Transforming Nursing Education with AI: An Interview with Cristina Lussiana
Big data and machine learning have already impacted most aspects of modern life, and there is growing optimism about using artificial intelligence (AI) to transform health provider education. Cristina Lussiana, a senior program manager of digital health and monitoring at Population Services International (PSI), is an expert in the health applications of AI. Daily Nurse spoke with Lussiana about using AI to transform nursing education.
AI Integration in Healthcare
Recently, progress in digital health has led to larger medical-related datasets, and technological advancements have made it possible for these larger datasets to be processed quickly. At the same time, there has been an increased awareness of AI’s potential to sustain and accelerate positive health outcomes. AI algorithms can quickly provide insights to help prevent, diagnose, and treat—leading to better health outcomes!
AI for Global Health
AI can help identify areas that require investment to build stronger and more resilient health systems. For example, through personalized medicine based on an individual’s medical history and lifestyle, AI can support health practitioners in developing tailored screening and treatment plans. Additionally, AI-powered chatbots can provide accurate information and direct consumers to relevant health facilities, even in areas with limited resources. By analyzing large datasets and identifying patterns, AI algorithms can support governments and public health implementers in predicting outbreaks, playing an important function in health security. AI also has the potential to advance progress in medicine by identifying potential drug targets and improving the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis.
The Potential of ChatGPT-assisted Learning in Nursing Education
ChatGPT provides students with a wealth of information that can fit their educational needs. It offers a variety of case scenarios and medical questions for research and practice. ChatGPT can also facilitate group work, where students can work on similar case scenarios and exchange ideas. Furthermore, students can stay current on the latest guidelines and best practices in medicine and have access to nursing education materials for free, even from low-resource areas. However, it does not and should not replace in-person training.
Potential Misuses of ChatGPT in Nursing Education
While ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in nursing education, students need to be aware of potential misuses, such as AI-related bias, lack of domain-specific knowledge, lack of or limited understanding of context, and overreliance on technology.
The Role of Educators in an AI World
AI technology cannot offer the level of human interaction, debate, discussion, and involvement needed to spark a rich learning experience. The limitations of AI technology make it unlikely that the role of educators will be replaced by AI technology. AI has the potential to complement and enhance education, but it cannot replace what educators offer regarding human interaction and soft skills like critical thinking, understanding of the context, empathy, communication skills, and creativity.
The Role of Higher Education in an AI World
Assuming that knowledge will be increasingly accessible through AI technology for free, the role of higher education might evolve to concentrate on skills and competencies that cannot be learned via AI, like emotional intelligence, critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, contextualization, and prioritization. Furthermore, highly specialized education in medical fields requires education that is not AI-based.
Training Geriatric Nursing Professionals
Geriatric nursing needs highly qualified professionals who confidently and competently manage geriatric patients. Specific education topics include geriatric diseases, management of chronic diseases, mental health, palliative care, emotional intelligence, and ethics.
Evaluating Students’ Competency in Acquiring Knowledge in the Classroom
Traditional paper and pencil formats are still very effective for evaluating students’ competency. These can be complemented by other assessment methods like practical skills assessments and project-based assessments.
The Digital Divide
Digital health and technology have the potential to improve healthcare even in low-resource settings. However, technological advancements can widen the digital divide across socio-demographic groups because not all groups have equal access to technology. It is important to design technology in a way that takes equity and inclusion into consideration and is freely available and accessible to all population segments.
The Future of AI in Healthcare
Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) allows us to collect data while offering services like diagnostic, triaging, and signposting. By implementing FHIR and consumer-facing data, we can identify patterns in digital health that point to causalities the human brain cannot quickly identify.