Where AI can make the biggest impact for nurses 

Artificial intelligence in nursing is often framed as a way to cut paperwork. But nurse informatics leaders told Becker’s its potential goes beyond that, reshaping nurses’ role, strengthening patient safety and providing real-time insights that improve care.

Many did say the most immediate opportunity lies in easing the documentation burden. Jason Atkins, RN, chief clinical informatics officer at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, pointed to ambient listening, chart summarization and care plan automation as tools that can free nurses from clicks in the EHR. These tools allow nurses to spend more time “caring out loud” with patients instead of navigating screens, he said.

Marc Benoy, BSN, RN, CNIO of Summa Health in Akron, Ohio, agreed documentation remains a pain point but stressed the need to align AI adoption with evidence-based practice.

“Even with specialized documentation, nurses are still overburdened,” he said. “AI could provide more focus to the nurse based on a patient’s condition.”

Others emphasized AI’s role in supporting clinical judgment. Anita Harris-Brown, DNP, RN, CNIO at Cincinnati Children’s, said the technology can identify patterns in data, suggest personalized care and automate routine tasks so nurses can spend more time with patients. 

Benjamin Laughton, DNP, RN, CNIO of Cook County Health in Chicago, added that predictive analytics could help detect early signs of deterioration, forecast readmission risk and anticipate staffing challenges. He also noted the potential of visual AI to continuously observe patients and prevent falls or unsafe mobility.

Several leaders described AI as a way to reimagine nurses’ role. Colleen Mallozzi, BSN, RN, CNIO at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, said the greatest opportunity is being able to shift nurses from task-driven providers to “knowledge-enabled clinicians,” with AI offering real-time coaching for newer staff. 

R. Jared Houck, RN, CNIO at Roper St. Francis Healthcare in Charleston, S.C., envisions smart rooms and mobile apps that manage background tasks so nurses can focus fully on the human side of care.

“The true opportunity of AI in nursing is not just accelerating old workflows, but reimagining what work genuinely adds value to patient care,” Mr. Houck said. “The vision is a care environment where intelligence serves as a trusted assistant.”

Other leaders highlighted easing cognitive load and ensuring oversight. Eric Barnhouse, MSN, RN, CNIO at Harris Health System in Bellaire, Texas, said AI could capture nursing interventions automatically and suggest documentation elements, though nurses must remain the final decision-makers. 

Michelle Charles, DNP, RN, CNIO at Parkview Health in Fort Wayne, Ind., echoed that point, stressing that “humans in the loop is crucial to ensure the accuracy, appropriateness and context of AI’s contributions.”

“The combination of AI and human expertise can transform nursing,” Dr. Charles said. “It allows nurses to focus more on direct patient care while maintaining the irreplaceable human judgment, expertise and compassion in healthcare.”

Marc Perkins-Carrillo, MSN, RN, CNIO at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., said the greatest opportunity lies in automating routine tasks such as documentation, scheduling and triage so nurses can devote more time to complex clinical judgment, advocacy and holistic care.

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