive suite, high-performing nurses have many potential paths to mentor their peers and move into leadership positions. Nurses can also move into advocacy roles like patient liaisons, public health policy advisors, and community health leaders. For nurses with leadership ambitions, getting involved in professional organizations is an excellent way to gain experience serving on leadership committees and contributing to policymaking efforts.
Global Health Initiatives
As our world becomes increasingly connected, nurses are a key part of global initiatives to address health inequities and promote public health. Nurses are almost always on the front lines of humanitarian and disaster-relief efforts, both of which will remain in demand as the world confronts the effects of a changing climate. Nurses are also essential for education and prevention efforts in under-served areas and for teaching communities how to do the most good with limited resources.
Nurses who want to get involved on the global scale can find volunteer opportunities through many professional groups or nonprofits–or seek out employment with international health organizations or government agencies.
Essential Skills for Future Nurses
If you’re considering a career in nursing, these are some of the most important skills you’ll need to navigate an evolving healthcare industry:
Technological proficiency – Nurses who can easily embrace new tools and technologies will have an advantage as medical technology advances.
Critical thinking and problem-solving – As some routine tasks become less hands-on, nurses’ clinical decision-making will become more important than ever.
Cultural competence – As our collective cultural understanding grows, nurses must stay up to date to provide culturally sensitive care to every patient.
Communication and interpersonal skills – Communication methods may evolve, but the importance of making other people feel understood remains constant.
Adaptability and resilience – Nurses must be willing to change how they’ve done things in the past and find healthy outlets to cope with workplace stress.
Data analysis and interpretation – As data continues to revolutionize healthcare, nurses who sharpen their analytical skills can stand out from their peers.
Prepare for the Future of Nursing at Provo College
Although the nursing field is certain to undergo significant changes in the coming years, there will also be a plethora of new opportunities for nurses to carve out fulfilling and successful careers.
When choosing a nursing college, be sure to select one with an updated curriculum and facilities to reflect the latest developments in healthcare. Training with the same technology you’ll encounter in real clinical environments can make a major impact on your employment prospects after graduation.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Provo College specializes in training career-ready nurses, thanks to modern simulation labs and instructors with years of firsthand experience. By the time you graduate, you’ll be prepared to confidently face a changing healthcare landscape head-on.
Want to learn more about what it takes to achieve a career in nursing? Check out our detailed guide on how to become a registered nurse.
