To build trust in AI, involve nurses from the start, executives say

As AI-based platforms enter healthcare sector, industry leaders say Becker that involving nurses from early discussions about AI implementation can help ease concerns and build trust.

Some nurses are create AI-powered healthcare solutions and nursing schools are execution AI in their programs, but many front-line nurses are hesitant about the role of technology in patient care.

On January 16, thousands of members of National Nurses United March nationally to demand the safe implementation of AI. The union, which has about 225,000 members, pointed to a 2024 survey that showed 60% of registered nurses disagreed with the statement: “I hope my employer implements AI with the patient safety as the first priority. »

Another survey, conducted among 837 registered nurses in August and September, revealed that only about a third of nurses trust AI in healthcare settings. Fifty-six percent of respondents reported little or no confidence in AI-based tools for administrative tasks, while 59% expressed little or no confidence in AI technology for assistance to the clinical decision.

Faced with this distrust, some hospital nurses also voiced concerns about the rapid adoption of AI.

In April, nurses from Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente organized a protest advocating for involvement in “every step” of decision-making surrounding AI and other data-driven technologies in healthcare. health care. In October, nurses at 17 hospitals owned by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare ratified contracts ensuring they have a say in the implementation of new technologies, including those powered by AI .

At the same time, a survey conducted in March by the American Nurses Foundation and McKinsey find that a majority of more than 4,000 nurses want to use AI in their work and hope that AI will improve the quality of care.

To gain buy-in and trust, it’s critical to include nurses and other stakeholders in discussions about using AI in health care, according to leaders at Orlando (Fla.) Health , Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and the American Nurses Enterprise.

Several hospitals and systems have established AI Committees with nurse informaticists, said Oriana Beaudet, DNP, RN, vice president of innovation at American Nurses Enterprise.

Darius Love, DNP, RN, assistant vice president of workforce optimization and redesign at Orlando Health, said organizations should create an interdisciplinary team comprised of frontline nurses, IT professionals, leaders, IT staff and regulatory and compliance employees. This collaboration promotes “energy,” “synergy” and a “gentle cadence” of innovation, he said.

Orlando Health is currently testing ambient documentation in its virtual nursing program and engaging nurses throughout the process.

“So our position has been: What you do for me, you do for me,” Dr. Love said. Becker. “So it’s imperative that we include them. And I believe when it comes to workforce stability and things of that nature, feedback from our team members is a gift.”

Julia Mason, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of patient care services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, echoed Dr. Love’s comments. Since beginning her nursing career more than 34 years ago, Dr. Mason describes herself as starting out as a “pencil and paper person.”

Although Brigham and Women’s does not currently have nursing-specific AI pilots, the Mass General Brigham system has an AI governance committee to pursue evidence-based opportunities, said Dr. Mason. The committee ensures that the patient is at the center of everything and that AI does not replace clinical decision-making.

Her key recommendations to other healthcare leaders include exercising caution, conducting thorough research, involving an interdisciplinary AI team with nurses, and including patients and their families in deployment projects of AI.

This strategy might be slower than some people would like, Dr. Mason said, but it’s crucial to be deliberate and gather input from clinicians.

Dr. Love also emphasized the importance of transparency and collaboration.

“I think it’s not for nothing that health care workers are, I want to say, cautious. And I think that’s completely normal. I would be worried if we weren’t.” , he declared. “And so, as leaders, I think it’s our job to really paint the picture, explain the why and, again, inspire our frontline teams, our leaders and our members. teams at all levels to really move forward and truly be partners in the way we reinvent care.