Leaders of New York’s nursing community are expressing strong concerns over the city’s hospital system’s introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, which they believe pose risks to both their jobs and patient safety. This feedback comes amid reports that hospital administrators have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in AI technologies with minimal input from frontline staff.
At a recent meeting of the “State of Nursing” Committee on Hospitals, Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), raised alarm over the implementation of AI without adequate training or protocols for nurses. “What do we do? What if the machines stop working? How do we go back to monitor that patient?” she questioned, recalling an unsettling incident when devices were suddenly installed on patients’ skulls in the ICU by a pharmaceutical company, leaving staff unprepared.
Hagans, who has spent over 30 years at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, emphasized the importance of involving nurses in decision-making processes regarding AI. “A lot of time, the hospitals want to come out with everything, with those AI, but we’re not part of the decision making,” she said. “We need to be part of the decision making, because it’s affecting how we care for our patients.”
In a similar vein, Denash Forbes, NYSNA director at large and a nurse at Mount Sinai West, criticized her employer for its significant investment in AI technology, describing it as ultimately increasing the workload for nurses while diminishing their oversight capabilities. “The hospital system proudly celebrates Sofiya, the latest AI assistant in Mount Sinai’s cardiac catheterization lab. Nurses have to check Sofiya’s work to make sure she hasn’t made a mistake,” Forbes noted.
Robbie Freeman, chief digital transformation officer at Mount Sinai, defended the use of AI, stating the hospital aims to “leverage AI as a supportive tool to enhance clinical decision-making—not to replace it.” However, local nurses and leaders are skeptical, viewing the move as a cost-saving strategy that compromises the expertise of nurses. “When hospitals try to cut corners like this to save patient care, mistakes are made, biases are magnified, and more work is often created down the line,” Forbes warned.
The introduction of AI tools into healthcare settings is a growing trend, with New York City hospitals at the forefront. A recent survey indicated that one in three Americans are utilizing AI to assist in managing their health, although there have been instances where the AI, such as ChatGPT, provided inaccurate medical advice, leading some patients to emergency rooms.
Hagans acknowledged that concerns surrounding AI have prompted nursing leaders to advocate for safety measures in ongoing contract negotiations. “The AI should not be replacing our nurses. They should not be the one to care for our patients, because we need real nurses at real time at the bedside to care for our patients,” she asserted.
Even political figures are voicing their apprehensions about AI in healthcare. Brooklyn councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse, who is also a registered nurse, expressed her skepticism, saying, “All jokes aside, I don’t want no AI or robotic person to take care of me.”
The growing presence of AI in treatment protocols is reshaping the healthcare landscape, and the pushback from nursing professionals highlights the need for a balanced approach that prioritizes both technological advancement and patient care. As discussions continue, the impact of AI on nursing roles and patient outcomes remains a critical area of focus for healthcare stakeholders.
For more about the implications of AI in healthcare, visit NYSNA, or learn about the innovations at Mount Sinai Health System.
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