Background Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the promise of supporting nurses’ clinical decision-making in complex care situations or conducting tasks that are remote from direct patient interaction, such as documentation processes. There has been an increase in the research and development of AI applications for nursing care, but there is a persistent lack of an extensive overview covering the evidence base for promising application scenarios. Objective This study synthesizes literature on application scenarios for AI in nursing care settings as well as highlights adjacent aspects in the ethical, legal, and social discourse surrounding the application of AI in nursing care. Methods Following a rapid review design, PubMed, CINAHL, Association for Computing Machinery Digital Library, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Xplore, Digital Bibliography & Library Project, and Association for Information Systems Library, as well as the libraries of leading AI conferences, were searched in June 2020. Publications of original quantitative and qualitative research, systematic reviews, discussion papers, and essays on the ethical, legal, and social implications published in English were included. Eligible studies were analyzed on the basis of predetermined selection criteria. Results The titles and abstracts of 7016 publications and 704 full texts were screened, and 292 publications were included. Hospitals were the most prominent study setting, followed by independent living at home; fewer application scenarios were identified for nursing homes or home care. Most studies used machine learning algorithms, whereas expert or hybrid systems were entailed in less than every 10th publication. The application context of focusing on image and signal processing with tracking, monitoring, or the classification of activity and health followed by care coordination and communication, as well as fall detection, was the main purpose of AI applications. Few studies have reported the effects of AI applications on clinical or organizational outcomes, lacking particularly in data gathered outside laboratory conditions. In addition to technological requirements, the reporting and inclusion of certain requirements capture more overarching topics, such as data privacy, safety, and technology acceptance. Ethical, legal, and social implications reflect the discourse on technology use in health care but have mostly not been discussed in meaningful and potentially encompassing detail. Conclusions The results highlight the potential for the application of AI systems in different nursing care settings. Considering the lack of findings on the effectiveness and application of AI systems in real-world scenarios, future research should reflect on a more nursing care–specific perspective toward objectives, outcomes, and benefits. We identify that, crucially, an advancement in technological-societal discourse that surrounds the ethical and legal implications of AI applications in nursing care is a necessary next step. Further, we outline the need for greater participation among all of the stakeholders involved.

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Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Pflegebedürftige sind als hoch vulnerable Gruppe von der COVID-19-Pandemie besonders betroffen. Aufgrund ihrer Abhängigkeit von körpernahen Unterstützungsleistungen können Maßnahmen sozialer Distanzierung für sie aber nur sehr eingeschränkt durchgeführt werden. Zudem sind die sozialen und gesundheitlichen Folgen von Kontaktreduktionen für Pflegeheimbewohner_innen besonders hoch. Ziele: Die Studie erhebt die Verbreitung von COVID-19 in Pflegeheimen, die personellen und materiellen Ressourcen der Pflegeheime, den organisatorischen Umgang mit der Situation und die Unterstützungswünsche der Pflegeheime an die Pflegepolitik. Methode: Mehr als 7000 Pflegeheime wurden zur Teilnahme an einer Online-Befragung mit quantitativen und qualitativen Elementen eingeladen (Gelegenheitsstichprobe). Bei einem Rücklauf von 11,4 % liegen Fragebögen von 824 Heimen vor. Diese Daten wurden deskriptiv ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: 824 Pflegeheime nahmen an der Befragung teil. Jedes fünfte Heim hat mindestens einen laborbestätigten Fall von SARS-CoV-2 unter seinen Bewohner_innen und / oder Beschäftigten. Der anfänglich deutliche Mangel an Schutzausrüstung ist inzwischen zurückgegangen, allerdings müssen die Einrichtungen mit verringerten Personalressourcen einen Corona-bedingten Mehraufwand bewältigen. Pflegeheime haben Außenkontakte in einem Maße reduziert, das nun wieder zurückgefahren werden muss. Unterstützungswünsche der Pflegeheime richten sich auf die Bereitstellung und zusätzliche Finanzierung von Schutzausrüstung und Sachmitteln sowie die systematische und regelmäßige Testung der Pflegekräfte und die Bereitstellung bundeseinheitlicher Handlungsanweisungen. Schlussfolgerung: Pflegeheime bedürfen besonderer Aufmerksamkeit, da etwa die Hälfte aller mit COVID-19 Verstorbenen zuvor in Pflegeheimen gelebt haben. Notwendig ist insbesondere die Sicherstellung einer ausreichenden Versorgung mit Schutzausrüstung, die Schulung der Mitarbeitenden und die Durchführung von regelmäßigen Reihentests.

