Digital nursing schedule outcomes: systematic review

Abstract

Background With the development of informatics in nursing and the advancement of modern technologies, handwriting a schedule on paper has become an obsolete practice. The introduction of electronic timetables in nursing is a measure of the digitalization of nursing, with many different outcomes for both patients and nurses, which can be either positive or negative. The purpose of this literature review is to identify the evidence of the outcomes of digitalization of schedules in nursing. Methods The method used was a systematic review of the literature in electronic databases: CINAHL, Medline, Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, JSTOR and SpringerLink. Seventy-four relevant literature items were identified according to the aim and objective of the study. Results Eleven studies published between 2015 and 2024 were evaluated and critically analysed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist: four systematic literature reviews; three case studies; three quasi-experimental methods and one quantitative descriptive method. Conclusions The literature on electronic schedules in nursing shows a variety of positive and negative impacts on nurses, patients and healthcare organizations. The introduction of electronic schedules in nursing is mainly a positive measure which, if appropriately implemented, leads to better patient health outcomes and increased job satisfaction among nurses.