How AI is transforming nursing roles and enhancing patient care

The next time you need a medical exam, you may receive a call from Ana, a friendly virtual assistant designed to help you prepare and answer any pressing questions you might have.

With a calm and reassuring presence, Ana is trained to put patients at ease. Moreover, she is accessible around the clock, offering support in multiple languages, from Hindi to Haitian Creole.

The thing is, Ana is not a person but an artificial intelligence developed by Hippocratic AI.

It’s the clearest example of AI’s growing role in health care, with hundreds of hospitals now relying on advanced computer programs to track vital signs, identify emergencies, and initiate structured care plans—tasks once managed entirely by nurses and other medical professionals.

The debate over artificial intelligence in health tech

Hospitals argue that AI can enhance nurses’ efficiency and help address staffing shortages and burnout, while nursing unions contend that the technology undermines nurses’ expertise and diminishes patient care.

Michelle Mahon of National Nurses United claims that hospitals are keen on adopting AI to replace human nurses. In response, union-organized demonstrations at hospitals across the country are calling for regulations on automated technology use and protections for nurses who choose not to follow automated advice.

It’s the very sick who are taking up the bulk of health care in the U.S. and whether or not chatbots are positioned for those folks is something we really have to consider

Roschelle Fritz

In January, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s suggestion of AI nurses as an alternative to doctors raised new concerns, while Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominated to oversee Medicare and Medicaid, highlighted AI’s potential to reduce the paperwork burden on healthcare professionals.

Initially, Hippocratic AI promoted their assistants at $9 per hour, significantly cheaper than the $40 per hour paid to registered nurses. However, the company has since adjusted its marketing to emphasize the importance of thorough testing and safety.

Hospitals have long experimented with various technologies to improve care and cut costs, including sensors, microphones, and motion-sensing cameras. Medical records are also being enhanced with artificial intelligence to identify potential health issues and optimize patient care.

Yet, incidents like the one at Dignity Health in Henderson, Nevada, reveal the risks involved.

A patient flagged for sepsis by the hospital’s system was mistakenly advised to receive a large dose of IV fluids, a treatment that could be harmful for dialysis patients.

Nurses, such as Adam Hart who works at Dignity Health, report that while intelligent systems aims to streamline care, it often generates false alarms and confusing alerts.

Melissa Beebe, a cancer nurse at UC Davis Medical Center, observes that the frequent automated tool alerts can create a distracting environment, with many notifications that aren’t critical.

Michelle Collins, the dean of Loyola University’s College of Nursing, points out that automated systems often miss the subtle indicators—like facial expressions and smells—that experienced nurses can detect.

AI’s role in healthcare efficiency

Administrators view artificial intelligence as a promising solution to support nurses and doctors in gathering information and communicating with patients.

The University of Arkansas Medical Sciences employs this technology to connect with patients and health professionals, streamlining pre-surgery preparation processes.

Dr. Joseph Sanford, who oversees the center’s health IT, explains that it can handle administrative tasks, such as calling patients, which often require nurses to work overtime.

Qventus has expanded its services to more than 115 hospitals, aiming to boost revenue by accelerating surgical procedures and alleviating staff exhaustion.

An Israeli startup, Xoltar, is working to develop human-like avatars that engage in video conversations with patients, offering solutions for chronic pain management and helping individuals quit smoking.

Challenges in AI adoption and accuracy

Still, nursing experts like Roschelle Fritz from the University of California Davis School of Nursing caution that AI may not be suitable for the sickest patients.

Those who study artificial intelligence suggest that these programs may be effective for individuals who are relatively healthy and proactive about their care. However, this does not apply to the majority of people in the healthcare system.

As such, AI-driven virtual assistants should be seen as tools to augment human care, not replace it entirely. In chronic disease management, such tools offer promise, but they must be carefully tested and integrated to ensure they do not compromise patient care.

As AI technology advances, the balance between human expertise and automated assistance in healthcare becomes even more crucial.

AI-driven virtual assistants can offer round-the-clock support, reducing the burden on human staff and improving patient access to care. However, concerns remain about the accuracy and reliability of artificial intelligence in diagnosing and advising on complex medical conditions.

Virtual health assistants like Ana may provide valuable support, but their effectiveness depends on how well they are integrated into the existing healthcare system.

Hospitals must also address the potential for automated systems to create confusion and false alarms, which can detract from the quality of care.

Ethical concerns in AI healthcare integration

The integration of AI into healthcare raises significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding patient autonomy and the role of human judgment.

Nursing unions are pushing for strict regulations to ensure that AI-driven symptom checkers and similar technologies do not diminish the expertise of health providers.

To address these concerns, hospitals and health-tech developers must collaborate with nursing unions to create guidelines that prioritize both patient safety and the quality of care.

AI-driven virtual assistants and tools like symptom checkers could play an important role in the future of healthcare by offering immediate advice and support, potentially preventing minor health issues from escalating. However, these tools must undergo rigorous testing to ensure they do not result in misdiagnoses or inappropriate treatments.

As these AI innovations aim to make health services more personalized and accessible, their implementation must be handled carefully to avoid unintended consequences.

The rapid evolution of medical technologies calls for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure these systems enhance patient care rather than detract from it.

While artificial intelligence can aid in chronic disease management by providing consistent, evidence-based guidance, the human touch and nuanced judgment of healthcare professionals remain indispensable, especially in complex medical situations.

Ensuring AI’s success in healthcare

Looking ahead, the medical field is set to adopt a dual approach, integrating intelligent systems as supplementary tools to human wellness providers, with the ultimate goal of enhancing patient-centered care.

Hospitals must thoroughly evaluate these technological tools, weighing both their advantages and limitations, to ensure they contribute positively to patient care, rather than detracting from it.

For these breakthroughs to succeed, they must undergo rigorous testing, accompanied by open communication about their capabilities and limitations, while prioritizing patient safety throughout their implementation.

As artificial intelligence continues to integrate into healthcare, the priority should be balancing progress with the expertise of human professionals.

The medical community must collaborate to ensure that intelligent systems enhance, rather than replace, human care, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

By addressing ethical concerns, maintaining transparency, and prioritizing patient safety, these advanced tools can become a valuable asset in providing accessible, high-quality care for all.

With the evolution of AI, the healthcare industry must carefully consider its implementation to ensure it enhances patient care and overall healthcare outcomes.

By thoughtfully navigating these challenges, the technology has the potential to become an essential tool in the ongoing effort to provide superior and more accessible services for all.