How to help nurses avoid technology over-reliance

Experts MaryAnn Connor (NYU informatics professor) and Olga Kagan (FANA CEO) warn healthcare leaders to prevent nurse over-reliance on AI tools by balancing digital fluency with core clinical skills. The April 2026 discussion highlights rising concerns that AI integration in nursing risks eroding hands-on clinical judgment if not managed proactively. Leaders must prioritize training programs that reinforce foundational skills—like patient assessment—alongside AI adoption to maintain care quality. Kagan and Connor emphasize that over-dependence on technology could compromise critical thinking, particularly in high-stakes scenarios where human expertise is irreplaceable. The call to action urges systemic changes in education and workflows to ensure AI augments—not replaces—nurses’ clinical decision-making capabilities.