334 ■ III: ROLE FUNCTIONS OF DOCTORAL ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE
residency where they receive further training in patient safety, simulation, and addi-
tional technologies. Providing research and technology- related training to develop and
maintain skills is essential to success within an academic program and can assist with
answering clinically related questions in the future.
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IMPACTING HEALTH CARE
We live in an era of rapid technological innovation. Emerging technologies are driving ex-
ponential change in health care and may have the potential to improve outcomes. Clearly,
we cannot predict what impact technologies will have— whether positive or negative or
perhaps a bit of both. It is, however, imperative that the doctoral APN be aware of these
technologies in order to maximize the potential benefits to patients. Carsten Stahl (2011)
concedes that the future is often unpredictable but believes with focused analysis one
can make some reasonable predictions regarding the emerging technologies and their po-
tential impact on health care ( Table 14.4 ). In addition, Jayanthi (2014) also describes the
positive impact that technological advances have had upon health care delivery over the
past decade. “Devices like smartphones and tablets are starting to replace conventional
monitoring and recording systems, and people are now given the option of undergoing a
full clinical consultation in the privacy of their own homes. Technological advancements
in health care have contributed to services being taken out of the confines of hospital walls
and integrating them with user- friendly, accessible devices” (Jayanthi, 2014, para 2).
LIFELONG LEARNING: KEEPING SKILLS UP TO DATE
LONG AFTER GRADUATION
Lifelong learning is a core value that must be embraced by the doctoral APN. New in-
formation and emerging technologies that can improve health care, health care systems,
and patient outcomes are made available daily. It is an overwhelming task to keep up
with the flow of information. There are several strategies and technological tools that can
assist doctoral APNs in keeping up to date. These include: (a) keeping research- related
skills current; (b) reference alerts, also known as Selected Dissemination of Information
(SDIs); (c) Web 2.0 tools such as RSS and Twitter; (d) Web 3.0 tools, (e) personal learning
environments (Dreher, 2009a, 2009b); and (f) clinical information resources. Some of the
web resources to explore these strategies are included in Table 14.5.
Keeping research- related skills up to date can be challenging. Bibliographic data-
bases such as MEDLINE are not static works. New information is added on a routine
basis. In addition, valuable features such as subject headings/ controlled vocabulary and
interfaces that allow researchers to more easily search for new information from endless
sources that rapidly change. Furthermore, databases are not just often updated some-
times completely redesigned. Bibliographic management tools receive these updates
when new versions are released. Moreover, even publication styles can change (e.g., the
second printing of the new Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association,
Sixth Edition [updated from the previous fifth edition] was released in October 2009).
There are ways to address these needs in traditional or remote settings. Many
libraries offer assistance via telephone, e- mail, and instant messaging. Other forms of
contact include collaborative learning software applications, such as Webex, Zoom, or
Adobe Connect, which allow information to be shared in a synchronous or asynchro-
nous fashion via a recorded archive.