Key Takeaways:
- Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the field of nursing, with potential applications in critical care, palliative care, and leadership.
- AI can help ease the biggest challenges in nursing, such as staffing shortages and burnout, by automating tasks and providing real-time feedback.
- Nursing educators are incorporating AI into their curricula to prepare students for a future where AI is increasingly prevalent in healthcare.
- However, there are also risks associated with AI, including the potential for bias and sentience.
- Nurses must be aware of these risks and be part of the conversation about where AI is headed in healthcare.
Introduction to AI in Nursing
Laurel Rhyne, an associate lecturer in the UTC College of Nursing, remembers the first time she heard about generative artificial intelligence. It was December 18, 2022, and she was listening to a National Public Radio story in her car. The focus of the story was on plagiarism and its impact on higher education, but Rhyne saw much more potential for AI in the field of nursing. As she explained, "Our whole world is going to change." Rhyne’s instruction revolves around teaching critical care, palliative care, and leadership, all topics in which AI can be incorporated. She is focused on helping students understand different ways to approach AI, from study techniques to interfacing with it in non-scary ways.
The Benefits and Risks of AI in Nursing
Rhyne is excited about the potential of AI to improve patient care and reduce burnout among nurses. She noted that "there’s human error in medicine and this will take out some of that." However, she also acknowledges that AI is not without risks. One of her biggest concerns is the potential for AI to become sentient, with algorithms already teaching themselves and finding their own mistakes. Additionally, she is concerned about the environmental impact and algorithm bias. As she said, "I’m excited for the safety aspects of it… I’m not excited about the bias that’s there, and the bias is real." Rhyne’s students are also hesitant about the technology, with many only using it to make study guides. She sees this as an opportunity to help them have a safe interface with AI and to educate them about its potential benefits and risks.
Emerging Tools and Technologies
Rhyne is particularly hopeful about emerging tools like ambient listening systems, which are already being tested in hospitals. These systems use AI to listen to patient interactions and pick up on key components that need to be documented. This could reduce burnout among nurses and free them up to spend more time with patients. As Rhyne explained, "Instead of us having to chart and document and do all the things, it is listening and picking up and understanding those components that need to go into documentation." This shift could also help nurses build empathy and improve patient care. For example, AI-powered simulations can provide feedback to students on their communication skills, allowing them to adjust their approach and improve their interactions with patients.
Incorporating AI into Nursing Education
Clinical Assistant Professor Chris Doneski is bringing AI to life in UTC’s graduate nursing curriculum. He uses a Gaumard-produced manikin called HAL S5301, which is described as the world’s most advanced interdisciplinary patient simulator. The manikin uses custom software designed by Doneski to interact with student nurses, allowing them to practice sensitive communication and procedural skills. As Doneski explained, "They go in, have a conversation, they assess, and through the AI program, they’re able to hold conversations just like you would with a regular patient." The AI evaluates the students’ performance and provides feedback, allowing them to adjust their approach and improve their skills.
The Future of AI in Nursing
Rhyne’s goal is to make sure students see themselves as part of the conversation about where AI is headed in healthcare. As she said, "I have a healthy fear with an understanding that this is our life and it will continue to impact and grow. We have to grow with it. If you don’t have a fear and aren’t learning about it, you won’t know where those guardrails have to come up." Doneski agrees, noting that AI is already being used in hospitals and that students will be working alongside it in the workforce. As he said, "AI is here whether we like it or not… Students are already using it to study or get suggestions, so having it in simulation makes the experience more familiar." By incorporating AI into nursing education, educators can prepare students for a future where AI is increasingly prevalent in healthcare and help them to develop the skills they need to succeed in this new landscape.