AI in Nursing: How Is It Transforming Patient Care?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being widely adopted in almost all industries. According to a report by Gallup, 99% of Americans report having used at least one AI product in the past week.¹ AI is an umbrella term for software programs that attempt to mimic human intelligence and decision-making. These programs rely on massive quantities of data and advanced computations.

In nursing, AI programs can automate tedious and time-consuming manual tasks, such as data entry; reduce your documentation burden through scribing; and support clinical decision-making.² Hands-on, empathetic, and compassionate patient care is the heart of nursing, and it can never be replaced by technology. However, tech advancements can make the job of nursing more efficient and productive, giving nurses more time to spend with patients.

This article will explore the role of AI in nursing, including applications and ethical considerations.

AI Applications in Diagnostics

AI algorithms can analyze data and help providers make more effective clinical decisions. AI programs have outperformed traditional tools such as the Modified Early Warning System (MEWS), which is commonly used to determine if a patient is at a high risk for clinical deterioration. Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of patient data and detect hidden trends and patterns that could be early indicators of illness.³

Another promising use case for AI in nursing is diagnostics and imaging. Radiologists are using AI to help detect lung nodules on CT scans and other anomalies on imaging studies. There are over 400 FDA-approved AI algorithms in the radiology field that rely on AI’s ability to sift through large datasets.³

AI-Powered Patient Monitoring

Some of the most compelling examples of artificial intelligence in nursing have been in the field of patient monitoring. Wearables and other monitoring equipment use Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to collect and analyze data in real-time. This analysis can often detect patterns that can indicate a problem before symptoms manifest. A sensor may detect an irregular heart rate pattern that correlates with an exacerbation of heart failure. The software can notify the patient's health care providers, so they can adjust their medication and prevent an unnecessary exacerbation.⁴

AI applications in nursing have also been successful in reducing readmissions. Researchers developed an AI model to reduce readmissions for patients with COPD. The model considered four factors, including previous admissions, medications on day one, insurance status, and the Rothman Index, which measures a patient’s overall health status using data from their electronic health record. The model was able to predict readmission risk with 77% accuracy, and implementing it reduced readmissions in high-risk patients by 48%.⁵

Personalized Treatment Plans

AI nursing applications have accelerated the trend of personalized patient care. These applications can analyze patient data such as genetic information, biomarkers, clinical data, and lifestyle factors and make personalized treatment recommendations for better patient outcomes.⁶

People respond differently to therapies based on individual variations. These include genetic makeup, lifestyle factors, physiological characteristics, and environmental exposures. AI programs can identify issues such as genetic variations that may make one person respond better to a particular medicine than another. It can also suggest medication adjustments based on physiological functions such as organ function. These precision recommendations allow clinicians to create hyper-personalized, optimized treatment plans that are more effective.⁶

Streamlining Clinical Workflows

AI and nursing programs can significantly reduce clinical workflows, freeing up nurses to engage in high-value tasks, such as direct patient care, instead of administrative responsibilities. Burnout is a serious problem among health care workers, who are often overworked. AI models can optimize schedules and efficiently allocate resources for nurses to reduce the risk of burnout. They can also reduce nurses’ workloads by automating many aspects of electronic health record documentation.⁷

Ethical and Privacy Considerations

Although AI has the potential to improve patient care and streamline many aspects of nursing, there are also significant ethical and privacy concerns with the widespread adoption. One of the biggest concerns is patient privacy. Data breaches are already a concern with traditional software applications. AI and machine learning applications magnify this issue because they rely on greater volumes of data.⁸ The Change Healthcare data breach impacted the medical records of 100 million people, making it the most significant healthcare data breach ever reported.⁹

AI increases the risk of compromising patient privacy through two primary methods. The first is the large amount of data that AI programs need to be effective. If an AI machine learning model is going to create an individualized care plan for a patient, it will need access to extremely sensitive data, including biomarkers, electronic health records, medical history, and more. If there is a data breach, it has the potential to expose far more information than is kept in traditional systems.⁸

The other major issue with data privacy in AI is that generative AI allows hackers to operate on a much larger scale than ever before. Tasks that would have previously taken hours or days to accomplish can be automated and completed in minutes.⁸

AI applications can also make serious mistakes, so the lack of human oversight raises ethical concerns. AI models can perpetuate biases and prejudices that already exist. They’re also prone to hallucinating, so they can’t be counted on to replace the judgment of trained clinicians.⁸

Use Your Skills to Shape the Future of Nursing

AI can never replace nurses. However, it can be a valuable tool to increase your effectiveness and productivity in patient care. The online MSN from OCU program can prepare you with the skills and knowledge you need to become a leader in the nursing field. You’ll learn from the convenience of your home on your own schedule. Our faculty are experts in their fields. Choose from three specializations and finish your degree in 1.5 to 2 years. Contact one of our admissions outreach advisors today to learn more.