ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: REDEFINING THE FUTURE OF NURSING EDUCATION

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has revolutionized higher education, offering students     more effective and individualized learning experiences.¹ AI, a computer-controlled system designed to learn, reason, perceive, communicate, and make decisions similar to or better than humans, has become integral part of our daily lives through gadgets like smart TVs, wearable fitness trackers, and cell phones.²

In nursing education, AI plays a crucial role and nursing educators are preparing nurses and nursing students for future exposure to AI health technologies (AIHTs). As AIHTs transform health systems, unchecked technological advancements could have unintended consequences for patients and the nursing profession. Therefore, active participation from nurse educators and students in this evolving landscape is essential. Many institutions and clinical skills labs have already integrated AI for educational purposes.³

Integrating AI into nursing education offers benefits such as better learning outcomes and increased productivity. However, it also presents challenges like privacy and security concerns, ethical issues, and resistance to adoption. Faculty members may be worried about AI's impact on their workload and classroom roles or fear that AI might replace human teachers. Addressing these concerns involves emphasizing that AI, when used properly and ethically, enhances the teaching and learning process for both students and instructors.⁴ AI tools can streamline administrative tasks, such as tracking students’ progress, monitoring attendance, and grading, allowing nurse educators to focus on more complex topics and learning outcomes that require specialized knowledge and skills. The ethical use of AI can lead to better learning outcomes, increased productivity, and more effective teaching strategies.⁵

Nurse educators are key stakeholders in developing compassionate and competent caregivers. Nursing schools can create a comprehensive and successful learning environment by balancing AI-powered resources and human interaction. Proper training for nurse educators on applying and incorporating AI into current teaching methods is crucial.⁶ Implementing AI-based tools in nursing curricula requires funding for simulation labs, staff training, software, and hardware while AI applications can assist nurses in clinical decision-making, comprehensive education in undergraduate nursing programs must include clinical information systems, data quality, standardization, data mining, and analytics for accurate results.⁷