The future of AI in nursing is already here yet still on the way
Is AI changing the profession of nursing—or are nurses changing AI?
The truth is, it’s a both/and scenario, not an either/or. This comes through between the lines of a paper published April 16 in Nurse Leader.
Refining the recent thinking of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, the authors draw from discussions at an August 2024 symposium and a January 2025 “think tank” workshop.
“Three core focus areas emerged for deeper exploration: nursing operations, professional education and industry partnerships,” write lead author Kelly Aldrich, DNP, RN, of Vanderbilt and colleagues. “These categories shaped the Think Tank discussions, in which a select group of nursing experts generated valuable insights and strategic recommendations, providing actionable guidance for nurse leaders navigating AI adoption and digital transformation.”
The journal paper recounts key observations and conclusions from the workshop. The material is aimed primarily at nurse leaders but is readily accessible to nurses of every rank and station.
In a section concentrating on the future of AI in nursing, the authors offer a handful of takeaways. Among them are these six.
1. AI is reshaping nursing operations, workforce management and care environments.
The technology offers innovative ways to optimize workflows, enhance decision-making and reduce cognitive burden on care teams, the authors note. They add:
‘As AI tools become more sophisticated, nurse leaders must take an active role in shaping AI’s integration to ensure it supports rather than replaces nursing practice.’
2. AI-based predictive analytics will forecast staffing needs for nursing operations.
This use case will also reduce reliance on manual scheduling and improve resource allocation, Aldrich and co-authors write. Further, AI-driven solutions will “offer personalized incentives to staff based on workload and skills. In turn, this capability may improve job satisfaction, retention and engagement.”
‘Additionally, AI can serve as a bridge between nursing students and employers, aligning educational preparation with workforce demands.’
3. AI may have a significant impact on nursing workflows and efficiencies.
Strategies such as workload perception assessments (e.g., NASA Task Load Index) and patient flow analysis can help identify bottlenecks and optimize care delivery, the authors point out.
‘In perioperative settings, AI’s effectiveness could be evaluated through efficiency metrics such as turnover time, on-time surgical starts and accuracy in predicting procedure lengths.’
4. Healthcare leadership could take several steps to foster nurses’ trust in AI.
Examples include ensuring seamless EHR integration, selecting intuitive user interfaces and making AI decision-making processes transparent, the authors suggest.
‘Ultimately, AI should not replace nurses but empower them, enhancing their ability to provide high-quality, person-centered care while optimizing operational outcomes.’
5. Nursing leadership must maintain focus on what nurses need to adopt AI.
This means not only attending to the present moment but also planning for the short- and long-term future. By doing so, nursing leaders will “optimize current practice, prepare for future advancements and drive sustainable transformation,” the authors write.
The end goal should be ‘ensuring that AI elevates safe patient care and strengthens our profession.’
6. Further, nurse leaders should step forward as AI innovators, educators and advocates.
In this way, nurse leaders can harness the power of AI to enhance nursing practice, improve patient care and strengthen workforce sustainability, Aldrich et al. state. “The future of healthcare is being shaped today,” they add, “and nurse leaders must embrace this transformative journey with responsibility and foresight.”
‘Together, we can lead the digital transformation of healthcare, ensuring that it remains equitable and bias-free, ultimately benefiting our patients and communities.’
Aldrich’s co-authors are Esther Chipps, PhD, RN, of The Ohio State University and Patricia Mook, DNP, RN, of Advocate Health in Charlotte, N.C.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.