The preparation of technologically literate graduates for professional practice

The impact of information and communication technology has been felt globally and the health-care sector is not immune to the changes brought about by the introduction of new technologies. In contemporary clinical practice environments, information and communication technology skills are advantageous, not only to nurses, but also to the patients for whom they care. There is good evidence that these skills, appropriately utilised, can have a significant impact on patient outcomes. This scholarly paper presents the background to a project that explores graduate nurses' experiences of using information and communication technology in clinical contexts. A broad historical overview of the implementation of information and communication technology in higher education and healthcare in Australia is provided before discussing the extent to which the technology skills learnt at university are relevant or transferable to contemporary practice environments. The current levels and use of information and communication technology among new graduate nurses, the apparent dichotomy between technological versus humanised healthcare, and the need for national information and communication technology competency standards are discussed.