Historical analyses demonstrate how nurses frequently adopted technology as a means to highlight our unique expertise, but our ability to effortlessly manage, troubleshoot and improvise with the devices ended up reinforcing our professional invisibility (Sandelowski, 2000; Fairman & D’Antonio, 1999). Prior to World War II and the introduction of high-technology wards in the hospital, nursing practice involved environmental control, emotional support and everyday domestic tasks like feeding and bathing. Completion of these duties required constant physical interaction, the unaided use of all senses and strong but dexterous hands. What differentiated trained nursing from everyday domestic work, however, was the application of these manual skills in conjunction with specialized knowledge. Nurses became particularly adept at improvising everyday items for therapeutic purposes, turning baths and beds into specialized treatments by altering their design or application. Unfortunately, the complex decision-making involved in these transformations remained invisible, perpetuating a low social status for the profession.

So what does all of this mean for the future of nursing? First and foremost, nurses need to become much more involved in the process of designing, acquiring and integrating new healthcare technology. Our unique position affords insight into the small- and large-scale complexities of the care delivery space, and organizations need to recognize the value of a nursing voice in technology decision-making. We also need to highlight the specialized work involved in managing therapeutic devices and design curricula that offer opportunities for nurses to develop expertise in emerging fields like robotics, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. New technology holds the promise of providing better and more effective care for our patients, but we need to ensure our place in its creation and deployment.