Artificial intelligence leverages the computing power of technology to sift through large amounts of data and automate tasks.1 When incorporated into the nursing field, AI has the potential to maximize nursing care, making it a valuable tool for nurses looking to optimize patient outcomes.2
Artificial intelligence in nursing allows nurses to offer 24/7 monitoring of patients without time constraint.3 This, combined with clinical decision support and streamlining administrative tasks, improves patient outcomes and efficiency and positions AI as a powerful addition to nursing and healthcare.1, 2
What is Artificial Intelligence in Nursing?
With the ability to analyze vast amounts of data in a very short time, AI has the potential to transform healthcare, especially when used correctly.1
AI in nursing can help nurses provide more comprehensive care through remote patient monitoring and medication management.3, 4 This allows nurses to provide more focused patient care, improving patient outcomes. In addition to helping with these tasks, AI can also automate administrative tasks, allowing healthcare professionals, including nurses, to be more efficient with their day, increasing hospital productivity.1 Other examples of AI in nursing include the use of predictive analytics to assess their patient’s risk status.1
Ultimately, the integration of artificial intelligence in nursing allows nurses to spend more time on complex, patient-centered aspects of care.2
How is Artificial Intelligence Used in Nursing?
The role of artificial intelligence in nursing practice focuses on enhancing the nurse’s care capacity by providing them with more information, taking on some of the repetitive non-clinical tasks and allowing them to focus on patient monitoring.1, 2, 3
Patient Monitoring and Early Detection
One of the most influential applications of AI in nursing that has a direct influence on patient health and outcomes is the use of AI in patient monitoring and early detection.3
Remote patient monitoring relies upon wearables that collect, store and transmit data that a healthcare professional can access and analyze. AI alleviates some workloads in this role.3 By continually monitoring patient vitals, AI can detect early deterioration in patient health, allowing for prompt medical attention once a qualified nurse verifies the data.3 This saves nurses time from sifting through this data independently; instead, AI takes on the repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on providing patient care.
Machine learning also leverages predictive analytics. AI analyzes shared vitals and symptoms to identify potential health risks.3 By integrating nursing and artificial intelligence, nurses can intervene early to prevent illness or start treatment sooner, reducing the chances of disease progression.3
Streamline Administrative Tasks
Nurses are dedicated to patient care, but administrative tasks can be time-consuming. Streamlining these duties allows nurses to focus more on providing quality care.5 AI in nursing can help take on these tasks, reducing the time nurses spend on administrative work and scheduling.1 It also allows for a more efficient workflow, further increasing productivity.2
Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS)
AI can help nurses make decisions for complex cases through clinical decision support systems (CDSS).2 Fusing the functionality of AI and nursing processes, a CDSS can analyze a large amount of patient data and compare it to all the knowledge available in the medical field, offering real-time guidance. Nurses can consider the findings from the CDSS, leading to more informed decisions.2
Personalized Patient Care
AI quickly analyzes patient data and compares it to established treatment guidelines. AI in nursing can provide evidence-based care recommendations that consider each patient’s unique care journey, analyzing patient medical images and lab reports.2, 6
AI learns a patient’s behavior patterns, enabling more accurate vital monitoring and detecting any unusual changes..3
Benefits of AI in Nursing
These examples of AI in nursing all contribute to one main goal: improving patient outcomes.2, 3, 7
AI allows for better monitoring and decision-making. Remote patient monitoring provides 24/7 oversight, relieving nurses of constant surveillance..3 With more data collected and the ability to closely analyze each data point to find patterns, artificial intelligence in nursing also aids the decision-making process, allowing nurses to feel more confident in their decisions and ensuring they are on the right track from the start 2
AI helps to reduce the workload of nurses, lowering stress levels.2, 7 Nurse burnout is a significant concern within the nursing field because of the multiple tasks nurses handle, the fast-paced work environment and the emotional toll of working closely with patients.7 AI can help distribute workloads based on patient complexity, time-sensitive needs and nurse expertise, helping to prevent burnout.2 AI in nursing can take on administrative tasks, allowing nurses to spend more time caring for patients, leading to improved outcomes.1
Finally, AI-powered tools can increase communication between nurses and their patients, leading to a more nuanced understanding and oversight of their patient’s health, allowing nurses to provide quality care 7
Challenges and Limitations of Integrating AI and Nursing
While the benefits offered by AI in nursing are promising, there are challenges and limitations.
First, privacy and data security are of the utmost importance. Given the way AI collects and analyzes patient data, these programs must guarantee the privacy of patients.2
Also, the promising benefits of pairing nursing and artificial intelligence can lead to fear of job security as healthcare professionals wonder: Will AI replace nursing?8 Despite the many benefits of AI, it is most influential when used as a tool to support nurses. Nursing expertise remains vital for achieving optimal patient outcomes.2, 8 While artificial intelligence in nursing is a valuable tool that can analyze large amounts of data, it remains limited by the dataset used to train the model and cannot adapt as nurses can.2, 6, 8 Additionally, nurses have firsthand experience to guide their practice, something that AI is missing.2, 8
While AI is becoming an increasing part of the healthcare field , there is a need for adequate training and education to ensure it is employed fully and responsibly.2 Otherwise, nurses may grow frustrated with the technology and miss out on the benefits of its proper implementation.
