Today, I learned that the State of Washington's governor signed HB-2155 that amends the law that pertains to the protection of the title "nurse" to state that makes the distinction that individuals, who do not hold licensed nursing credentials and amending it to add that "nonhuman entities", CANNOT use the title "nurse". Click here to read the language of the now new law.
Learning of this had me really thinking about telehealth, virtual platforms, AI, and other technologies like how some websites have bots. This brings into the realm of nursing this other aspect that really needs to be taken into consideration, knowing what we know now. What also came to mind are the virtual simulation labs that academia is using in nursing programs and I am sure there might be spaces that I haven't even considered.
So, what this first brings to mind is the issue that the title "nurse" is not protected in every state and I have brought up this fact on various occasions. Take a look at the map below and it does seem to me that now there might need to be more urgency for states to protect the title and also add language as Washington did to ensure a nurse is human.
Technology is moving so very quickly and we know that there is a major push for AI to basically be a mainstay in various industries including healthcare. We must really stay on the pulse of all the fast-paced changes that are here today. Don't get me wrong, there are surely some good uses of these advanced technological innovations and AI, but some of what has been spoken about over the past 10 or so years, is how these might affect nursing. We know that in China, they have created "nurse" robots that they have in trials and how we know even here, someone might use a search engine (I think they all have an AI component) to search for health information and advice. Some potentially could have called themselves a "nurse", I do not really know. But, I do know that with only this one state, that I know of, making this important change to their laws, that it will be difficult to filter online information across state lines...the internet does not have a filter or regulations that would not allow a potential AI "nurse" to be viewed in Washington. What this means to me, is that at the national level there would need to be legislation or some technological regulation put in place.
This is just me reflecting on what this topic from a national perspective.
Nursing organizations have shared their position statement/brief on AI for a number of years now.
A theme in all that I have read is how we as nurses need to advocate to not allow these technologies and AI to erode our profession. I have seen telehealth programs that use AI algorithms, is your district's telehealth using this? I am hearing they are not always equitable and fair for all populations. I don't know if they are calling themselves "nurses", but all-in-all we want to be sure that sound evidence-based medicine and nursing care are being provided.
This is just a "food for thought" entry, that came to me. I have many other thoughts about this topic. I do hope that this blog sparks your interest to dig deeper into what is happening in your state and beyond and how something as basic as adding 4 simple words "or any nonhuman entities" could be the world of difference in the care that patients, in our case, that students would receive...
