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Registered Nurses

Registered Nurses score 33 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #490 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 27 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 16 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 3 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

33/ 100
Moderate
Rank
#490of 923 jobs
US workers
3,379,720BLS, May 2025
Median pay
$97,550a year
In real AI use
3 of 27tasks, April–May 2026

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: 16 (59%)
  • Little or no AI speed-up: 10 (37%)
  • Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
  • Record patients' medical information and vital signs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Assess the needs of individuals, families, or communities, including assessment of individuals' home or work environments, to identify potential health or safety problems.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Work with individuals, groups, or families to plan or implement programs designed to improve the overall health of communities.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Perform administrative or managerial functions, such as taking responsibility for a unit's staff, budget, planning, or long-range goals.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Order, interpret, and evaluate diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's condition.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Prescribe or recommend drugs, medical devices, or other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy, inhalation therapy, or related therapeutic procedures.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Direct or coordinate infection control programs, advising or consulting with specified personnel about necessary precautions.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Provide or arrange for training or instruction of auxiliary personnel or students.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Refer students or patients to specialized health resources or community agencies furnishing assistance.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
  • Consult with institutions or associations regarding issues or concerns relevant to the practice and profession of nursing.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Engage in research activities related to nursing.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Conduct specified laboratory tests.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Observe nurses and visit patients to ensure proper nursing care.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Prepare patients for and assist with examinations or treatments.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Prepare rooms, sterile instruments, equipment, or supplies and ensure that stock of supplies is maintained.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Administer local, inhalation, intravenous, or other anesthetics.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Perform physical examinations, make tentative diagnoses, and treat patients en route to hospitals or at disaster site triage centers.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
  • Inform physician of patient's condition during anesthesia.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

Other jobs in this field

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical occupations close to this one.

Questions about registered nurses and AI

Will AI replace registered nurses?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Registered Nurses score 33 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #490 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 17 of the job's 27 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 10 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which registered nurses tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records".

Which registered nurses tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects"; "Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry"; "Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 3 of the 27 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as registered nurses, and what do they earn?

About 3,379,720 people in the US, with median pay of $97,550 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

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