Nurses “get” AI and can see the promise
While burnout and staffing shortages take a toll on nurses’ minds, they also create an opportunity for new technologies and models of care to support the future of the profession. Most nurses in the United States say the use of AI has become commonplace and could ease the transition from training to practice.
- 58% of nurses say they use GenAI in their personal life and 46% say they use it in their workplace.
- Nearly half of nurses (45%) say GenAI could help reduce nurse burnout by automating documentation, triaging routine patient questions, and streamlining workflows.
- 62% of nurses say integrating AI into onboarding and training helps staff become more productive by speeding up the time it takes for new grads and transfers to confidently contribute on the unit.
Concerns hover over wider adoption of AI in healthcare
While there is a lot of optimism about the use of AI across all industries, including healthcare, there is a gap between how quickly consumer AI is being deployed and what that means for a more evidence-based industry like healthcare.
- Only 22% of nurses surveyed say their institutions have published policies in place for the use of GenAI.
- 22% of their organizations require formal training before deploying the tools into nursing workflows.
- More than half of nurses (53%) say they are concerned that GenAI could harm decision-making skills or lead to overreliance on algorithm results.
What are the next steps for AI in healthcare and nursing?
Finding a balance between areas where technology can enhance, not detract from, nurses’ daily workflows while continuing to innovate across the healthcare system will be crucial.
- 77% of nurses say they view GenAI as important to the future of their organization’s productivity
- 80% of organizations say they plan to use digital strategies for professional development to create a direct opportunity to prepare nurses for AI-enabled practice.
- Nearly a third (28%) of nurses say GenAI’s improved onboarding and training makes new staff more productive and confident.
- 54% of nurses say GenAI can improve innovation, while 54% say it can improve collaboration and communication.
Download the full Nursing Perspectives: Redefining nursing practice for an AI-driven future to find out more.
THE Future Ready Healthcare Survey Report is a nationally representative survey conducted by Ipsos, an independent market research company, in early 2025. Respondents included doctors, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, administrators and medical librarians across the United States.