Original scientific paper

VIRTUAL COMMUNICATION IN NURSING – ARE WE READY?

IVICA MATIĆ ; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
JOSIPA KERN ; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
ROSANA SVETIĆ ČIŠIĆ ; Sveta Katarina Hospital, Zabok, Croatia
NIKOLINA MATIĆ ; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Electronic correspondence is undeniably important in professional communication, education, research and development of a profession. As for others, it is also crucial for development of the nursing profession. Even though e-mail today is a very important tool in the healthcare system, it has not been given sufficient attention yet. There are numerous examples of poor communication, and the answers are often hidden behind attitudes and knowledge of communicators. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the level of knowledge and attitudes of nurses about electronic communication. The research has shown that even though the nurses have positive attitudes about electronic communication and a desire to acquire new knowledge, they do not attend computer science courses nor did they have proper IT training while at school. Only 17% of the interviewees gave satisfactory answers to the survey about the knowledge of e-mail. This result can be indicative of the total knowledge of information and communication technology, signaling the need to implement an organized IT education of nurses, which is a necessary requirement for professional development and better functioning of the healthcare system.

Keywords

e-mail; nursing; informatics competencies

Hrčak ID:

117950

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/117950

Publication date:

19.3.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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