One could argue that of all professions subject to sex-role stereotyping, nurses seem the most severely handicapped, as they are doubly conditioned by society and the medical profession to be deferential and obedient, rather than assertively taking control of their own destiny. This is a view supported by Pizurki et al (1987). This paper will briefly discuss women's experience of science and technology education in their early years, and explore how this may have influenced today's qualified nurses' ability to control development of computing and information technology (IT) in the clinical area. It will then go on to examine the patriarchal influence over the design and implementation of computerized nursing systems which compromises the validity of these systems as quality caring tools. Finally, suggestions will be made of how to make IT education more useful and appropriate for qualified nurses, so empowering them through education as 'an educated work force learns to use technology and ignorant one becomes its victim' (Stonier 1981).
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Badger ME1981Why aren't girls better at maths? In: Czerniewska P (ed) Educational Issues. Unit 22. Gender. Open University Press, Milton Keynes
2.
Ballard1994Have we got it right? An educational perspective on IT education for nurses. In: Wright G, Eaves D (eds) Sharing information - focusing on the patient. British Computer Society Ltd., Surrey, 30—39
3.
Boyd-Barret1990Computers and learning. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company and The Open University, England
4.
Carlisle D.1993Clinical jobs fall while the number of managers rises. In: Jolley M, Brykczynska G (eds) Nursing beyond tradition and conflict . Mosby, London, 124
5.
Czerniewska P.1985Educational issues. Unit 22. Gender. Open University Press, Milton Keynes
6.
Department of Health1989Strategy for nursingHMSO, London
7.
Dyson J., Greaves PJ1995Reality and relevance of information technology in health care. British Journal of Nursing, in press
8.
Foxman D., Martin R., Tuscon J., Cresswell M 1980Mathematics Development. Secondary Survey Report 1. HMSO, London
9.
Gilligan C.1982In a Different Voice. In: Vance C, Talbott S, McBride A, Mason D (eds) An uneasy alliance: nursing and the womens movement. Nursing Outlook33 (6) 281-285
10.
Gribbin M.1984Boys muscle in on the keyboard. New Scientist8
11.
Harding S.1986The science question in feminism. OpenUniversity Press, Milton Keynes
12.
Hubbard1988Some thoughts about the masculinity of the natural sciences. In: McCanney-Gergen M (ed) Feminist thought and the structure of knowledge. New York University Press, New York
13.
Hugman R.1991Power in canng professions. MacMillan Press Ltd, London
14.
Husen T.1967 (ed) International study of achievement in mathematics: A comparison of twelve countries. In: Czerniewska P (eds) Educational Issues. Unit 22. Gender. OpenUniversity Press, Milton Keynes
15.
Jolly M.1995The search for identity. In: Jolley M, Brykczynska G (eds) Nursing beyond tradition and conflict. Mosby, London, 91-109
16.
Jordanova LJ1980Natural facts: a historical perspective on science and sexuality. In: Harding S (ed) The science question in feminism. OpenUniversity Press, Milton Keynes, 45
17.
Keen A.1995Political influences in nursing. In: Jolley M, Brykczynska G (eds) Nursing Beyond Tradition and Conflict. Mosby , London, 111-128
Miller JB1982Colloquium: Women and power. In: Vance C, Talbott S, McBride A, Mason D (eds) An uneasy alliance: nursing and the womens movement. Nursing Outlook33 (6): 281-285
20.
Murray PJ1994HyperCal: hypertext is the future for nurse education to develop their own courseware: Conference Paper. IT - Supporting Professional Education. ENB, NBS, Edinburgh
21.
Perry W., Mornhinweg GC1992Nursing practice: computer literacy. Nursing Management28 (7): 49-52
22.
Pizurki H., Mejia A., Butter I., Ewart L.1987Women as providers of health care. World Health Organization, Switzerland
23.
Posel N.1993Guidelines for the evaluation of instructional software by hospital nursing departments. Computers in Nursing11 (6): 273-276
24.
Romano CA1986Development, implementation, and utilization of a computerized information system for nursing. Nursing Administration Quarterly10 (2): 1-9
25.
Selvin Oda1992Reform in higher education: implications for Nursing. Third International Participative Conference, Nurse Education Tomorrow. University of Durham
26.
Senn JA1990Information systems in management. Fourth Edition. Wadsworth Inc., California
27.
Simpson RL1992The joint commission did what you wouldn't. In: Curtin L (eds) Nursing the system. HBO and Company, USA, 18-21
28.
Stonier1981Changes in western society - educational implications. In: Sculler T (ed) Recurrent education and lifelong learning. Kogan Page, London
29.
Strong JH, Brodt A.1985Assessment of nurses' attitudes to ward computerization . In: Williams FP, Mornhinweg GC (eds) 1992Nursing practice: Promoting computer literacy. Nursing Management23 (7)
30.
Summers S., Carler S., Hoffman J.1993Educational implications of nurses' brain dominance, learning styles and attitudes towards computerization. Journal of Nursing Staff Development9 (1): 35-39
31.
Vance C., Talbott S., McBride A., Mason D.1985An uneasy alliance: nursing and the women's movement. Nursing Outlook33 (6): 281-285
