Artificial intelligence is being integrated into the nursing field to reduce administrative burdens and support clinical decision-making. AI in nursing may help reduce nursing errors, support documentation, help with patient monitoring, and more.
The nursing field continues to evolve as it adapts to new challenges and technologies, including artificial intelligence. AI in nursing offers opportunities to catch medication errors, support documentation and help monitor patients. As you prepare for a technology-driven future in nursing, consider how AI and nursing can work together.
Prepare for a nursing career sooner with Averett University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. If you have non-nursing bachelor’s degree at least 60 college credits, you may be eligible to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months through our hybrid, values-based education.
Learn why AI is increasingly being integrated into nursing, how it is used in practice and the benefits and challenges that arise when AI and nurses work together.
Why AI Is Becoming an Important Part of Nursing
Nurses provide invaluable patient care, but the work can be demanding. Unfavorable patient-to-nurse ratios affect many departments, leaving nurses to manage heavy workloads and administrative tasks. AI cannot replace nurses, and the nursing shortage persists, but AI in nursing practice can help ease the burden by streamlining administrative tasks and supporting clinical care.
How AI Is Used in Nursing Practice
Artificial intelligence in nursing can support many areas of practice, from administrative work to patient monitoring. By handling repetitive tasks, AI can help nurses focus on higher-level responsibilities, such as direct patient care.
Medication Safety
Identifying and correcting potential errors before they harm patients is a key nursing responsibility. Medication errors are particularly common and can cause adverse effects, including death. They can occur in inpatient and outpatient settings and in patients’ homes.
Artificial intelligence can help reduce the risk of medication errors when integrated with a health system’s electronic health records. AI can compare new prescriptions with a patient’s current medications, allergies and health conditions to identify potential adverse reactions. The nursing team can then be alerted to a potential contraindication, or a medication that would cause harm if taken.
AI cannot replace nursing judgment. Nurses must remain alert to potential interactions when administering medications.
Take a closer look at the future of nursing and how the profession is evolving
Electronic Health Records and Documentation
Identifying medication errors early is only one potential benefit of integrating AI into a health system’s electronic health records. AI can help nurses chart more efficiently by suggesting language for a patient’s record. The nurse can then review the suggested text for accuracy, a process that may take less time than drafting the entry.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Patient monitoring helps nurses detect a decline in a patient’s condition even when they are not in the same room. Monitoring devices can track respirations, heart rate and other vital signs and alert nurses remotely when a problem arises.
When predictive analytics is incorporated into patient monitoring, a patient’s decline may be identified faster. AI can analyze data streams from connected monitoring devices, identify patterns associated with potential deterioration and alert the nursing team.
Clinical Decision Support
Regardless of how advanced artificial intelligence becomes, nurses must make the final decisions about patient care. AI in nursing practice can support clinical decision-making in several ways.
AI-integrated medical equipment and technology can monitor patient data in real time, flag early signs of clinical deterioration and help nurses intervene sooner. It can also identify patients at risk for complications such as pressure ulcers and falls. In addition, it can analyze potential contraindications and interactions among prescribed medications.
Administrative Workflow Automation
AI in nursing can also assist with administrative tasks, such as scheduling. Hospital administrators may struggle to predict daily nursing needs across departments. Too few nurses on duty can compromise patient care, while too many can increase labor costs.
AI technology can analyze historical data to anticipate fluctuations in patient volume. It can then estimate how many nurses each department needs, accounting for factors such as seasonal changes and staffing coverage.
Benefits of AI in Nursing
The potential benefits of AI in nursing extend to nurses and patients. For nurses, AI can reduce the administrative burden, allowing them to devote more attention to patient care. It may also help reduce the risk of errors, support clinical decision-making and lower the risk of burnout.
For patients, integrating AI in nursing may support earlier, more accurate diagnoses and improve access to care, particularly for those who use AI-integrated remote monitoring devices.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations of AI in Nursing
Despite the potential uses and benefits of AI in nursing, the technology raises practical and ethical concerns. One is overreliance, which may compromise clinicians’ critical thinking and independent judgment.
Other concerns include:
- Algorithmic bias that may perpetuate healthcare disparities
- Environmental harm associated with AI and related public health hazards
- Risks to patient privacy when AI systems access patient data and records
Discover the importance of teamwork in nursing.
Skills Future Nurses Need in an AI-Driven Healthcare Environment
Even as nursing becomes more technology-driven, nurses still need strong clinical skills in areas such as patient assessment and medication management. They also need communication, decision-making, critical thinking and interpersonal skills.
As AI becomes more integrated into care, nurses may benefit from technical skills such as data analytics and AI literacy. They will also need a strong grounding in professional ethics and an understanding of how the nursing code of ethics applies to AI-related issues.
How an Accelerated BSN Program Prepares Students for AI in Healthcare
You can prepare for AI in nursing practice during nursing school. Some programs may integrate artificial intelligence in nursing education and cover other technology-driven areas, such as nursing informatics. Examples of AI in nursing education include AI tutors and AI-enhanced simulations that use medical manikins.
ABSN programs can prepare students to navigate AI and nursing by teaching professional ethics. Future nurses learn to work in an evolving, increasingly technology-driven field while keeping the nursing code of ethics central to their decisions.
Prepare for the Future of Nursing at Averett University
Averett University offers an accelerated pathway to a nursing career. Our ABSN program provides values-based nursing education that prepares future nurse leaders to deliver patient-centered care.
Request information today and connect with an admissions advisor to discuss the admission requirements.