Week 4 - MBA 6601 - AI and Nursing

All of the talk about how artificial intelligence (AI) affects us on a day to day basis along with how it will impact jobs got me thinking, how is AI affecting nursing? I found an article that made many good points with some great information. First I think it is important to point out that AI has been around and developing for some time. AI is transforming the world around us at a rapid pace. The United States issues an executive order to accelerate AI research and development, so it must be extremely important to stay ahead of other countries.

Nurses use information that is generated from smart algorithms that are driven by AI everyday. When doing patient assessments and inputting information, the charting system utilizes data to calculate scores for acuity, fall risk, and many other measures. Many of these scores impact the way patient's are cared for and have the ability to affect patient outcomes. SWAT teams are able to utilize the generated information from the data to identify patients that are at risk of declining. 

So what is a SWAT team and why does it matter that they are informed with AI? A SWAT team is made up of nurses that specialize in critical care, ACLS, and trauma care. They are alerted by the information that is entered by the patient's bedside nurse and then are able to review that information and then collaborate as needed on behalf of the patient with their care team. Timely input of information of the bedside nurse is an essential part of this process so that abnormal or deteriorating vital signs are identified in a timely manner before the patient has further deterioration. As these scoring programs change and are integrated into patient care, it is essential that nurses are properly trained on that data and what the calculations from that data mean. What good is a new AI tool without someone who can understand and interpret it? It is not good at all. 

Robots are also changing the nursing profession. One robot named Sophia was developed as a companion robot for older patients. I cannot tell you how helpful a companion robot would have been for me in my bedside staffing days when all an older patient wanted was to not be alone, but because of my responsibilities I was unable to remain at the bedside. I am not sure if a robot would suffice for all people, but it might for some and that would be helpful.

Per this article they are teaching robots how to assist with patient care activities rather than taking over the role of the nurse. One robot that was developed as an assistant, TRINA (Tele-Robotic Intelligent Nursing Assistant), assesses nurses to see if they are at high risk for developing infections based on their interactions with patients and contaminated materials. There is an issue with TRINA however, she performs at a pace 20x slower than a nurse. There are also robots being trained to obtain information such as vital signs, urinalysis, and range-of-motion information. Obtaining this information fro the nurse or practitioner is helpful in freeing them up to make decisions based on that information and focus on their role as the practitioner. There is a long way to go before a nurse will be replaced by a robot and for that I am grateful. I am equally as grateful that AI is playing a part in earlier identification of deterioration which improves patient outcomes.