Will AI Replace Nurse Practitioners?

Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses.

interpersonal — Patient history requires live elicitation and judgment

Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.

decision support — Medical plans need exam, liability, and clinical judgment

Provide patients with information needed to promote health, reduce risk factors, or prevent disease or disability.

interpersonal — Medical communication needs empathy and clinical accountability

Analyze and interpret patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.

visual inspection — Image interpretation assists; radiologist owns diagnosis

Diagnose or treat complex, unstable, comorbid, episodic, or emergency conditions in collaboration with other health care providers as necessary.

decision support — AI suggests differentials; clinician examines and owns diagnosis

Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies, based on such patient characteristics as age and gender.

decision support — Prescribing medications is licensed high-stakes judgment

Diagnose or treat chronic health care problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

decision support — AI suggests differentials; clinician examines and owns diagnosis

Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.

decision support — Prescribing medications is licensed high-stakes judgment

Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions with attention to safety, cost, invasiveness, simplicity, acceptability, adherence, and efficacy.

decision support — Prescribing therapy requires licensed clinical accountability

Detect and respond to adverse drug reactions, with special attention to vulnerable populations such as infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, or older adults.

decision support — In-procedure patient monitoring is hands-on clinical work

Diagnose or treat acute health care problems, such as illnesses, infections, or injuries.

decision support — AI suggests differentials; clinician examines and owns diagnosis

Counsel patients about drug regimens and possible side effects or interactions with other substances, such as food supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, or herbal remedies.

decision support — Treatment-effect advice needs clinical tailoring

Order, perform, or interpret the results of diagnostic tests, such as complete blood counts (CBCs), electrocardiograms (EKGs), and radiographs (x-rays).

visual inspection — Image interpretation assists; radiologist owns diagnosis

Educate patients about self-management of acute or chronic illnesses, tailoring instructions to patients' individual circumstances.

interpersonal — Caregiver technique training is live and relational

Maintain current knowledge of state legal regulations for nurse practitioner practice, including reimbursement of services.

information retrieval — AI summarizes medical updates; human retains judgment

Recommend interventions to modify behavior associated with health risks.

decision support — Wellness advice needs tailoring and clinical accountability

Consult with, or refer patients to, appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.

decision support — Clinical referral judgment needs licensed human accountability

Treat or refer patients for primary care conditions, such as headaches, hypertension, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, and dermatological conditions.

decision support — Clinical referral judgment needs licensed human accountability

Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.

information retrieval — AI summarizes medical updates; human retains judgment

Schedule follow-up visits to monitor patients or evaluate health or illness care.

decision support — Clinical scheduling needs human verification of constraints

Perform routine or annual physical examinations.

visual inspection — Patient physical assessment is hands-on clinical work

Maintain departmental policies and procedures in areas such as safety and infection control.

decision support — AI recalls protocols; execution and accountability are human

Advocate for accessible health care that minimizes environmental health risks.

interpersonal — Advocacy requires relationships and accountability

Perform primary care procedures such as suturing, splinting, administering immunizations, taking cultures, and debriding wounds.

physical manipulation — Hands-on treatment of acute conditions

Provide patients or caregivers with assistance in locating health care resources.

information retrieval — Healthcare process guidance is largely informational

Keep abreast of regulatory processes and payer systems, such as Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and private sources.

information retrieval — AI summarizes medical updates; human retains judgment

Supervise or coordinate patient care or support staff activities.

interpersonal — Patient care supervision is live clinical leadership