Pre-Registration Nursing Students’ Perceptions of Digital Health Technology on the Future of Nursing: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Background: Health informatics competencies, digital health education, and nursing students’ perceptions of technology are critical to ensure a future digitally capable health care workforce. Purpose: To explore preregistration students’ perceptions of digital health technology impact on their role as nurses. Methods: Using a qualitative exploratory approach, students from 2 Australian universities were purposively sampled. Data were collected through photo-elicitation from 3 focus groups and thematically analyzed. Photo-elicitation provided reference points to encourage more in-depth exploration. Results: Themes included fear of the unknown and who am I? Nursing in a digital world. Human interaction was fundamental to their nursing role and digital health technology could depersonalize care, creating tension around their reason for choosing a nursing career. Conclusions: Educators should prepare students to redefine their nursing identity by exploring how digital health technology augments their practice and critical thinking skills, while addressing fear of a perceived threat to the future of nursing.