The Progress in Imaging Technologies and Implications for Nursing Practice: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Background: The recent years have seen revolutionary advancements in medical imaging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), and hybrid imaging modalities like PET/MRI. These technologies have transformed diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. These technologies provide unprecedented functional and molecular information, with new implications for clinical care beyond traditional radiology. Aim: The aim of this review is to synthesize the literature from 2015 through 2025 to explore how these imaging technology advances are redefining nursing roles, responsibilities, and competencies. Methods: A Systematic literature review from 2015 through 2025 was conducted. The reviews were evaluated to assess the implications of the emerging imaging technologies for nursing practice within various clinical settings. Results: The outcome reflects a paradigm change for the nursing practice from a passive taker of imaging data to an active participant in the imaging cycle. Key implications are the increased responsibility in patient preparation for complex scans, intra-procedural surveillance, bedside data interpretation by POCUS, and the management of clinical alerts based on AI. Such development involves significant educational demands and ethical concerns of data privacy and accountability of algorithms. Conclusion: Advanced imaging technologies are irreversibly transforming nursing practice, demanding an innovative approach. To ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes, the profession must develop standardized curricula for education, foster robust interprofessional relationships, and establish explicit competency frameworks and policies to support nurses in this high-technology practice environment.
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Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Abdrabalhabeeb Salm Lahmadi, Fahad Mohmmed Saead Alqhtani, Suad Mubarak Mohammed Aldossary, Saleh Ashway Nahar Alshammari, Hisham Saleh Zidan, Khaled Lafi Mansi Al Dhafiri, Abdallah Saad Said Aldosery, Badrea Asri Alenazy, Hussain Kadhem S Al Shuwaish, Anwar Mohammed Alsharedi, Nawal Ali Ali Awaji, Fahad Obaidallah Ataallah Alreshidi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.