Name and Surname: assoc. prof. Melita Peršolja, PhD
Links: ARIS 29222
E-mail: melita.persolja@fvz.upr.si

Research facility (research activity location)

Univerza na Primorskem, Fakulteta za vede o zdravju
Zdravstvene ustanove po Sloveniji

Research field according to ARIS classification
Science: Medicine
Field: Public Health

Summary of research topic and field

Digitalization of nursing is a key component of the broader digital transformation of health care systems, as it can contribute to greater accuracy, safety, and efficiency of nursing work. The central element of digitalized nursing practice is the digital competence of staff – the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable the safe, meaningful, and effective use of contemporary digital technologies in clinical and organizational settings. Appropriate use of digital tools can help nursing staff save time and energy, improve work organization, enhance team coordination, and support decision-making. The success of implementing digital solutions strongly depends on the level of digital literacy among staff and managers, as well as on organizational factors such as leadership support, readiness for change, adequate training, and system-level policies at both institutional and health system levels. Studies indicate that a substantial proportion of health professionals still have a relatively low level of digital literacy, even though it is becoming a core competence for high-quality nursing practice in an increasingly digitalized environment. This creates a gap between technological potential and actual use in practice and raises important questions for health care management. The aim of the proposed study is to describe the digital competencies required for the effective use of digital programs and tools in nursing, to examine the impact of developing these competencies on nursing staff, and to design a model that links the digital transformation of the profession with various factors of quality of working life in the observed population. Methodologically, the study will use a quasi-experimental
design combined with qualitative and quantitative approaches. On this basis, the research will seek to develop and validate a model that can serve health care management as a foundation for planning, implementing, and leading the digital transformation of nursing in a way that supports staff well-being and the quality of patient care.