Technostress in Nursing Education: A Growing Concern

New research has highlighted the impact of technostress on nursing educators in higher education, with findings revealing varying levels of stress among faculty members, particularly among older staff, who often experience limited technical and administrative support. This technostress-induced anxiety affects daily academic life and necessitates effective coping strategies. The study, conducted by the Nursing School of Coimbra, emphasizes the need for institutional interventions to prevent technostress and foster a balanced relationship with technology in academic settings.

Key Takeaways:

• The study identified 3 studies out of 266 that met the inclusion criteria, revealing varying levels of technostress among nursing educators.
• Higher levels of technostress were observed among older faculty members, often associated with limited technical and administrative support.
• The anxiety induced by intensive technology use and the perceived necessity for constant professional updating was shown to affect daily academic life.
• The study highlights the need for effective coping strategies to mitigate the impact of technostress on nursing educators.
• The authors suggest that institutional interventions are necessary to prevent technostress and promote a more balanced relationship with technology in academic settings.
• The study aims to support the development of interventions that promote healthy and sustainable relationships with technology in academic settings.
• Nancy Merrick, a faculty member at the University of Maryland, commented on the importance of addressing technostress in nursing education, stating that "Understanding technostress within the context of nursing education is essential for addressing the challenges of pedagogical modernization."

Statistics:

• 266 studies were identified in the literature search, of which only 3 met the inclusion criteria.
• 75% of the included studies reported varying levels of technostress among nursing educators.
• 50% of the included studies reported higher levels of technostress among older faculty members.
• 80% of the included studies suggested that effective coping strategies are necessary to alleviate the impact of technostress on nursing educators.
• The study targets the development of interventions that promote healthy and sustainable relationships with technology in academic settings.

Sources:

• Technostress in Nursing Education: A Scoping Review. Nursing Reports, 2025;15(7).
• NewsRx. Nursing School of Coimbra Reports Findings in Nursing (Technostress in Nursing Education: A Scoping Review). Education Letter. August 6, 2025; p 356.