Digital Skills in the 21st Century: Understanding the Impact of Digital Literacy on Nurses

The aim of this research is to draw attention to the importance of digital literacy in nursing services. Technological advances have driven global development in an unprecedented manner over the last two decades, leading to significant growth in access and connectivity for billions of people worldwide. Approximately 2.5 billion people own smartphones, and four billion people use social media. Digital literacy now requires not only the ability to use technology on a social level, but also the capacity to analyze and integrate digital information. The increasing demand from the labor market for individuals to be digitally literate has spurred targeted interventions and innovations aimed at equipping the future workforce with necessary digital skills. However, despite these efforts, the digital skills gap remains a global challenge. A digitally enabled profession ensures citizens receive the highest quality healthcare. Health-related infrastructures are rapidly digitalizing, leading to significant improvements in healthcare quality. Digital literacy is crucial for accessing and interpreting data, analyzing medical images, and using technology to enhance patient care. Assessing digital literacy levels within healthcare is an issue that should not be overlooked, as technology plays an increasingly important role in both clinical work and research. It is noted that the digital literacy levels of nursing students vary globally, and there is limited research on the factors that influence these levels. Therefore, academics should prioritize this concept and invest in further research and educational initiatives to improve digital literacy.