title: Developing a smartphone app to support the nursing community.
abstract: Healthcare professionals are turning increasingly to the digital sector to access information they need for their work. Mobile technology, such as smartphones and tablets, provides a unique opportunity to place high-quality information directly into users' hands. This article describes the ongoing development of a smartphone app, Preparing for Caring, designed to prepare the future workforce by enabling mentors and nursing students to access supportive material during practice-based learning episodes. The article explores the rationale for designing the app and discusses the challenges and benefits of developing this resource from the perspectives of student, mentor and healthcare manager.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham City University Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colton
authors.affiliation: Birmingham City University Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology*; D063731:Mobile Applications; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D000068997:Smartphone; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: bring your own device (BYOD); management; mentors; nursing students; practical placements; professional competence; smartphone