AI in healthcare — an innovation, not a replacement for nurses
As nurses, we care for patients in diverse settings and serve in countless roles across our healthcare system. Whether at the bedside, in community health, education, or advanced practice, nurses bring a blend of science, compassion, and critical thinking that defines our profession.
In recent years, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has created new conversations in healthcare—and across society—about the future of work, ethics, and the role of human judgment. For many nurses, AI represents both promise and uncertainty.
Nurses have always been innovators. Every day, we adapt to complex situations, respond to evolving patient needs, and create individualized, patient-centered plans of care grounded in our assessments and expertise. These are uniquely human capabilities—rooted in empathy, ethics, and experience—that no algorithm can replicate.
AI can be a powerful tool that augments our ability to deliver safe and effective care. In my own clinical work as a nurse practitioner, I use AI-assisted tools to help with documentation and to quickly access evidence-based recommendations. These resources can enhance efficiency and support decision-making—but they do not replace professional accountability. The responsibility for patient care, and the use of any AI resource, ultimately rests with us as nurses. Our healthcare institutions must also hold accountability for system-level changes that impact the work of nurses to safely and effectively do their work.
As excitement around AI continues to build, we must ensure that nurses are meaningfully involved in every stage of its development and deployment—from shaping regulatory policies, to guiding institutional implementation and determining how AI integrates at the bedside. Without our direct involvement, we risk creating systems that fail to reflect the realities of nursing practice and patient care.
At the same time, it is critical to remember that AI cannot solve the foundational issues we face in healthcare today. It cannot fix unsafe staffing levels, prevent workplace violence, eliminate affordability and access issues for patients, or address the structural inequities that harm patients and providers alike.
Technology can assist us, but it cannot replace the heart, judgment, and expertise of the nurse. As we move forward, let us embrace innovation while standing firm in our commitment to the values that define our profession—advocacy, compassion, and the unwavering pursuit of quality care for all.