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AI in Nursing: Enhancing Nurse Wellbeing and Patient Care

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Last weekend, Phyllis and I attended the San Antonio Nursing Consortium (SANC) conference, AI in Nursing: Revolutionizing Patient Safety in Practice, and left inspired by speakers who demonstrated how AI tools—from ambient documentation to predictive analytics—are transforming nursing practice while reducing burdens that contribute to burnout.


It sounds incredible—but it raises a critical question:


How can we ensure that the time saved through AI is reinvested into what matters most—deepening patient connections and supporting nurse wellbeing?


Too often, healthcare interprets “efficiency” as higher workloads and rising acuity. If AI is used solely to boost productivity, it can worsen burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral injury. However, if efficiency allows for more time for patient connection, reflection, and renewal, AI can strengthen—not erode—the human essence of nursing.



Action Points for Nurse Leaders and Nurses


So, how can nurses reclaim their power in large healthcare systems? Nurse theorist Elizabeth A. M. Barrett reminds us that, “Power is the capacity to participate knowingly in change by being aware, making choices, feeling free to act intentionally, and being involved in creating change” (Barrett, 2010, p. 47). Here’s how we can apply it:


  • Define nursing clearly. Nursing is relational, human work. AI is a tool—not a practitioner.


  • Collaborative design. Participate in multidisciplinary planning groups when developing and piloting AI tools.


  • Shape implementation. Engage in pilot projects, advisory boards, and feedback loops to ensure AI meets real clinical needs.


  • Engage in ethical practice. Follow ANA guidance, emphasizing nurses’ role in shaping AI adoption ethically.


  • Education & empowerment. Ensure nurses understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI.


  • Measure what matters. Evaluate AI on efficiency and nurse wellbeing outcomes, including burnout, moral injury, and patient satisfaction.


  • Invest in resilience. Use AI efficiencies to expand access to peer support, debriefing, and resilience programs.


  • Reclaim time for patient care. Ensure AI efficiencies translate into more meaningful patient interaction, not heavier workloads.



The future of nursing and AI is still being written. As Peter Drucker said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” By defining nursing clearly, shaping AI implementation with our voices, and prioritizing nurse wellbeing, we can ensure that AI strengthens both patient safety and the heart of nursing practice.


The opportunity is here—how will we choose to use it?



References


Barrett, E. A. M. (2010). Power as knowing participation in change: What’s new and what’s next. Nursing Science Quarterly, 23(1), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318409354979


Drucker, P. F. (1994). Innovation and entrepreneurship. HarperBusiness.

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