Artificial intelligence is a powerful technology changing many aspects of healthcare delivery. Some nurses fear the risk of relying too much on it; others see big potential for reducing administrative burden.
Nurse leaders at the nation’s biggest health systems and smallest community hospitals alike are working with their teams to strategically incorporate AI into workflows where it can be beneficial and minimize risk to patient care.
“We are putting an emphasis on empowering nurses through collaboration and technology,” said Kathy Sanford, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health. “Our clinical teams will continue to evolve over the next two years, prioritizing interdisciplinary teamwork to ensure nurses’ expertise is fully leveraged alongside physicians and other clinical team members, whether working in-person or innovatively supported at the bedside by a virtual extended team.”
CommonSpirit is also deploying AI to streamline workflows and elevate nurses to work at the top of their license. Ms. Sanford said communication and adaptability will become even more important skills as technology improves and the health system’s culture shifts to value every team member’s voice.
Melinda Cooling, DNP, chief nurse and advanced practice provider executive at Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare, has a similar view.
“Nursing teams will need to evolve both clinically and technologically to meet the growing complexity of patient needs, workforce shortages and rapid advancements in digital health,” she told Becker’s. “As healthcare continues to shift toward value-based care, the importance of interdisciplinary, team-based collaboration cannot be overstated. Nurses will need to work closely with professionals from other disciplines, such as social work, pharmacy, physicians and APPs, to deliver coordinated, patient-centered care.”
It will be “essential” for nurses to become proficient and comfortable with AI, Dr. Cooling said, because technology is the cornerstone of coordination. AI can help care teams become much more precise and specific in treating patients, and achieve better outcomes even with slimmer teams.
“Nurses must integrate these technologies into their workflows to effectively support patients and families in managing their health,” she said. “Successful implementation will depend on embedding digital solutions seamlessly into daily nursing practice.”
But that doesn’t mean nurses can go on autopilot. Their role will demand an elevated leadership and deeper relationships with patients.
“Nurse leaders must continue to emphasize critical thinking, evidence-based practice and a strong focus on quality outcomes and the patient experience,” said Dr. Cooling. “These foundational elements will remain central to excellent nursing care, even as the tools and environment evolve.”
Many health systems have already begun implementing ambient technology and AI for administrative tasks, allowing for more direct patient care. Nurse teams are also changing as virtual nursing takes hold, providing new opportunities for AI and robotic process automation to better support bedside nurses and an elevated patient experience.
Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health is leveraging AI and virtual nursing to give bedside nurses access to patient information quickly and minimize the need to navigate complex systems for answers.
“These innovations hold the promise of not only enhancing operational efficiency, but also improving caregiver satisfaction and patient outcomes by returning valuable time to hands-on care,” said Regina Foley, PhD, RN, executive vice president, chief nurse executive and chief transformation and integration officer at Hackensack Meridian Health. “We’re investing in leadership development to equip our team with the skills and tools needed to effectively guide them through change management at the bedside while also supporting the retention of these caregivers who span four generations and have diverse and evolving needs.”
What will the next generation of nurses need to thrive? Agility and a growth mindset, said Dr. Cooling.
“The pace of change in healthcare is accelerating, and adaptability will no longer be potential. It will be a core professional competency,” she said.
