Advance of AI in nursing prompts safety, autonomy concerns

Editor's Note

Although hospitals are already integrating artificial intelligence (AI), nurses warn that the technology may undermine their expertise and compromise patient care, The Associated Press (AP) reported March 16.

The push for AI in healthcare stems from widespread nursing shortages. More than 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the US expects 190,000 annual nursing job openings through 2032, AP reports. Hospital leaders see AI as a solution, supporting staff by automating administrative tasks and pre-screening patients. At the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, for example, an AI system contacts patients ahead of surgery, gathering critical information that nurses later review.

However, concerns persist. Nursing unions, including National Nurses United, claim AI is being used to replace rather than assist nurses. Union leader Michelle Mahon told AP that hospitals have long sought ways to “de-skill and ultimately replace caregivers.” The group has staged over 20 demonstrations, advocating for greater oversight and protections for nurses who override AI-generated recommendations. The debate escalated when Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the incoming US health secretary, suggested AI nurses could be as competent as doctors in rural areas.

Safety risks are another major issue, AP reports. AI-driven hospital protocols can misinterpret clinical situations, leading to inappropriate recommendations. As an example, the article cites an emergency room case where AI flagged a dialysis patient for sepsis, prompting a protocol that called for a large IV fluid dose. A nurse questioned the directive, but was initially pressured to comply before physician intervention prevented a potentially harmful outcome.

The article also details promising applications for AI, including efforts to streamline workflows and to develop humanlike avatars to support patient education. Quoted nurses acknowledge AI’s role in augmenting care, but stress that the sickest patients—the primary users of the healthcare system—require human expertise. As Loyola University’s Michelle Collins told AP, “We should embrace what AI can do, but be careful it doesn’t replace the human element.”