How Nurses Are Using AI: The Data at a Glance

Nearly two-thirds of nurses say they're using more AI tools than they did a year ago, according to McKinsey and Co. Technology companies are responding with tools built for nursing. Last month, Oracle extended its Clinical AI Agent to nurses. The EHR-embedded solution allows for voice-enabled discrete charting and chart navigation and search, along with AI-generated acute nursing summaries.

How Health Systems Are Using AI to Reduce Nurse Documentation Burden and Improve Clinical Workflows

A press release from Oracle announcing the expansion identifies Clearwater, Florida-based BayCare Health System as an early adopter. In an email to Market Scan, Lynnette Clinton, chief information officer at BayCare, said involving clinicians from the start is key to making AI work.

“We see AI as a tool that can help clinicians work more efficiently, but it will never replace clinical judgment or the human connection that is central to patient care,” Clinton said. “For organizations considering AI adoption, our advice is to focus first on the problem you're trying to solve, involve clinicians early in the process and maintain open communication throughout implementation. When technology is designed around the needs of clinicians and patients, adoption and impact are much more likely to follow.”

As AI tools become more common in health care settings, research from McKinsey and Co. and Incredible Health offers insight into how nurses are using these technologies, where they see value and what supports successful adoption.

Infographic: The surveys highlight several notable trends: AI use among nurses is growing. Nurses increasingly report integrating AI into a variety of clinical and administrative workflows. Nearly 65% of nurses report using more AI tools than they did a year aga. (Ushering in the Next Era of Frontline Nursing with AI; McKinsey and Co.) 44% of nurses report using AI in 2026, up from 15% the previous year. (2026 State of Nursing Report: AI Adoption Trends and Future Implications for Retention; Incredible Healrh, 2026.) 83% of nurses believe AI has the potential to improve patient care at least somewhat. (Ushering in the Next Era of Frontline Nursing with AI; McKinsey and Co.) Involving nurses early in AI decisions helps build trust and adoption. Nearly 1 in 5 nurses report that AI tools are introduced without clear communication about their purpose of use. (2026 State of Nursing Report: AI Adoption Trends and Future Implications for Retention; Incredible Healrh, 2026.) Fewer than 1 in 10 nurses say their employer has communicated a clear AI strategy for their role. (2026 State of Nursing Report: AI Adoption Trends and Future Implications for Retention; Incredible Healrh, 2026.) 74% of nurses involved in selecting AI tools trust them, compared to 38% of nurses who were not consulted. (2026 State of Nursing Report: AI Adoption Trends and Future Implications for Retention; Incredible Healrh, 2026.) Patient documentation is emerging as a leading AI use case for nurses. Documentation and charting are among the most frequently reported nursing AI use cases across surveys. 67: Percent of nurses who say they use AI for patient documentation. (Ushering in the Next Era of Frontline Nursing with AI; McKinsey and Co.)

The Bottom Line for Hospitals and Health Systems

AI is increasingly being used to support nursing workflows, particularly documentation and other administrative tasks. Organizations can improve adoption and outcomes by engaging nurses early, communicating a clear strategy and providing training that helps clinicians use AI effectively and confidently.