This is a guest blog post written by fellow nurse, Dr. Kelly J. Dries, PhD, RN
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant dream or high-tech buzzword in nursing education, it’s here folks. AI and nursing education is reshaping everything. From how students study to how faculty design entire courses. As an educator deeply immersed in both bedside realities and academic innovation, I’ve seen firsthand how AI is both a powerful tool and a complex challenge.
➡️ I recently joined Kati on the FreshRN Podcast to discuss how nurse educators build curriculum and choose what gets taught. That episode gives great background on how decisions are made behind the scenes in nursing school, so if you’re curious, you can listen to it below: 🎧 Nursing School Curriculum Explained: How Educators Choose What to Teach
Today, we’re taking that conversation one step further: into the world of AI and nursing education. Let’s talk about what’s already changing, what’s coming next, and how we can navigate it all with clarity and care.
Table of Contents
How AI Is Changing the Nursing Education Landscape
AI-Powered Learning in Action
AI is already becoming part of the everyday student experience, even if they don’t realize it.
Tools like Grammarly, Google’s AI writing features, and apps like ChatGPT are being used to summarize articles, build flashcards, and outline care plans. Many students are using AI to create quizzes for studying, generate ideas for assignments, or even help translate materials if English isn’t their first language.
For many, this streamlines study time quite a bit, and helps focus their energy where it matters most: actually understanding the concepts and applying them clinically.
Personalized, Data-Driven Learning
Another major benefit of AI is its ability to personalize learning. Adaptive platforms like Lippincott’s PrepU use performance data to guide students through customized review paths, showing them exactly what to study next.
So instead of reviewing an entire chapter, students are directed to content that aligns with their learning gaps. As you can imagine, this makes exam prep way more efficient and effective, especially for big milestones like the NCLEX.
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The Role of Nurse Educators Is Evolving
AI isn’t just changing how students study; it’s changing how instructors teach.
As AI tools take over content delivery and basic task generation, faculty are shifting from being the main “source” of information to becoming facilitators of deeper learning. We’re focusing more on mentoring, coaching, and helping students develop clinical judgment, not just memorization.
Educators are also beginning to use AI analytics to improve course design and refine curriculum over time. It’s a shift from “teaching at” students to almost co-creating the learning experience with them.
But this evolution also requires new strategies. Assignments must now be designed to encourage analysis and decision-making, rather than answers that can be Googled or generated by a bot. In many ways, AI is pushing us to become more intentional teachers, and our students benefit from that.
What’s Next: VR, Simulation, and Support
Immersive Clinical Simulations
Simulated learning isn’t new, but now it’s smarter and more lifelike than ever.
Platforms like vrClinicals for Nursing, vSim, and Lippincott Client Cases for Clinical Judgment allow students to practice hands-on decision-making in non-threatening environments. These simulations build confidence while helping students integrate concepts across the care continuum.
And thanks to AI, these simulations are no longer static. With conversational AI layered into VR, students can now speak to virtual patients, receive realistic responses, and practice everything from assessment questions to discharge education, all in real time. 🤯
This supports both clinical skill and emotional intelligence, giving learners a much more complete training experience before they ever touch a real patient.
AI-Powered Mentorship Apps
AI is also helping students stay mentally and emotionally supported. New apps can:
- Remind students about deadlines and study tasks
- Offer mental health check-ins or stress reduction prompts
- Match learners with mentors or peer coaches
It’s like having a wellness coach, academic advisor, and support buddy all in your pocket, especially helpful for students juggling school, work, and family life.
The Challenges We Can’t Ignore
While the benefits of AI are exciting, there are real concerns that require careful attention. Let’s discuss some of the main ones.
Academic Integrity & Ownership
AI raises new questions about authorship. Who owns a care plan written by AI? Is it considered plagiarism if ChatGPT helps summarize your notes or thoughts?
To deal with these questions, educators and institutions need clear policies that set expectations around ethical use of AI, collaboration, and originality. This isn’t just about catching “cheaters”, it’s about helping students (and all of us!) learn how to use AI responsibly and professionally.
Privacy & Data Ethics
As you can imagine, adaptive platforms collect a lot of data on how students perform, what they click on, how long they spend on questions, and more. That data can be used to improve learning outcomes, but it must be protected.
Schools and vendors need to prioritize transparency and consent, making sure students know how their data is used and stored.
Equity & Access
Not every student has access to the same technology. Some may not own reliable devices or have fast internet at home. Others may attend schools that can’t afford AI-integrated tools.
As AI becomes more common, we must be careful it doesn’t widen the equity gap. Access to education shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code or your bandwidth.
Moving Forward with Intention
It can make studying easier, help personalize learning, and support clinical decision-making. But it can’t replace the things the heart of nursing: human connection, critical thinking, or compassionate care.
As educators and students, we must:
- Stay curious about what’s possible
- Be cautious about what’s ethical
- Stay committed to patient care, safety, and empathy
AI in nursing education has the potential to be revolutionary, and it’s already getting there. But only if we use it with intention, integrity, and heart.
Learn More About AI and Nursing Education
- Wolters Kluwer Survey: Nursing schools to more than double GenAI use in 2–3 years
- Daily Nurse Article: “Solving the Nursing Shortage Starts with Investing in Educators”
- AI in Nursing Education: Opportunities and Challenges
About The Author
Kelly J. Dries, PhD, RN, is a transformational nurse educator and leader with over 28 years of experience. A former floor nurse, nursing faculty, and Dean of Nursing, she now serves as Director of Nursing Program Success at Wolters Kluwer, where she brings strategic vision and innovation to academic program development. Dr. Dries has a proven track record of leading diverse nursing programs, optimizing operations, and fostering inclusive, high-impact learning environments.
Known for her integrity, collaborative spirit, and results-driven approach, she is deeply committed to advancing excellence in nursing education and empowering faculty, staff, and students to reach their full potential.
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