Computers and information technologies in psychiatric nursing.
OBJECTIVE
There is an assumption that psychiatric nurses are late adopters of technology because psychiatric nursing has been traditionally viewed as a nontechnological nursing specialty.


OBJECTIVE
This article will review current nursing literature to outline the value and significance of computers and information technologies to psychiatric nursing.


METHODS
Existing bodies of research literature related to computers and information technology for psychiatric nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
Three areas of psychiatric nursing are identified and the specific advantages and benefits of computers and information technologies in each of these areas are discussed. In addition, the importance of informatics competencies for psychiatric nursing practice is reiterated in order to accelerate its acquisition.
Repique
Renee John R
RJ
Payne Whitney Manhattan, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA. rjrrepique@aol.com
D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003197:Computer Literacy; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet; D008492:Medical Informatics Computing; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D009737:Nursing Records; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education