Staff nurses’ opinions about the use of digitalization in nursing care of patients in Saudi Arabia

Background Digital transformation has had a significant impact on the nursing profession in recent years. Digital transformation has reshaped various aspects of nursing care, leading to improved patient outcomes, enhanced efficiency, and overall better healthcare delivery. Aim Explore staff nurses’ opinions regarding the use of digitalization in nursing care in a selected hospital in Saudi Arabia. Research questions One research question was formulated. Setting The study was conducted at Ahad Rofidah Hospital, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia. Sample A convenient sample of all staff nurses with 6 months of experience composed the study sample (180 nurses). Tools Two main tools were formulated for this study. Results The study revealed that most participants were male (52.7%), aged 20–25 years (32.1%), Saudi nationals (70.1%), held a bachelor’s degree in nursing (66.3%), and had 5–10 years of experience (60.3%). Most nurses agreed that digital tools enhance performance (96.7%), improve communication (95.7%), ensure data privacy (95.7%), and improve patient data completeness (95.7%), though fewer believed they reduce costs or compensate for staff shortages. Concerns were primarily focused on the need for more training (38%), higher skills (28.8%), and high costs (25.6%), while most disagreed that digitization compromises ethics (70.1%) or harms patient privacy or treatment plans. No significant relationship was found between nurses’ opinions and sex, nationality, education, or experience, however, age showed a strong association with their views on digitization. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of digital transformation in nursing care and the need to understand nurses’ perspectives for effective adoption. Training, technical support, and further research on the long-term impact of digitalization are recommended to enhance nursing performance and patient outcomes. Recommendation Healthcare organizations should enhance nursing performance and communication by leveraging digital technologies while addressing challenges through comprehensive training and user-friendly systems. Tailored support should be provided to accommodate age-related differences in technology adoption. Maintaining a balance between digital efficiency and compassionate, patient-centered care is crucial for achieving a successful and sustainable digital transformation in nursing practice.