Background: It is predicted that digital health technologies that incorporate artificial intelligence will transform health care delivery in the next decade. Little research has explored how emerging trends in artificial intelligence–driven digital health technologies may influence the relationship between nurses and patients. Objective: The purpose of this scoping review is to summarize the findings from 4 research questions regarding emerging trends in artificial intelligence–driven digital health technologies and their influence on nursing practice across the 5 domains outlined by the Canadian Nurses Association framework: administration, clinical care, education, policy, and research. Specifically, this scoping review will examine how emerging trends will transform the roles and functions of nurses over the next 10 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 will be performed to access relevant grey literature. Abstracts and full-text studies will be independently screened by 2 reviewers using prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included literature will focus on nursing and digital health technologies that incorporate artificial intelligence. Data will be charted using a structured form and narratively summarized. Results: Electronic database searches have retrieved 10,318 results. The scoping review and subsequent briefing paper will be completed by the fall of 2020. Conclusions: A symposium will be held to share insights gained from this scoping review with key thought leaders and a cross section of stakeholders from administration, clinical care, education, policy, and research as well as patient advocates. The symposium will provide a forum to explore opportunities for action to advance the future of nursing in a technological world and, more specifically, nurses’ delivery of compassionate care in the age of artificial intelligence. Results from the symposium will be summarized in the form of a briefing paper and widely disseminated to relevant stakeholders.
Background: It is predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) will transform nursing across all domains of nursing practice, including administration, clinical care, education, policy, and research. Increasingly, researchers are exploring the potential influences of AI health technologies (AIHTs) on nursing in general and on nursing education more specifically. However, little emphasis has been placed on synthesizing this body of literature. Objective: A scoping review was conducted to summarize the current and predicted influences of AIHTs on nursing education over the next 10 years and beyond. Methods: This scoping review followed a previously published protocol from April 2020. Using an established scoping review methodology, the databases of 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 were searched. In addition to the use of these electronic databases, 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 education and digital health technologies that incorporate AI. Data were charted using a structured form and narratively summarized into categories. Results: A total of 27 articles were identified (20 expository papers, six studies with quantitative or prototyping methods, and one qualitative study). The population included nurses, nurse educators, and nursing students at the entry-to-practice, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. A variety of AIHTs were discussed, including virtual avatar apps, smart homes, predictive analytics, virtual or augmented reality, and robots. The two key categories derived from the literature were (1) influences of AI on nursing education in academic institutions and (2) influences of AI on nursing education in clinical practice. Conclusions: Curricular reform is urgently needed within nursing education programs in academic institutions and clinical practice settings to prepare nurses and nursing students to practice safely and efficiently in the age of AI. Additionally, nurse educators need to adopt new and evolving pedagogies that incorporate AI to better support students at all levels of education. Finally, nursing students and practicing nurses must be equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively assess AIHTs and safely integrate those deemed appropriate to support person-centered compassionate nursing care in practice settings.