A pivotal moment for nursing AI in nursing practice
Workforce shortages and rising patient acuity create significant challenges for the nursing profession, but technology is opening new possibilities. According to the 2025 Future Ready Healthcare Survey, nurses are the most optimistic group about artificial intelligence (AI)'s positive impact on their work. This optimism reflects both necessity and opportunity.
The integration of AI in nursing isn't about replacing the human touch. Its about redefining how nurses work, learn, and care for patients. This technology offers tools that augment clinical expertise and streamline workflows. Ultimately, it helps nurses spend more time on what matters most — patient care. Download the full Nursing Insights: Redefining nursing practice for an AI-driven future to learn more.
Advancing AI-enabled onboarding and training in nursing practice
AI is reshaping how nurses are onboarded and trained, moving away from generic approaches to more targeted support. According to the 2025 Future Ready Healthcare Survey Report, sixty-two percent of nurses say integrating AI into onboarding and training accelerates staff productivity and confidence. Nearly one-third of nurses already see benefits in the way AI-enhanced onboarding helps new team members contribute more quickly.
By using AI to support orientation and learning, organizations can offer just-in-time answers and adapt resources to individual needs. Digital upskilling strategies not only close knowledge gaps but also help nurses feel more prepared for practice. This focus on workforce development is essential as nursing roles evolve in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
Reducing burnout through workflow automation
Administrative burdens are a well-documented contributor to nurse burnout. The survey reveals that seventy-two percent of nurses see these burdens as a major trend affecting the profession. The hours spent on documentation and other non-clinical tasks detract from direct patient care. Forty-five percent of nurses believe generative AI can reduce burnout by handling these lower-value tasks.
AI presents a practical and transformative solution. It can automate and streamline documentation or triage routine patient questions, returning valuable time to nurses. This allows them to focus on providing compassionate care at the bedside, mentoring colleagues, and engaging in the complex clinical reasoning that defines expert nursing.
Navigating data security and over-reliance
While there’s optimism about AI, nurses also recognize the risks. The survey found that fifty-three percent of nurses worry about the erosion of clinical decision-making skills from over-relying on algorithms. At the same time, fifty-seven percent cite privacy and data security as top risks, a major consideration when handling sensitive patient information.
Addressing these worries means keeping a human in the loop. AI should be positioned as a tool that supports clinical judgment, not a system that replaces it. Strong governance is vital, yet only twenty-two percent of nurses report their organization has formal guidance for GenAI use. Clear policies and transparent algorithms are needed to build trust and ensure the final decision always rests with the healthcare professional. This framework makes sure AI serves as a co-pilot, with nurses remaining in command.
Preparing for the future of nursing with AI
A readiness gap exists between optimism and preparation. While seventy-seven percent of nurses see GenAI as important, only forty-six percent feel prepared to use it. Closing this gap is a crucial step for integrating AI into daily practice.
Digital upskilling must become a core component of onboarding and ongoing professional development. Encouragingly, eighty percent of organizations plan to use digital strategies to help their workforce adapt. The successful integration of AI requires deliberate leadership, a strong ethical framework, and a sustained commitment to upskilling the nursing workforce. With thoughtful implementation, AI will empower nurses to practice at the top of their license and lead the way into a new era of patient care.
