Reflections on technology: increasing the science but diminishing the art of nursing?

Abstract

Technology has had a huge impact on the delivery of health care over the last 10–20 years and although this has been, in general, in the Intensive Care (ICU) environment, the Accident and Emergency (A & E) department has not been immune from technical developments and innovations, a trend that looks destined to continue. The impact of technological developments has given rise to much nursing literature relating to the effects technology has had in ‘dehumanizing’ the patients in their care, as critical care nurses in all fields endeavour to balance the need for technical competence with the traditional and still important traditional arts of nursing. This paper explores some of the definitions and terminology surrounding technology, nursing, art and science in an attempt to illustrate that technical proficiency, scientific knowledge and nursing artistry can be combined by skilled nurses to achieve a balance of care which preserves the humanity and dignity of patients and their relatives in a critical care environment.