The nature of technology has effected American society and my role as a nurse in an immeasurable way. Every time I think about past technology and future technology my mine is overwhelmed with the possibilities. As I watched the YouTube video for this assignment I was reminded of how small the United States is, and how impressionable other countries are on our society. I think this realization of how small we are compared to other countries sums up the effect technology has had on American society. Before the internet, the message delivered to the American population was controlled. Therefore, the Americans heard only what other Americans wanted them to hear. Sure there is freedom of speech and freedom of the press but I feel like when a story was published or reported there was a strong emphasis on how great the US was and how ideal the American people were. Now, with access to information from all over the world, the American society has been educated on how great other countries are, and also have been educated on how large of a threat those other countries have the potential of being. Lastly, I think technology has opened a new door of fear for the American society because there are so many unknowns about technology, and at the rate technology has grown and how quickly it has evolved, the American society now has the fear of, is my role is society going to be eliminated and am I needed to help society function? With corporations outsourcing and thinking of cheaper faster ways to achieve quality and quantity, technological advancements tend to be the answer which eliminates "the man."
As a nurse, technology in my opinion has made medicine better, safer, and more efficient. With electronic bar code scanning, IV pumps that eliminate human calculation error, robot arms that conduct surgery more precisely, and electronic charting that can communicate from one medical facility to another, technology in my opinion has brought a piece of mind to patients and families.
On the other hand, there is still room for error, and room for patient's and families to track every step and nurse or doctor has made. This can make it easy for a patient or family to file a litigation against a hospital. There are still people working the technology, and sometimes I think healthcare workers forget this fact as well as patients and families. There is never a "for sure" when you are dealing with people. Everyone is different, everyone thinks different, and everyone responds to medical treatment different. As an American society we forget this.
I liked what you said about remembering there is still error with technology. I wrote about how we have become socially lazy, but I also think there is potential for us to become lazy at our jobs when we become too dependent on technology. As nurses, we still need the double check even though there is a computer with scanners. I also found it interesting how you said technology has made medicine better. I agree with you. But, I recently read an article in TIME magazine about the cost of healthcare, and it got me questioning alot of things I know about healthcare. In so many other areas, technology has assisted in driving down costs (i.e. manufacturing, retail, etc...). Healthcare is pretty much the only area that we have seen a rise in cost with technological advances. Why is this? My own personal opinion is that technology itself isn't driving up costs- it's the people behind the technology (i.e. administration, device and pharmaceutical companies). Just something interesting to think about.
ReplyDeleteThe changes in technology I feel also have benefited nursing and healthcare. I also feel it has created new issues whether it is in the healthcare setting or in society. I have found this especially when researching for class the availability of information that not only U.S. has but also internationally. This allows for the information to not just be one-sided like Darcie discussed in her blog.
ReplyDeleteWhile growing up and through my studies, there was the start of getting more control from the "man." But I feel that with some of the technology that is out there the "man," is gaining more control and there will be more censorship. I feel the advancement of technology will be controlled to benefit the elitist and the common person will lose out.