Knowledge development, technology and questions of nursing ethics

Abstract

This article explores emerging ethical questions that result from knowledge development in a complex, technological age. Nursing practice is at a critical ideological and ethical precipice where decision-making is enhanced and burdened by new ways of knowing that include artificial intelligence, algorithms, Big Data, genetics and genomics, neuroscience, and technological innovation. On the positive side is the new understanding provided by large data sets; the quick and efficient reduction of data into useable pieces; the replacement of redundant human tasks by machines, error reduction, pattern recognition, and so forth. However, these innovations require skepticism and critique from a profession whose mission is to care for and protect patients. The promise of technology and the new biological sciences to radically and positively transform healthcare may seem compelling when couched in terms of safety, efficiency, and effectiveness but their role in the provision of ethical nursing care remains uncertain. Given the profound moral and clinical implications of how today’s knowledge is developed and utilized, it is time to reconsider the relationship between ethics and knowledge development in this new uncharted area.

Application Scenarios for Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Care: Rapid Review

“…Turning our attention specifically to nursing care settings, the primary opportunities for applying AI include application scenarios such as decision support in complex care situations [ 3 , 18 , 20 , 21 ]. AI also holds great promise for supporting nurses in tasks considered to take place remotely from direct patient interactions [ 3 , 21 ].…”

Guardians of humanity? The challenges of nursing practice in the digital age

“…The disruption of nursing practice may yield great advantages like improving care processes as well as well-being and quality of life of patients and saving costs (Čaić et al, 2018;Pepito & Locsin, 2019;Piloto et al, 2018). However, several unwanted effects may also arise, for example the dehumanization and depersonalization of nursing practice through an intensified use of technology (Čaić et al, 2018;Griswold Peirce et al, 2019). This has led others to question the relevance of nursing professionals in a digitized health care (Locsin, 2016;Pepito & Locsin, 2019).…”

Artificial Intelligence Assistive Technology in Hospital Professional Nursing Technology

“…The real-time human posture recognition algorithm based on a 3D convolutional network relies on a high-performance GPU (graphics processing unit), which is unsuitable for ordinary households' transfer and transportation care robot systems [ 7 ]. Therefore, to meet the accuracy requirements of joint prediction, especially near-range joint prediction, this paper uses a compromised 2D convolution method instead of 3D convolution.…”