[Smartphone use in nursing population: a narrative review].

INTRODUCTION: In healthcare, smartphone is becoming an important tool among nursing population. With the smartphones, it was possible to implement new care models. However, if used incorrectly, it could be the cause of nurses' distraction and nosocomial infection.

AIM: To analyze the various apps used by the nursing population and describe the smartphones' positive and negative aspects on health care by review the literature.

METHOD: PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS e Web of Knowledge, Google Schoolar, databases were used to perform this study. The following keywords were used: ((nurse* NOT (student* OR physician*)) AND (smartphone* OR phone* OR mobile* OR cellphone) AND (app OR use* OR benefit OR distraction OR stress OR abuse OR work-related).

RESULTS: A total of 34 articles were included in the review. Medical calculation, heart measurement and chronic patient-nurse communication apps were described. While smartphones may cause distraction, nosocomial infection or interference with other medical devices, on the other hand they could improve the well-being, job satisfaction, productivity and decrease stress in nurse population.

CONCLUSIONS: There are potential benefits of the smartphone use, but the smartphone misuse could have negative consequences on the quality care and patient' safety due to nurses' distraction and interruptions. For this reason, nurses should be careful when they use their smartphone for no work-related activities.