Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common in healthcare across the United States. Medical practice administrators, healthcare owners, and IT managers see that AI tools can help improve patient care and make clinical work easier. Nurses play a key role because they interact closely with patients and provide care. It is important that nurses learn about, accept, and use AI in an ethical way to make sure AI works well in healthcare.
This article explains the N.U.R.S.E.S. framework. It is a plan to help nurses use AI safely and responsibly. The article also talks about how AI can automate tasks in healthcare, which is interesting for administrators and IT managers who want to add efficient and patient-focused technology to their workplaces.
The N.U.R.S.E.S. framework was created to help nurses learn about AI in hospitals and clinics. It was shared by Stephanie H. Hoelscher and Ashley Pugh in Nursing Outlook (July-August 2025). This framework helps nurses combine their experience with AI knowledge and ethics. There are six parts in the framework:
Each part helps nurses use AI tools well and keep patients safe.
Nurses need to understand what AI is. They should know about basic ideas like machine learning, natural language processing, and data analytics. This helps nurses see how AI tools are different from regular clinical tools. For example, AI tools for diagnosis or patient monitoring need nurses to know how data is gathered, handled, and interpreted.
Medical practice administrators can help by making sure nurses get training on AI basics. Adding AI topics to school lessons and work training can close the knowledge gap many hospitals have. Hospitals might work with AI companies or universities to offer special learning programs for nurses.
AI tools work best when used for a clear reason. Nurses should use results from AI, like predictions about patient risks or help with decisions, to support their own judgment. AI should not replace nurses’ care. Using AI smartly can help nurses focus on patients’ responses, notice early trouble, or manage long-term care better.
Managers should include nurses in choosing AI tools that fit the goals of the clinic or hospital. AI needs to fit the usual work without causing problems. For owners and IT managers, it is important to check if AI tools work well with existing electronic health records (EHR) and to have nurses try out the tools before full use.
AI can cause problems that might hurt patients if not handled well. One big problem is biased data. If AI systems learn from data that does not include many types of patients, they can give wrong advice. Nurses should watch for bias and report problems that could harm care quality.
Other problems are relying too much on AI, misunderstanding AI data, and technical errors. The N.U.R.S.E.S. framework asks hospitals to create a safe place where nurses can spot issues and report them without fear. Good communication between IT and clinical leaders is very important to find and fix AI errors.
Ongoing education is a key part of this framework. AI changes fast, so nurses need regular training and updated courses to keep up. They should have chances to improve their digital health skills continuously.
Admins can work with tech companies to offer ongoing training made for nurses. They can also set up mentorship programs where skilled nurses help others learn and feel confident using AI.
Using AI ethically is important to protect patient safety, privacy, and trust. Nurses need to follow ethical rules when using AI. This means keeping patient information private, being open about AI advice, and supporting fair AI tools.
Hospitals must follow U.S. laws like HIPAA when adding AI systems. Owners and IT managers should check that AI tools meet privacy and security rules. Nurses also need to know the hospital’s policies about AI to work within legal and ethical limits.
Nurses should take part in developing and managing AI in healthcare. Their experience with patients gives important input about what is needed and how AI tools should work. Nurses can join meetings to give feedback or help make rules about AI use. This will make AI better and safer for patients and staff.
Admins and IT leaders should create a place where nurses can share their ideas about AI. This helps hospitals use AI in the best way and improves health outcomes.
AI can make healthcare work faster and easier, especially for nurses. Automating repeated and long tasks lets nurses spend more time with patients. AI automation is important for U.S. clinics and hospitals that want to be more efficient, cut errors, and improve patient care.
Simbo AI is a company that uses AI for phone automation and answering services. This helps front desk staff handle patient calls better by automating scheduling, questions, and triage using AI phone systems.
Admins can use automated phone systems to lower the number of non-clinical calls to nurses. This lets nurses spend more time on medical work. Better phone systems can help patients reach care faster, reduce waiting on calls, and make sure urgent questions get quick attention.
AI also helps with data entry and paperwork, which can lower nurse burnout. Tools like speech recognition turn nursing notes into text during or right after patient care, making the notes accurate and timely.
Using AI for documentation helps clinics lower mistakes and have better data for decisions. IT managers should pick AI tools that easily connect with existing EHR systems and keep data safe.
AI patient monitors collect continuous data and alert nurses if a patient’s condition changes. These alerts help nurses pay attention to patients who may get worse early, which supports quick care and reduces bad events.
Clinical leaders should check AI monitoring for accuracy, reliability, and ease of use. Training nurses to understand these alerts and use the information in care plans is important.
AI can predict patient numbers, how work is shared, and staff scheduling needs. Automating these tasks helps nursing managers use resources well, avoiding staff shortages or extra overtime.
Owners can use AI tools to create better staff schedules that make jobs easier and keep patients safe. Nurses will have better organized daily work with support from these tools.
To use AI well, nurses need to close gaps in AI knowledge. Stephanie H. Hoelscher and Ashley Pugh say nursing education in schools and workplaces must include AI lessons regularly. Giving nurses hands-on AI learning helps them understand AI benefits and risks, leading to safer care.
Adding AI experiences to clinical practice and offering certificates for health technology skills will prepare nurses for future digital health tools. Admins should support learning partnerships and encourage nurses to keep learning about AI.
Ethics must guide all AI use in nursing. Protecting patient privacy is very important. AI tools should not be biased against any patient groups. Nurses need to be able to know when AI advice is wrong and be able to override AI if needed.
Hospitals should have clear policies that explain nurse duties and limits on AI. Reporting problems with AI keeps care safe and accountable. IT leaders must check that AI vendors meet ethical rules and follow U.S. healthcare laws.
Nurses have close contact with patients and can offer important views on how AI can improve care. The N.U.R.S.E.S. framework asks nurses to help choose AI tools, give feedback, and join committees about AI use.
Admins and owners can support nurses by creating roles or groups focused on AI. This teamwork helps connect AI tools to clinical work and ethical rules.
By using the N.U.R.S.E.S. framework and supporting AI automation, healthcare providers in the U.S. can handle challenges from new technology. Administrators, owners, and IT managers need to work closely with nurses to use AI carefully, fairly, and well. This will lead to better patient care and smoother operations.
AI literacy is crucial for nurses to ensure the safe and effective use of AI technologies in patient care, enabling them to enhance decision-making and adapt to evolving healthcare environments.
The N.U.R.S.E.S. framework—Navigate AI basics, Utilize AI strategically, Recognize AI pitfalls, Skills support, Ethics in action, and Shape the future—offers a structured approach for nurses to incorporate AI knowledge and ethics into clinical practice.
By integrating AI principles into both academic curricula and bedside learning, nurses can close the knowledge gap, ensuring proficiency in AI application and ongoing competency development.
Continuous education helps nurses stay updated with AI advances, sharpening their skills to responsibly and competently use AI tools in dynamic healthcare settings.
AI enhances nursing decision-making, supports workflow efficiency, and provides tools for improved patient diagnosis and care management.
Challenges include managing biased data, ensuring ethical application, and overcoming gaps in AI knowledge among nursing staff.
Ethical considerations ensure that AI is used responsibly, protecting patient rights and safety, while maintaining trust and integrity in healthcare delivery.
Nurses influence AI development by advocating for ethical policies, participating in governance, and applying AI tools that prioritize patient and organizational benefits.
Recognizing pitfalls such as bias and misuse enables nurses to mitigate risks, promoting safer AI implementation and safeguarding quality care.
AI literacy empowers nurses to confidently navigate emerging technologies, enhancing their role in care delivery and policy advocacy within healthcare systems.
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