The Future of Nursing in a Digital Age:

Victoria L. Tiase Marcus D. Henderson The future of nursing is undoubtedly bright. As problem-solvers, change-makers and innovators, nurses are poised to leverage the new digital health technologies that are flooding the marketplace globally. These new health solutions include mobile applications (apps), telehealth tools, wearables and sensors that engage patients in lifestyle, wellness and health-related services—to empower patients to take greater control of their own health. Over the last few years, we have witnessed not only the proliferation of digital health technologies and their potential to transform access to care, but also how their use in conjunction with nursing practice has the potential to reshape the healthcare ecosystem. There are already new opportunities for nurses to use these expanded data sources to accelerate nursing research and test new care models. These advances in turn will inform nursing education, impact nursing practice and transform health policy. This chapter maps out how technology and the availability of data to nurses will impact the nurse–patient relationship and create new roles and paradigms for communication. Nurses will assume leadership roles such as entrepreneurs as well as industry and community leaders using digital tools and social determinants of health (SDOH) data to address care gaps and inequities. Nurses must plan and prepare for the anticipated future of leveraging data and technologies to provide personalized care, address population needs and advocate for equitable care for all.