What Is the Future of AI in Nursing?
The continued integration of artificial intelligence in nursing is an exciting time for healthcare. AI technology will expand, including robotics that conduct routine check-ups or advanced diagnostics that improve the speed, accuracy and efficiency of the diagnostic process.2, 6, 7, 9, 10 This will allow nurses to have assistants as they complete daily nursing tasks and enhanced information at their disposal when working with patients.
As technology grows and evolves, nurses must learn to adapt to these changes and upskills. When merged, AI and nursing has the potential to transform healthcare, but only if nurses are trained to use and trust this form of technology.2
Ultimately, when nurses learn to use AI tools, there will be greater collaboration between humans and technology. Nurses will use AI tools to gather information on their patient’s health, diagnosis and treatment, but will deliver their care with compassion that AI technology cannot mimic.8, 11
How Do I Work in AI as a Nurse?
For those looking to combine nursing and artificial intelligence in their work, it’s important to have a strong understanding of AI concepts and learn how to interpret AI-generated insights. Nurses can collaborate with healthcare IT teams to develop and refine their AI applications to meet nursing needs, bringing the expertise that comes from being a nurse to craft technology that will change the field. 2
In order to work in AI as a nurse, it may be necessary to take relevant courses in artificial intelligence, attend workshops, and stay updated on AI advancements in healthcare.2 Ultimately, to work in AI as a nurse, you must understand how AI works so that you can be aware of its capabilities and limits.
Data science, machine learning engineering and machine learning operations are tech areas that focus on the application of AI in nursing. These are areas where nurses can specifically work on creating and deploying AI models. Another option is to work in data analysis, which focuses on analyzing healthcare data.
AI and Nursing
AI is transforming the healthcare industry, especially nursing. This technology has the capability to assist with remote patient monitoring, administrative tasks, decision-making, and personalizing patient care. 1, 3 With the help of AI in nursing, nurses can spend more time focusing on complex patient cases and have more information at their disposal to monitor and care for their patients.2
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is redefining healthcare education through cutting-edge programs that incorporate the latest technologies. Learn more about our graduate nursing programs and how they prepare you to leverage innovative tools for future-focused patient care.
Sources
- Alowais, S.A., Alghamdi, S.S., Alsuhebany, N. et al., “Revolutionizing healthcare: the role of artificial intelligence in clinical practice,” BMC Medical Education, September 22, 2023, https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.
- Karim, M., Parvin, M. R., & Ferdousi, S. “Advancing nursing practice with artificial intelligence: Enhancing preparedness for the future,” Nursing Open, 2023: 11(1), https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.2070.
- Shaik, T., et al. “Remote patient monitoring using artificial intelligence: Current state, applications, and challenges,” Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, 2023: 13(2), https://doi.org/10.1002/widm.1485.
- Alsanosi, S. M., & Padmanabhan, S. “Potential Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Managing Polypharmacy in Saudi Arabia: A Narrative Review,” Healthcare, 2024: 12(7), 788, https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12070788.
- NursingEducation Staff, “Nurse Insights: How Do Nurses Balance Clinical and Administrative Duties?,” NursingEducation, January 18, 2024, https://nursingeducation.org/insights/clinical-vs-administrative/.
- Al-Antari, M. A. “Artificial Intelligence for Medical Diagnostics—Existing and Future AI Technology!” Diagnostics, 2023: 13(4), 688–688, https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13040688.
- Hamad Ghaleb Dailah, Mahdi Koriri, Alhussean Sabei, Turky Kriry, & Zakri, M. “Artificial Intelligence in Nursing: Technological Benefits to Nurse’s Mental Health and Patient Care Quality,” Healthcare, 2024: 12(24), 2555–2555, https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12242555.
- Mohanasundari, S. K., et al. “Can Artificial Intelligence Replace the Unique Nursing Role?” Cureus, 2023: 15(12), https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.51150.
- Deo, N., & Ashish Anjankar, “Artificial Intelligence With Robotics in Healthcare: A Narrative Review of Its Viability in India,” Cureus, 2023: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39416.
- Irwin, P., Rehman, et al. “Empowering nurses – a practical guide to artificial intelligence tools in healthcare settings: discussion paper” Contemporary Nurse, 2025: 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1080/10376178.2025.2459701.
- Karim, M., et al. “The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing nurses’ work-life balance,” Journal of Medicine Surgery and Public Health, 2024: 3, 100135–100135, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2024.100135.
