AI Takes on Nursing Roles, Sparking Debate
March 20, 2025 – Healthcare is rapidly evolving, and artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly significant role. Hospitals across the country are implementing sophisticated AI programs to assist with tasks previously handled by nurses. While proponents say this technology can increase efficiency and address staffing shortages, nursing unions and some healthcare professionals are raising concerns about the potential impacts on patient care.
One example of this trend is the development of AI assistants like “Ana,” created by Hippocratic AI. These programs, capable of communicating in multiple languages, are designed to prepare patients for appointments and answer preliminary questions. These AI helpers are available 24/7, and can assist patients with language needs.
The use of AI in healthcare is growing, as shown by an image from the website of artificial intelligence company Xoltar.
Hospitals are using AI in several ways, including monitoring vital signs, flagging emergency situations, and creating care plans. Proponents claim that AI can help nurses work more efficiently by streamlining administrative duties and helping reduce burnout in the face of understaffing.
However, nursing unions, such as National Nurses United, are pushing back. Michelle Mahon of National Nurses United expressed the concern that it may compromise nurses’ expertise and jeopardize the quality of care.
“Hospitals have been waiting for the moment when they have something that appears to have enough legitimacy to replace nurses,” said Michelle Mahon of National Nurses United.
National Nurses United has organized demonstrations across the country, advocating for nurses’ input on AI implementation and protections against disciplinary action if nurses choose to override AI advice.
Adding to the concerns, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., suggested that AI nurses could match doctors in providing care in rural areas. Similarly, Dr. Mehmet Oz suggested that AI could free doctors and nurses from paperwork.
AI’s Potential Pitfalls
While AI offers benefits, it’s not without limitations. Nurses and other healthcare professionals have noted the importance of human observation, such as reading facial expressions or the ability to detect certain odors. AI can miss these subtle cues.
Adam Hart, an emergency room worker at Dignity Health, highlighted the risks. He described an instance in which the system flagged a patient for sepsis, prompting a protocol to immediately administer a large dose of IV fluids. After his own examination, he realized he was treating a dialysis patient, and such patients must be handled with caution to avoid fluid overload. He had to advocate to ensure the patient was taken care of.
“You need to keep your thinking cap on— that’s why you’re being paid as a nurse,” Hart said. “Turning over our thought processes to these devices is reckless and dangerous.”
Nurses rally in San Francisco to highlight safety concerns about AI in healthcare.
Melissa Beebe, a cancer nurse at UC Davis Medical Center, echoed those concerns. She addressed the issue of false alarms, where even the most basic functions are flagged as emergencies.
AI and the Nursing Shortage
The healthcare industry is struggling with a significant nursing shortage; one estimate suggests over 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the U.S. population ages, the demand for nurses is only expected to increase. Hospital administrators see AI as an important tool to help with the shortage, by assisting nurses and allowing them to gather information, and communicate with patients.
At the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, for example, an AI assistant now contacts patients to prepare them for surgery. The AI assistant can confirm information, send medical records, and summarize the information for medical staff. According to Qventus, which provides the AI assistant, 115 hospitals are using this type of technology.
Innovations like the patient avatars developed by Xoltar are also receiving attention. These avatars, designed to conduct video calls with patients, are being tested for managing chronic pain and helping smokers quit.
However, some experts are cautious. Roschelle Fritz of the University of California Davis School of Nursing points out that these technologies may be most effective for relatively healthy patients, but the sickest patients may not be well-served by chatbots.
Xoltar’s AI avatars.
While AI is poised to transform healthcare, the debate over its role in nursing and patient care continues. Finding the right balance between AI assistance and the irreplaceable human element will be crucial in shaping the future of medicine.
