Key points from article :
Jacqui Cooper, chief nursing information officer at Health Innovation Manchester and NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, argues that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to relieve nurses from overwhelming documentation duties and free up more time for direct patient care. However, she stresses that its integration into clinical nursing practice must be underpinned by strong governance to ensure ethical, safe, and effective use.
In the UK, AI in healthcare is regulated through a patchwork of existing frameworks rather than a single law. Key among these are the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, which govern the safety of AI-driven tools, and the Data Protection Act 2018, which protects patient data. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency also plays a key role in overseeing AI safety in clinical settings.
Cooper highlights challenges posed by the “black box” nature of some AI systems, which make it difficult for nurses to understand and explain the reasoning behind automated clinical decisions. She calls for more interpretable AI tools and points to NHS initiatives like algorithmic impact assessments, which aim to detect and mitigate algorithmic bias before technologies are deployed in patient care.
To navigate this evolving landscape, nurses must be trained in digital literacy and understand the limits and responsibilities of using AI in clinical practice. International frameworks such as FUTURE-AI offer guidance on fairness, usability, and transparency. Ultimately, Cooper believes that while AI can enhance efficiency and care quality, its adoption must be carefully managed to preserve trust, patient safety, and ethical standards in nursing.
