Must a Nurse Be Human? A Debate on Agentic AI and the Future of Nursing Practice

Presentation Type: Informatics Debate

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Presentation Time: 03:30 PM - 03:55 PM

Abstract Keywords: Generative AI in Clinical Workflow: Ambient Listening, Chart Summarization, Automated Response with LLM, Ethics, Health Policy, Reimbursement and Affordability, and Sustainability, Human Factors and Usability, Analytical Artificial Intelligence: ML, Digital Pathology, Imaging AI, Predictive Analytics, Governance
Working Group: Nursing Informatics Working Group
Primary Track: Implementing Real-World Change, Digital Engagement, and Connected Health


Rapid advances in agentic artificial intelligence (AI) (defined as systems capable of autonomous planning,
decision-making, and action execution) have accelerated discussions surrounding the relationship between human
roles (e.g., nurses) and non-human intelligences in patient care. While “nurse” is a regulated designation, the use of the world has become commonplace among AI products which seek to augment traditional clinical care pathways
through inference, alerts, or care recommendations. This informatics debate will explore whether, in a healthcare
system enhanced by agentic AI, “nurse” must be human. Two participants will argue in favor of the resolution,
highlighting concepts of moral agency, accountability, compassion, and human-centered, relational care embedded
in the professional identity of nursing. Two participants will argue against, citing emerging use cases demonstrating
AI’s capacity for triage, patient monitoring, documentation, clinical task automation, and relational communication.
The moderator will engage the audience through polling and structured discussion. Attendees will learn to critically
evaluate ethical, regulatory, and operational implications of delegating nursing functions to non-human agents and
consider practical frameworks for determining which tasks should remain human-only.

Moderator:
Carolyn Sun, PhD
Hunter College

Speaker(s):
Carolyn Sun, PhD, RN, ANP, FAAN, FAMIA
Hunter College

Christina Baker, PhD,RN, NCSN, NI-BC
University of Colorado, Anschutz, College of Nursing

Ann Wieben, PhD, RN NI-BC FAMIA
University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing

Benjamin Galatzan, PhD, RN
University of Alabama

Paula Wolski, MSN, RN, NI-BC, FAMIA
Brigham and Women's/Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital

Author(s):
Carolyn Sun, PhD - Hunter College; Benjamin Galatzan, PhD - University of Alabama; Christina Baker, PhD,RN, NCSN, NI-BC - University of Colorado, Anschutz, College of Nursing; Ann Wieben, PhD, RN NI-BC FAMIA - University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing;

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Resolved: AI Scribe–Enabled Order Entry Is Good for Patients, Clinicians, and the Field of Clinical Decision Support

Presentation Type: Informatics Debate

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Presentation Time: 03:55 PM - 04:20 PM

Abstract Keywords: Generative AI in Clinical Workflow: Ambient Listening, Chart Summarization, Automated Response with LLM, Clinical Decision Support and Care Pathways, Human Factors and Usability
Primary Track: Advancing Wellness for Providers and Community with Consideration of Human Factors


While artificial intelligence (AI) scribes reduce documentation burden and improve clinician experience through clinical note generation, more recently multiple AI scribe vendors have announced or are actively piloting queuing up orders as a human scribe might do. The extension of these tools into order suggestions introduces new patient-safety risks as well as unprecedented opportunities for next-generation clinical decision support (CDS). This Informatics Debate will argue the resolution: “AI scribe–enabled order entry (AIOE) is good for patients, clinicians, and the field of CDS.” Proponents will contend that AIOE can improve safety, standardize care, detect omissions, and leverage conversational context unavailable to the electronic health record (EHR). Opponents will argue that AIOE creates novel automation-driven hazards, circumvents existing CDS, and alters responsibility and cognition in ways that risk patient harm. Attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of the benefits, risks, and EHR design implications of AIOE.

Moderator:
Evan Orenstein, MD
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Speaker(s):
Julia Yarahuan, MD, MBI
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta/Emory University

Allison McCoy, PhD, ACHIP, FACMI, FAMIA
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Adam Wright, PhD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Author(s):
Evan Orenstein, MD - Children's Healthcare of Atlanta;

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Debate: Ambient AI Scribes Are Good for the Practice of Medicine and Medical Education

Presentation Type: Informatics Debate

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Presentation Time: 04:20 PM - 04:45 PM

Abstract Keywords: Generative AI in Clinical Workflow: Ambient Listening, Chart Summarization, Automated Response with LLM, Ethics, Workforce Automation, Communication, and Workflow Efficiency, Clinician Well-Being
Primary Track: Advancing Wellness for Providers and Community with Consideration of Human Factors


Ambient “AI scribes” promise to rescue clinicians from documentation overload by listening to encounters and drafting notes. They may also deskill clinicians, hard-code new biases into the chart, and train a generation of residents to edit machine output instead of constructing their own clinical narratives. Ambient AI scribes are good for the practice of medicine and medical education.

One team will argue in favor of ambient scribes as a tool to reduce burnout, improve documentation, support real-time decision making, and enhance learning. The second team will oppose, highlighting safety, equity, medico-legal risks, “never-skilling” learners, eroding narrative competence, and weakening the doctor-patient relationship. Teams will cite current literature and personal experience.

Moderator:
Erik Holbrook, MD
Mass General Brigham

Speaker(s):
Jeffrey Nielson, MD, MS
Kettering Health

Ellen Kim, MD
Harvard Medical School

Colton Hood, Physician
GW Medical Faculty Associates

Margaret Soulen, MD
Dayton Children's Hospital (Dayton, OH)

Author(s):
Jeffrey Nielson, MD, MS - Kettering Health; Colton Hood, Physician - GW Medical Faculty Associates; Nicholas Genes, MD, PhD - NYU Grossman School of Medicine; Margaret Soulen, MD - Dayton Children's Hospital (Dayton, OH); Ellen Kim, MD - Harvard Medical School;

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