Artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics are no longer just buzzwords—they’re transforming the way healthcare teams anticipate patient needs, streamline workflows, and ultimately improve outcomes. In our latest session of the Nursing Informatics Webinar Series, board-certified nursing informatics specialist Nicole Duke unpacked what these technologies really mean for nursing practice and how leaders can use them responsibly to strengthen care delivery.
What AI Really Means in Healthcare
Nicole began with a foundational question: What if you could know a patient was at risk of deteriorating before their vital signs ever changed? That’s the promise of predictive analytics. By reviewing thousands of data points—from labs to nursing notes—AI can highlight risks earlier, giving clinicians the chance to act sooner.
AI isn’t one tool but an umbrella of technologies: machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, and more. Together, they can handle everything from flagging high-risk patients to easing documentation burdens and even supporting real-time clinical decision-making.
The Role of Nursing
For many nurses, the natural question is: Will AI take our jobs? Nicole emphasized that the opposite is true. When used appropriately, AI strengthens—not replaces—the nursing process. It acts like an “extra teammate,” supporting each phase of care:
- Assessment: Predictive models flag patient risks earlier.
- Planning: AI-driven guidelines support safer, evidence-based care plans.
- Intervention: Smart devices and real-time documentation tools free nurses to focus on patients.
- Evaluation: AI analyzes outcomes in real time and recommends adjustments.
The result? Safer care, reduced administrative burden, and more time at the bedside.
Why Data Quality Matters
AI is only as strong as the data it’s built on. Inconsistent or biased data risks reinforcing disparities rather than closing them. Nicole highlighted the importance of standardization, transparency, and clinician involvement in development. Nurses and informaticists must be at the table to ensure AI tools align with workflows, protect patient privacy, and advance equity.
How Dossier Is Putting AI Into Practice
Following Nicole’s presentation, Geir Arnhoff, CEO of Dossier, shared how Dossier is embedding AI responsibly into its platform. Since 2022, Dossier has been piloting Dossier Assistant, an in-app AI tool designed to help clinicians and leaders navigate competency management more efficiently.
Dossier Assistant understands context, surfaces the right guidance in the right moment, and links users directly to the information they need—reducing time spent searching and allowing teams to focus more on patient care. With its formal launch coming soon, Dossier Assistant reflects our belief that AI should be used to support clinicians, not replace them.
As Geir explained, Dossier sees itself as a “crash test dummy” for new technology—testing, refining, and only releasing AI-powered features once they’re mature enough to deliver safe, meaningful value.
Looking Ahead
The conversation around AI in nursing informatics is just beginning. From predictive analytics to documentation support, the opportunities are exciting—but they also come with responsibility. Nurses must remain engaged in shaping how these tools are designed and used, ensuring they truly enhance care rather than add new burdens.
This webinar was the second in our Nursing Informatics Webinar Series, with more sessions to come. Together, we’ll continue exploring how technology, guided by nursing leadership, can strengthen patient care, professional growth, and workforce resilience.
Missed the webinar? You can watch the full recording here.