Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not new, but its latest applications are transformative. Nursing professionals can take advantage of the increased data sets and processing power to make better decisions that improve patient health outcomes and their nursing skills. AI can take on some non-skilled tasks, leaving nurses to focus on direct patient care. It can also help make more accurate decisions and reduce medical errors. Want to be a part of this AI revolution in nursing?
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence leverages computers to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making of humans. Different types of AI include:
Weak AI – trained and focused on specific tasks.
Strong AI – a machine with intelligence equal to a human, has self-awareness and can problem solve, learn, and plan for the future. A level we have not reached but anticipate for the future.
Deep Learning vs Machine Learning
Both deep and machine learning are sub-fields of artificial intelligence. Machine learning focuses on using data and algorithms to imitate human learning. Deep learning is a sub-field of machine learning comprised of neural networks. These neural networks harness more than three layers of input and output. The network uses more extensive data sets than machine learning to automate most of the correlation and decision paths in the learning process.
Generative AI
Generative artificial intelligence refers to deep learning that can take raw data and learn to generate very accurate educated guesses with that data. Deep learning has allowed generative AI to move beyond statistical analysis to images, speech, and complex data types.
What are the Different Types of Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence can be divided into four categories: reactive machines, limited memory, theory of mind, and self-awareness.
Reactive Machines – follow basic AI principles and can use intelligence to see and react in real time. It has no memory and cannot rely on past experiences. The benefit of reactive machines is that they are reliable and react the same way to the same stimuli every time. Two examples of this AI are Deep Blue (IBM’s chess-playing supercomputer) and AlphaGo (a neural net that evaluates many games to beat a champion Go player).
Limited Memory – can store previous data and predictions and weigh potential decisions. It continuously trains to analyze and utilize new data to improve outcomes automatically.
Theory of Mind – a theoretical type of artificial intelligence that focuses on human thoughts and emotions that affect behavior. The AI would make decisions through self-reflection and determination on its own.
Self-Awareness – the final step of the theory of mind where AI becomes self-aware. The AI possesses human-level consciousness and understands the concept of existence, empathy, and intuition.
What are Some Artificial Intelligence Applications?
There are many real-world applications of AI, which include:
Speech Recognition – uses natural language processing to process human speech into written text.
Customer Service – virtual agents that replace human agents to answer common FAQs.
Computer Vision – enables computers to derive meaningful information from digital images, videos, and other visual inputs.
Recommendation Engines – algorithms that discover trends using past behavior data to develop cross-selling opportunities or product add-ons in the check out processes.
What is the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Nursing?
Research into Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the medical field has advanced recently. With the increase in medical demand, it is essential to integrate AI into the nursing field. AI medical decisions can be more accurate, effective, efficient, and personalized. The main goal of AI in nursing is to solve problems, reduce errors, and improve patient outcomes.
Cancer Calculations
Machine learning may be able to use algorithms that visualize the best model to identify cancer using patient nomograms and web calculators to help nurses access cancer status and reduce mortality rates with early warning signs.
Emergency Interventions
AI can use an algorithm to detect patients’ health conditions entering medical facilities using real-time data from electronic health records to triage patients and identify emergencies. Catching emergencies quicker can offer better patient outcomes.
Better Healthcare
AI can improve and expand patient access to high-quality healthcare, with personalized treatments and monitoring to reduce error rates and lower overall costs. So far, AI has improved care by decreasing the number of time-consuming tasks that do not require a nurse’s intervention, freeing nurses up to provide direct patient care.
Medical Records Improvements
AI helps organize electronic medical records (EMRs) so they are easily accessible for medical professionals. The information capacity of hospital databases will need to keep up with AI advancements.
Improved Quality of Service
AI can improve the quality of healthcare service for patients in medical facilities by offering better efficiency, safety, and access. This can be created through collaboration, coordination, and communication between healthcare training providers. In this example, AI can help reduce the workload for nurses to maximize healthcare services.
Enhanced Clinical Decisions
AI clinical decision support software can supplement a nurse’s ability to make clinical decisions. The machine learning algorithm may offer medical alternatives that are not common but may be relevant based on electronic health records, vital signs, and other diseases and disorders. AI can consider large amounts of data to make risk predictions and automatically adjust calculations and decisions with additional data.
Final Thoughts
Did reading about Artificial Intelligence in Nursing interest you? If so, consider attending the Vocational Nursing program at CyberTex to learn more about how to become a nurse and about advanced medical technologies like artificial intelligence. Ride the wave of innovation and start working in a future-forward profession with CyberTex’s help.
Licensed Vocational Nurse
Classes for the Vocational Nursing program are conducted in a student-friendly atmosphere conveniently located in Austin, Texas. After graduating from the Licensed Vocational Nursing program, students can apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), and start their exciting new career immediately.
Contact us today to learn more about our CyberTex Austin campus.