AI in health sector grows

Artificial intelligence is becoming more common in healthcare, especially in analyzing data, helping with diagnoses, and interpreting medical images. However, its use by nurses is still limited, with discussions about its role in nursing only beginning.

Nurses face barriers to AI adoption

Flavie Aroulandom, a senior nurse in Paris, says there has not been a major change in how nurses use AI. She points to high costs, the need to test AI tools with hospital systems, and a lack of solutions that truly improve patient care as key obstacles.

Shadow AI use by nurses

Some nurses use AI tools without official permission, a practice called shadow AI. Flavie Aroulandom explains that they often use personal accounts for this, which can lead to misuse. In the private sector, nurses also use AI, but shadow AI is not widely discussed there.

AI helps nurses with knowledge

Julien Grizzetti, a private nurse and software consultant, says AI can help nurses quickly understand complex medical terms or reports. Instead of using search engines, nurses can now ask AI for full explanations. AI is also used to convert voice notes into written reports when sharing with colleagues.

AI as a time-saving tool

Currently, AI is mostly seen as a way to save time on routine tasks and make information easier to find. However, Julien Grizzetti warns that users must stay critical of AI's outputs, whether for medical or administrative tasks. For example, using AI to estimate prescription costs is not recommended due to its current limitations and lack of standardization in prescriptions.

Training and safety are essential

Flavie Aroulandom stresses the need for training to help nurses understand how to use AI properly, including risks, cybersecurity, and how to handle patient data. She warns that using AI without proper safeguards could lead to unauthorized sharing of patient information, which is illegal.

Nursing-specific AI tools needed

Flavie Aroulandom suggests that instead of relying on shadow AI, hospitals should develop tools specifically for nursing. Most AI tools are made for doctors, but they need to be adapted to meet the unique needs of nurses. She has created a prototype that searches hospital guidelines for answers, ensuring it doesn't make up information. This tool needs regular human updates and is still in the early testing phase.

Private sector uses AI cautiously

In the private sector, software companies are adding AI features like scheduling and accounting, without using patient data. However, using AI to estimate costs automatically is still difficult. Some software tries to optimize travel routes, but this requires information only the nurse has, making manual entry on paper calendars more practical.

AI use must be thoughtful and trained

No matter how AI is used, it should be done with awareness, supervision, and careful consideration. Proper training remains crucial for making the best use of AI in healthcare.