Sorry AI, you can’t call yourself a nurse
This story appears in the March 2026 issue of the WSNA Newsletter.
In Washington state, nursing is for nurses.
Hundreds of WSNA members used their power to sign in support of a successful bipartisan bill (HB 2155) that updates Washington’s Nurse Practice Act to make clear that only licensed human professionals can use nursing titles, such as “nurse,” “registered nurse,” or “RN,” and provide nursing services.
The bill prevents new technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), chatbots, hospital robots, and automated triage tools, from presenting themselves as nurses or suggesting they provide “nursing services.”
HB 2155 was signed into law on March 9 by Washington State Gov. Bob Ferguson and takes effect June 11, 2026.
“With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, it’s important for Washingtonians to know that AI cannot act as a licensed nurse or claim to be one,” Gov. Ferguson said at the signing ceremony.
This bill was one of WSNA’s top priorities this session, and it puts Washington state in the forefront of setting guardrails around nursing in the age of AI.
Jessica Hauffe, WSNA’s director of Government Affairs, said the bill came about from a desire of WSNA’s Government Affairs team and WSNA’s Legislative and Health Policy Council to do something about the advancement of AI in the healthcare space. They were limited with a short legislative session and the need for a bill with little to no fiscal impact, given the state’s financial situation. So, the WSNA team decided to advance something that they believed would bring people together — the idea that no one wanted to receive direct care from something that was not human.
“We see this bill as a foundational piece of legislation for nursing as it relates to AI,” Hauffe said. “We know there is more work to be done to help provide these safeguards for people around the use of AI technology in healthcare, and this is a step in that direction.”
Oregon state passed a similar bill in 2025 sponsored by Rep. Travis Nelson, RN.
The bill faced little opposition in the Washington state legislature, passing the House 87–8 and the Senate 46–2.
Rep. Edwin Obras (D-33), a member of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, was the prime sponsor of HB 2155, and Sen. Jessica Bateman (D-22), a member of the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee, was the prime sponsor of the Senate companion.
“Artificial intelligence cannot — and must not — replace the judgment, expertise, accountability, and human connection that are central to the nursing profession.”
Two WSNA members, as well as WSNA President Justin Gill and Government Affairs Director Hauffe, testified that the bill was needed to preserve respect and trust in nursing and protect patient care.
“Artificial intelligence cannot — and must not — replace the judgment, expertise, accountability, and human connection that are central to the nursing profession,” Gill said.
“We nurses have seen both the promise and the risks that come with the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence in healthcare,” testified WSNA member Alex Knox from Spokane. “These technologies are advancing faster than our ability to fully evaluate their impact on patient safety and care quality.”
As Emily Kay, chair of WSNA’s Legislative and Health Policy Council, told the legislators, “We all share a responsibility to ensure that the use of AI in healthcare is responsible, transparent, and accountable.”