Could AI support expansion of nurse roles?

Working closely with nurse leaders and their frontline teams, we see firsthand the sustained pressure facing healthcare systems, driven by rising clinical complexity, higher patient acuity and persistent workforce shortages. As a result, nurses are increasingly being asked to extend their already wide-ranging roles, taking on responsibilities previously reserved for doctors.

Evidence suggests this shift is not only necessary, but clinically appropriate. A major Cochrane review drawing on data from 82 studies and more than 28,000 patients across 20 countries found that nurses can safely and effectively deliver many aspects of hospital care traditionally provided by doctors. In some settings, nurse‑led care was associated with outcomes that exceeded those achieved through doctor‑led models.¹

An expanded scope of practice is only one part of the challenge. The nature of clinical work itself is changing. Care delivery is becoming more digitally integrated, with growing volumes of data, new decision‑support tools and increasing expectations around documentation, reporting and standardisation. Nurses are required not only to develop new clinical skills, but also to work confidently with digital systems that shape day‑to‑day decision‑making and workflow.