AI in Nursing

Artificial intelligence (AI) is dominating headlines, promising to transform industries across the board. But for nurses on the front lines of patient care, the question should be: What does AI really mean for your daily responsibilities, workflow and future career opportunities? AI isn’t just a futuristic concept. It’s already shaping nursing practice today, and its impact is only set to grow. Understanding these changes is critical for staying ahead in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

EHRs Promise Efficiency but Make Staff Miserable—Will This Be the Same?

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) were introduced with the promise of efficiency, but in the name of collecting data, they also increased administrative burdens and disrupted workflows. With AI entering healthcare, nurses may wonder: Will this be another case of technology creating more headaches than help? The difference is that AI is designed to streamline tasks, not add to them. If implemented correctly, AI has the potential to make nursing more efficient, not more frustrating (hopefully).

Will AI Make Nurses’ Jobs Easier?

SHORT ANSWER: Probably

One of the most immediate ways nurses are interacting with AI is through automated administrative tools and dealing with those hated EHRs. Studies suggest that AI can handle up to 30% of administrative duties, reducing the paperwork burden and giving nurses more time for patient care. This includes AI-powered scheduling systems, automated documentation and electronic health record (EHR) management—all of which streamline daily workflows.

Abridge, located  in Pittsburgh, is one healthcare technology company utilizing artificial intelligence to automate clinical documentation. Their platform transcribes and structures patient-clinician conversations into clinical notes, integrating seamlessly into electronic health records (EHRs). This automation reduces the time nurses and physicians spend on documentation, allowing them to focus more on patient care.

In February 2025, Abridge secured $250 million in funding to enhance its AI capabilities. And they are just one company pursuing this functionality. Qventus out of San Francisco offers AI-based software designed to automate care operations within hospitals. Their AI Operational Assistants complete administrative tasks for healthcare staff, leading to productivity boosts of up to 50% in care operations roles. Both Salesforce and Oracle have also increased their EHR divisions and are busy integrating voice recognition and AI assistants.

AI is playing a role in real-time patient monitoring and predictive analytics. AI-driven systems can continuously analyze patient vitals, alerting nurses to early signs of deterioration. This allows for faster interventions and better patient outcomes. AI algorithms in telemetry units can detect sepsis hours before traditional methods, providing crucial time to administer treatment.

NOMA AI is a Pittsburgh-based company that integrates with existing hospital IT and device infrastructures to monitor patient data in real-time. Their platform provides predictive analytics within clinical and electronic health record systems, assisting medical teams in daily decision-making. For its part, ​Philips Electronics in the Netherlands is developing AI-enhanced MRI and CT scanners to assist in early detection and diagnosis, enhancing patient outcomes.

Will AI Make Nurses More Effective?

SHORT ANSWER: Definitely—but with a cost

As mundane tasks become more automated, the best jobs will require experience and wisdom as well as new skills. As AI takes over routine tasks, nurses will shift toward roles that require critical thinking, emotional intelligence and complex decision-making. For example, AI-assisted diagnostics may help nurse practitioners interpret lab results faster, but it will still be up to the nurse to apply that information in a patient-centered way.

Nursing informatics and data-driven decision-making will become increasingly important. Those with expertise in health informatics, AI system management, and data interpretation will find new career paths opening in tech-driven healthcare roles. Certifications like the Informatics Nursing Certification (RN-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or courses from organizations like Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Inc. (HIMSS) can help nurses build the technical expertise needed to work alongside AI systems.

Will It Mean Assuming New Responsibilities?

SHORT ANSWER: Definitely and More Opportunities Too

AI is also expected to create more autonomy for advanced practice nurses (APRNs)—including nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). With AI enhancing diagnostics and treatment recommendations, these professionals will be able to operate with greater independence, particularly in telehealth and primary care settings.

Looking even further ahead, nurses may take on hybrid roles blending patient care with AI oversight. Hospitals will need nurse technologists who understand both clinical workflows and AI implementation. We are learning that a robust AI model requires high quality training data and Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF). To facilitate integration, nurse-led AI teams may become common—ensuring technology aligns with real-world patient needs.

AI is not something that will happen in the future—it’s happening now. While it will change how nurses work, it will not change why nurses are essential to healthcare. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, nurses should embrace it as a tool that enhances patient care, reduces administrative burdens and creates new career opportunities.

By staying informed and proactive, nurses can ensure that they not only adapt to AI but lead its integration into healthcare. The best nursing careers won’t just survive in an AI-driven world—they’ll thrive.