Is AI an A+? A Quick Breakdown of the Pros and Cons From a Seasoned Nurse

It’s no surprise that artificial intelligence (AI) is staking its claim in our current day and age. While AI presents its own set of controversial opinions about its place and regulation, most of us can agree that our lives have been somehow impacted by these technological advances.

AI’s Role in Healthcare

Of particular concern, is the influence that artificial intelligence has on the health care system. In America, there has long been a shortage of nurses. This fact remains due a continued lack of proper nursing educators, burnout, and an aging workforce. Unfortunately, this predicament was only further exaggerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its continued fallouts.

A High-Tech Solution to a Human Problem

The solution that many medical care agencies are deciding to employ is the use of AI services. This method is backed by extensive research and has shown to increase effectiveness of health care delivery as it decreases the amount of time spent on redundant and predictable tasks. The benefit being that nursing and other clinical staff have more time to devote to higher clinically demanding or judgement-worthy activities.

For example, AI robots are currently being used to assist with medication and lab specimen delivery, basic customer interactions, and documentation, allowing nurses to devote more time to tasks such as IV drip medication titrations, wound care and invasive line assessments.

Potential Drawbacks and Concerns

These solutions sound reasonable, but they also raise concerns. Some of these reservations include:

• What if the electricity goes out and the AI bots have not been charged; what sort of emergency backup protocols are in place to assure no lapse in care delivery?
• What if a patient speaks a language or dialect that the AI robot has not been programmed to understand?
• How about demeanor and body language; how well can a bot interpret those more discerning mannerisms?

Nurses are at the bedside and can use their judgment to combine assessment skills with lab data and medication indications to inform best decisions for patients. Nurses are privy to the subtle changes in a patient’s day-today status that give a better overall picture of where a patient may fall on a health or disease continuum. These comprehensive evaluations produce more informed treatment options and active participation on the patients’ behalf and should not be relegated to an AI bot lest critical information be lost in translation.

Empowering Yourself as a Patient

AI technology is not going anywhere anytime soon, so no use in fighting it. However, let me offer some advice as someone who has worked on the inside: do not be afraid to ask questions or seek clarification when needed. If your assigned AI bot is not giving you the answers you require, ask to speak to a human. If possible, have your questions prepared prior to your appointment or other encounters with medical personnel, bot or otherwise. Rehearse asking the questions in front of a mirror or silently in your head so you feel more comfortable when the time comes for you to speak up.

If you are the adventurous type, ask your doctor or medical provider about what their specific AI bots can do. Within safe ranges, test the AI bot’s limitations. Quiz the AI bot versus the doctor and see who gets more correct answers! Take full advantage of the facetime with AI bot and/or human medical personnel. Get and stay informed and frame new experiences as opportunities for exposure and growth.