Elsevier Report Highlights Nurse Exclusion in Clinical AI Adoption
Event summary
- Elsevier's Clinician of the Future 2026 report reveals 41% of nurses feel underrepresented in AI decision-making, compared to just 19% of physicians.
- Only 41% of nurses use AI regularly, versus 57% of physicians, with 30% of nurses using clinician-specific AI tools compared to 37% of physicians.
- 68% of clinicians report insufficient AI training, and 60% lack confidence in AI governance and oversight.
- 80% of clinicians believe AI will become a critical assistant within the next decade, with 79% seeing AI skills as essential for clinician training.
The big picture
Elsevier's findings underscore a critical gap in clinical AI adoption, with nurses feeling sidelined in both tool development and decision-making. This disparity risks undermining AI's potential to improve patient care and operational efficiency, particularly as healthcare systems face increasing pressure. The report highlights the need for inclusive AI strategies that engage all clinician groups, ensuring tools are designed to support the entire care team.
What we're watching
- Inclusive AI Development
- Whether AI tool developers will prioritize nurse-specific solutions to bridge the current adoption gap.
- Training and Governance
- The pace at which healthcare institutions implement AI training and governance frameworks to build clinician trust.
- Patient Care Impact
- How the uneven adoption of clinical AI tools affects patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
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