Big data can help prepare nurses and improve patient outcomes by improving quality, safety, and outcomes

Abstract Objectives Big data has revolutionized nursing and health care and raised concerns. This research aims to help nurses understand big data sets to provide better patient care. Methods This study used big data in nursing to improve patient care. Big data in nursing has sparked a global revolution and raised concerns, but few studies have focused on helping nurses understand big data to provide the best patient care. This systematic review was conducted based on PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate were used for 2010–2020 studies. Results The most common use of big data in nursing was investigated in eight papers between 2015 and 2018. All research showed improvements in patient outcomes and healthcare delivery when big data was used in the medical-surgical, emergency department, critical care unit, community, systems biology, and leadership applications. Big data is not taught to nurses. Conclusions Big data applications in nursing and health care improve early intervention and decision-making. Big data provides a comprehensive view of a patient’s status and social determinants of health, allowing treatment using all metaparadigms and avoiding a singular focus. Big data can help prepare nurses and improve patient outcomes by improving quality, safety, and outcomes.