Acute Care Nurses

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

• AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (4%)
• AI can speed this up with extra software: 15 (56%)
• Little or no AI speed-up: 11 (41%)

• Document data related to patients' care, including assessment results, interventions, medications, patient responses, or treatment changes.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
• Diagnose acute or chronic conditions that could result in rapid physiological deterioration or life-threatening instability.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Assess the impact of illnesses or injuries on patients' health, function, growth, development, nutrition, sleep, rest, quality of life, or family, social and educational relationships.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Interpret information obtained from electrocardiograms (EKGs) or radiographs (x-rays).AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Collaborate with patients to plan for future health care needs or to coordinate transitions and referrals.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Refer patients for specialty consultations or treatments.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Distinguish between normal and abnormal developmental and age-related physiological and behavioral changes in acute, critical, and chronic illness.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Collaborate with members of multidisciplinary health care teams to plan, manage, or assess patient treatments.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Perform administrative duties that facilitate admission, transfer, or discharge of patients.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Provide formal and informal education to other staff members.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in acute care.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Participate in the development of practice protocols.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Prescribe medications and observe patients' reactions, modifying prescriptions as needed.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
• Order, perform, or interpret the results of diagnostic tests and screening procedures based on assessment results, differential diagnoses, and knowledge about age, gender and health status of clients.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
• Analyze the indications, contraindications, risk complications, and cost-benefit tradeoffs of therapeutic interventions.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
• Assist patients in organizing their health care system activities.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
• Perform emergency medical procedures, such as basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and other condition-stabilizing interventions.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Manage patients' pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, monitoring patients' responses, and changing care plans accordingly.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Administer blood and blood product transfusions or intravenous infusions, monitoring patients for adverse reactions.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Assess urgent and emergent health conditions, using both physiologically and technologically derived data.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Obtain specimens or samples for laboratory work.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Set up, operate, or monitor invasive equipment and devices, such as colostomy or tracheotomy equipment, mechanical ventilators, catheters, gastrointestinal tubes, and central lines.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Discuss illnesses and treatments with patients and family members.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
• Assess the needs of patients' family members or caregivers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Treat wounds or superficial lacerations.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Participate in patients' care meetings and conferences.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Adjust settings on patients' assistive devices, such as temporary pacemakers.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

Questions about acute care nurses and AI