Introduction: Even though the importance of nurses' participation in the process of technology development is frequently stressed by stakeholders, participation has been described as negligible and limited by nurses' abilities to identify and communicate their needs and ideas for application scenarios or the improvement of digital nursing technologies (DNT) in everyday care practice. Prior research often uses hypothetical scenarios or laboratory settings with little real-world relevance, and the number of studies investigating needs for technology development, application scenarios or requested technologies from the perspective of nurses with experience in technology use is exceedingly small. Against this background, this study aims to investigate needs, application scenarios and perspectives of nurses with practical experience in real-world DNT application in a range of different care settings. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed methods design including an online survey (QUANT) and focus group (FG) discussions (qual) was used to explore nurses' perspectives and experiences. A convenience sample of participants was accessed via 19,000 e-mail contacts of directors of nursing (DONs) in care facilities and hospitals throughout Germany. Preliminary results of the online survey were discussed and elaborated in depth in three FGs. Quantitative results of the online survey were included in the development of the interview guideline for and data collection from the FGs. Descriptive, settingspecific analysis was conducted for quantitative data, and qualitative data was analysed by identifying key aspects. Results: A total of 1,335 participants took part in the online survey, most of whom worked in ambulatory care institutions and held management positions such as DON or team leader. There were 14 FG participants. Ninety-five per cent of the participants of the online survey reported having experience in the use of DNT, predominantly with information and communication technologies (ICT). Overall, DNT were deemed to make work easier, and participants concurred on other positive effects such as increased efficiency or saved time and improved quality of care. Negative effects or concerns were reported less frequently. Reasons for non-adoption included technology-related (e.g. usability, functionality) and non-technologyrelated (e.g. competencies and context factors) issues, and facilitators for adoption were discussed in the FGs. Key aspects of application scenarios were enhanced technological support of direct nursing care tasks to reduce physical burden and mental stressors. Specifically, participants of the FGs expressed their wish for participative development and a general openness for nurses to be included in the development and testing of digital technologies. Discussion and conclusion: Although efforts in development, research and theory-building have been increasing over recent years, DNT that go beyond more traditional or common applications within the ICT category (such as electronic nursing records or proces...

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Pflegebedürftige sind aufgrund des Alters, bestehenden Vorerkrankungen und der Schwere von Krankheitsverläufen von der COVID-19-Pandemie besonders betroffen. Eine Vielzahl täglicher direkter Kontakte von Pflegekräften und Pflegebedürftigen erhöhen die Gefahr für eine Übertragung der Erkrankung. Ziel: Die Studie zielt darauf ab, (I) Fallzahlen ambulanter Pflegedienste und teilstationärer Pflegeeinrichtungen in Zusammenhang mit COVID-19, (II) personelle und materielle Ressourcen, (III) die Versorgungssituation von Pflegebedürftigen und (IV) den organisatorischen Umgang mit der Pandemiesituation zu beschreiben sowie Unterstützungswünsche an die Politik zu skizzieren. Methoden: Mehr als 12 000 ambulante und teilstationäre Pflegeeinrichtungen wurden zur Teilnahme an einer Online-Befragung eingeladen (Gelegenheitsstichprobe), 701 Pflegedienste (Rücklauf 7,3 %) und 96 teilstationäre Einrichtungen (Rücklauf 3,5 %) nahmen teil. Ergebnisse: Fast ein Drittel der befragten Pflegedienste (30,1 %, 189 / 627) sind durch (Verdachts-)Fälle von COVID-19 bei Klient_innen betroffen. Jeweils etwa die Hälfte der Dienste berichten von einer verringerten Inanspruchnahme von SGB V- (47,6 %, 288 / 605) bzw. SGB XI-Leistungen (59,7 %, 375 / 628). Zwei Drittel der teilstationären Einrichtungen (65,6 %, 63 / 96) geben an, aufgrund der Pandemie derzeit geschlossen zu sein. Ebenso berichteten fast die Hälfte der Dienste (45,8 %, 253 / 552), dass die Versorgung bei verringerter Leistungsinanspruchnahme von ambulanten Leistungen gefährdet / instabil oder sogar nicht sichergestellt sei. Schlussfolgerung: Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass ambulant versorgten Pflegebedürftigen in der vorliegenden Pandemie – und auch mit Blick auf eine mögliche zweite Welle – eine erhöhte Aufmerksamkeit in Bezug auf prekäre Versorgungssituationen zukommen sollte.

