The healthcare landscape is changing fast thanks to the introduction of artificial intelligence. These technologies have shifted decision-making power

I’m a neurology ICU nurse. The creep of AI in our hospitals terrifies me

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2024-11-12 15:00:05

The healthcare landscape is changing fast thanks to the introduction of artificial intelligence. These technologies have shifted decision-making power away from nurses and on to the robots. Michael Kennedy, who works as a neuro-intensive care nurse in San Diego, believes AI could destroy nurses’ intuition, skills, and training. The result being that patients are left watched by more machines and fewer pairs of eyes. Here is Michael’s story, as told to Coda’s Isobel Cockerell. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Every morning at about 6:30am I catch the trolley car from my home in downtown San Diego up to the hospital where I work — a place called La Jolla. Southern California isn’t known for its public transportation, but I’m the weirdo that takes it — and I like it. It’s quick, it’s easy, I don’t have to pay for parking, it’s wonderful. A typical shift is 12 hours and it ends up being 13 by the time you do your report and get all your charting done, so you’re there for a very long time.

Most of the time, I don’t go to work expecting catastrophe — of course it happens once in a while, but usually I’m just going into a normal job, where you do routine stuff.