JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Artificial intelligence is set to transform health care, yet little research to date has explored its influence on nursing practice and health policy. Furthermore, there has been little discussion of how artificial intelligence will influence the compassionate care component of nursing care.

Objective:

The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the findings regarding emerging trends in health technologies powered by artificial intelligence and their influence on the following domains of nursing practice: administration, clinical care, policy and research. This article summarizes the findings from three research questions, examining how emerging trends will influence the roles and functions of nurses and influence compassionate nursing care over the next ten years and beyond.

Methods:

Using an established scoping review methodology, MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central, Education Resources Information Centre, Scopus, Web of Science, and Proquest databases were searched. In addition to the electronic database searches, a targeted website search was performed to access relevant grey literature. Abstracts and full-text studies were independently screened by two reviewers using prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included literature focused on nursing and digital health technologies that incorporate artificial intelligence. Data was charted using a structured form and narratively summarized.

Results:

Overall, a total of 130 articles were retrieved from the scoping review for the three research questions that are the focus of this manuscript (117 from database sources and 13 from targeted websites). Common emerging artificial intelligent technologies discussed in the articles included robots (eg, socially assistive robots, humanoid robots, and mobility robots), predictive analytics, “smart homes”, and virtual care providers. The results indicated that artificial intelligence-driven technologies will increasingly be used in the coming years, and may have positive or negative influences on nursing practice depending on whether or not the proactive steps are taken prior to the implementation of these technologies.

Conclusions:

The future of artificial intelligence in health care is imminent, and artificial intelligence has already begun to shape nursing roles, workflows and the nurse-patient relationship. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly present in health care, the findings of this review will help nurse leaders plan for the integration of artificial intelligence into health care in a way that aligns with core nursing values such as compassionate care.