Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) 's rapid growth in higher education generates excitement and concerns among educators (Lane et al., 2024). This shift towards AI is pervasive in healthcare (Glauberman et al., 2023), allowing educators to develop innovative methods throughout the curriculum (Buchanan et al., 2021). The introduction and implementation of AI within undergraduate education can be engaging and a new pedagogical approach to capturing an audience that emerged with technology. The purpose of this pilot study is to examine the use of an AI platform to interact with students in virtual reality on how to conduct difficult conversations with patients and/or family members, such as advance directives or Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) options.
A pilot study in Fundamentals of Nursing courses will be conducted in the spring of 2025 for approximately 50 students in a Baccalaureate Nursing program. The topic “Difficult Conversations” will be used in an interactive AI platform. The design is a meeting between a patient’s family member (an AI bot) and the nursing student to discuss advanced directives and DNR options. A formal rubric was designed to evaluate the student’s success in completing the task at an 80% or higher level. Prep work will include assigned reading and a simulation worksheet. The rubric will be utilized for reflective learning among the students. Participation is voluntary at this time.
Understanding and learning empathy and caring in conducting difficult conversations is a concept that students struggle with in all areas of the health professions. Developing active learning strategies outside of the clinical area provides a safe space for students to practice and learn techniques they can adopt for this arduous task. Our aim is to allow students to deepen their understanding of the concepts around difficult conversations, such as death and dying, and improve their ability to think critically with empathy and compassion to provide information to the family. The interactive process provides a formal competency-based assessment before being faced with interactions with actual patients and families. With the advent of the AACN Essentials (AACN, 2021) and the move toward competency-based education (Carrington et al., 2024), this pilot engages students to participate in their learning actively. Success can be applied to multiple areas in nursing where students can utilize AI platforms to practice exercises before attending the clinical area.
Notes
References:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The essentials: Core
competencies for professional nursing education.
https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Essentials-2021.pdf
Buchanan, C., Wilson, R., Booth, R.G., Risling, T., & Bamford, M. (2021). Predicted influences of artificial intelligence on nursing education: Scoping review. Journal of Medical Internet Research Nursing, 4(1),e23933. https:/doi.org/10.2196/23933
Carrington, J.M., Love, R., Bumbach, M.D., Maymi, M.A,, & Newbutt, N. (2024) Nursing education and artificial intelligence. Innovation in Applied Nursing Informatics, 165-169. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI240127
Glauberman, G., Ito-Fujita, A., Katz, S., & Callahan, J. (2023). Artificial intelligence in nursing education: Opportunities and challenges. Hawai’i Journal of Health & Social Welfare,82(12), 302-305.
Lane, S.H., Haley, T., & Brachney, D.E. (2024). Tool or tyrant: Guiding and guarding generative artificial intelligence use in nursing education. Creative Nursing, 30(2), 125-132. https://doi.org/10.1177/10784535241247094
Sigma Membership
Alpha Omega
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Pilot/Exploratory Study
Keywords:
Virtual Learning, Competence, Teaching and Learning Strategies, Artificial Intelligence, AI, Difficult Conversations
Recommended Citation
Johnston, Jacqueline Patricia; Kabigting, Edwin-Nikko Roxas; and Rosario-Gonzalez, Kattiria M., "Using AI to Demonstrate Difficult Conversations with Patients, Family Members, and Nursing Students" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 141.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/141
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Using AI to Demonstrate Difficult Conversations with Patients, Family Members, and Nursing Students
Seattle, Washington, USA
Artificial Intelligence (AI) 's rapid growth in higher education generates excitement and concerns among educators (Lane et al., 2024). This shift towards AI is pervasive in healthcare (Glauberman et al., 2023), allowing educators to develop innovative methods throughout the curriculum (Buchanan et al., 2021). The introduction and implementation of AI within undergraduate education can be engaging and a new pedagogical approach to capturing an audience that emerged with technology. The purpose of this pilot study is to examine the use of an AI platform to interact with students in virtual reality on how to conduct difficult conversations with patients and/or family members, such as advance directives or Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) options.
A pilot study in Fundamentals of Nursing courses will be conducted in the spring of 2025 for approximately 50 students in a Baccalaureate Nursing program. The topic “Difficult Conversations” will be used in an interactive AI platform. The design is a meeting between a patient’s family member (an AI bot) and the nursing student to discuss advanced directives and DNR options. A formal rubric was designed to evaluate the student’s success in completing the task at an 80% or higher level. Prep work will include assigned reading and a simulation worksheet. The rubric will be utilized for reflective learning among the students. Participation is voluntary at this time.
Understanding and learning empathy and caring in conducting difficult conversations is a concept that students struggle with in all areas of the health professions. Developing active learning strategies outside of the clinical area provides a safe space for students to practice and learn techniques they can adopt for this arduous task. Our aim is to allow students to deepen their understanding of the concepts around difficult conversations, such as death and dying, and improve their ability to think critically with empathy and compassion to provide information to the family. The interactive process provides a formal competency-based assessment before being faced with interactions with actual patients and families. With the advent of the AACN Essentials (AACN, 2021) and the move toward competency-based education (Carrington et al., 2024), this pilot engages students to participate in their learning actively. Success can be applied to multiple areas in nursing where students can utilize AI platforms to practice exercises before attending the clinical area.
Description
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is moving into the arena of higher education. Nursing has multiple areas that can benefit from using AI to enhance student learning. This pilot study approaches the use of an AI platform to generate an interactive conversation between an AI bot and a nursing student to evaluate the student’s ability to engage in difficult conversations regarding advanced directives and Do Not Resuscitate options.