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CHAPTER

24

Rozzano C. Locsin

Technological Competency

as Caring and the

Practice of Knowing

Persons as Whole

Introducing the Theory

Summary

References

There is a great demand for a practice of nursing

that is based on the authentic intention to know
human beings fully as persons rather than as ob-
jects of care. Nursing intends and desires to use
creative, imaginative, and innovative ways of af-
firming, appreciating, and celebrating human be-
ings as whole persons. Often, the best way to realize
these intentions is through expert and competent
use of nursing technologies (Locsin, 1998).
Oftentimes perceived as the practice of using
machine technologies in nursing (Locsin, 1995),

technological competency as caring in nursing is

the practice of knowing persons as whole (Locsin,

2001), frequently with the use of varying technolo-

gies. Contemporary definitions of technology in-

clude a means to an end, an instrument, a tool, or a

human activity that increases or enhances efficiency

(Heidegger, 1977). Conceptualizing technology and

caring in nursing practice as a dichotomy continues

to invigorate the debate that their coexistence is

crucial to the understanding of technological com-

petency as an expression of caring in nursing.

Rozzano C. Locsin