Zusammenfassung Das Virus SARS-CoV‑2 und die damit einhergehende Erkrankung COVID-19 stellen die Gesundheitssysteme weltweit vor große Herausforderungen. Besonders die vulnerable Gruppe pflegebedürftiger Menschen in der Langzeitpflege ist gefährdet, schwere Krankheitsverläufe zu erleiden oder an der Infektion zu versterben. In einer bundesweiten Querschnittsstudie wurden mittels einer Onlinebefragung die Situation und die Bedarfe stationärer und ambulanter Langzeitpflegeeinrichtungen während der SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie erfasst und analysiert. Konkret forderten Teilnehmende aus 531 Einrichtungen einheitliche Handlungsempfehlungen zu SARS-CoV‑2, ausreichende und finanzierbare Schutz- und Hygienematerialien, Reihentestungen in den Einrichtungen, fundierte Beratung bei der Umsetzung von Maßnahmen, einen konkreten Pandemieplan und unterstützende Öffentlichkeitsarbeit in den Medien. Dazu wurden eine höhere Vergütung der Pflegenden, eine bessere Personalausstattung und stärkere Wertschätzung der pflegerischen Profession gefordert. Um die vulnerable Gruppe pflegebedürftiger Menschen vor einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion zu schützen, muss die Langzeitpflege stärker in den Fokus der gesundheitspolitischen Maßnahmen während der Pandemie gerückt werden.

Background: Digital nursing technologies (DNT) comprise an expanding, highly diverse field of research, explored using a wide variety of methods and tools. Study results are therefore difficult to compare, which raises the question how effectiveness of DNT can be adequately measured. Methods currently used might not be sufficient for certain specific nursing contexts. A comprehensive outcome framework that shows the multitude of possible outcome areas could be useful to generate more comparable results. The aim of the present study is to develop an outcome framework for DNT and to indicate which outcome areas have been most frequently evaluated in previous studies and how this has been done. Methods: We combined an inductive and deductive approach to develop the framework. The numerical analysis is based on a scoping review focussing on the effectiveness of DNT for persons in need of care, formal or informal caregivers or care institutions. Nine databases were included in the screening: Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, the Collection of Computer Science Bibliographies, GeroLit and CareLit. Additional literature searches and expert interviews were included. Results: The developed framework comprises four outcome target groups and 47 outcome areas. There are considerable differences in the researched outcome areas for the individual outcome target groups. Persons in need of care were by far the most frequently surveyed, particularly with respect to their psychological health. There are much fewer studies on formal and informal caregivers, and it is particularly noticeable that the quality of life of both groups has rarely been investigated. Care process quality was most frequently researched for organisations.

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the social health of nursing home residents with dementia due to social isolation. Consequently, the frequency of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD) might increase. Technological solutions might help safeguard the social health of nursing home residents with dementia. This study investigates the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical outcomes and the availability of social activities and technology to promote social participation in nursing home residents with dementia. The study analyzed cross-sectional data from a follow-up questionnaire nested in a larger national survey of care facilities in Germany. A mixed-methods approach integrated statistical analyses of closed-ended responses and thematic analysis of free-text responses. A total of 417 valid individual responses were received, showing an overall increase in observed BPSD—with anxiety and depression most frequently occurring. Many nursing homes canceled all social activities for residents with dementia, though a few had established procedures to facilitate social participation using technology. Requirements to promote social participation in this population using technology were identified at the micro-, meso-, and macro levels. Technology requirements permeated all three levels. During and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, technology-driven solutions to promote social health among nursing home residents with dementia should be integrated into caregiving procedures.