Most nurses consider AI tools useful; Skeptics remain in a large-scale nursing study

A national survey of nurses’ attitudes toward the implementation of artificial intelligence in healthcare revealed notable hesitations amid overall optimism.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents said they would like to see more AI tools in their work, according to a McKinsey-American Nurses Foundation collaboration report for more than 7,000 nurses.

About 4%, or 250, of respondents worked in skilled nursing facilities, a number not far removed from the total percentage of American nurses employed at SNFs (6%).

Although providers are typically looking for ways to… AI investment will give them a guaranteed return, nurses are more concerned about how the technology will impact their daily routines.

Seventy percent of respondents said AI would be very helpful in medication management, while the same number said it would be very helpful in eliminating tasks and increasing job satisfaction.

Many nurses see where AI could ease their burden, but some are wary of the newness of it all.

Nurses’ top three concerns when using AI were accuracy, the absence of human interaction, and uncertainty about its use.

That reluctance mimics what adults 50 and older across the country are thinking. About 74% middle-aged and senior Americans said they wouldn’t trust health information generated by AI, according to another survey.

This offers nurses the opportunity to play an important role in changing the narrative, experts emphasize.

Along with 69% of nurses thinking AI would be very helpful in educating patients, the report noted that 73% think a nurse’s opinion is valuable when designing and optimizing an AI tool. More than two-thirds (69%) say that having evidence that AI is effective for patient safety is imperative to addressing the concerns of both residents and nurses.

An industry veteran emphasized this week that the end goal – better outcomes for residents – should not be lost sight of when considering AI in long-term care.

“Every industry is investing in technology, and they’re doing so because it’s the way to maximize the impact of the organization’s investment of time, energy and money,” said Bill Charnetski, EVP of healthcare systems and government affairs at PointClickCare, during a presentation LeadingAge’s annual meeting on Monday. “But it also optimizes residents’ lives and experiences in skilled nursing facilities.”