"WHAT, WHY, AND WHERE" EXPLORING NURSING STUDENTS' USE OF MOBILE DEVICES

The use of mobile devices in nursing education and clinical practice has taken hold and been on the increase over the past decade. The utility of mobile devices for nursing students in the learning environment in theory and clinical courses is undisputed. Several aspects of the context of nursing students' mobile learning are less clear. What mobile devices are being used by nursing students, smartphones or tablets? Why and how these devices are being used and for what learning purposes is an area warranting deeper exploration. Additionally, where the mobile learning of nursing students is taking place is not evident. The objectives for this paper are: (1) to review the literature regarding nursing students' use of mobile devices; and (2) to present an outline for a proposed study examining several unexplored areas regarding the use mobile devices by undergraduate nursing students in theory and clinical courses.