SIENNA Webinar Highlights Nurses’ Role in the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence

Dr. Jasper Erwin Tolarba calls on nurses to lead AI integration with wisdom, ethical responsibility, and compass

By: Blaise Nieve, PhD, RN, CMSRN, NEA-BC, CAVRN, CPAFH, FSIEN, FFNMRCSI

Aug. 30, 2026 | More than 50 participants attended a virtual continuing education webinar presented by the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses and Nursing Allies (SIENNA) titled “Empowering Nurses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Leading the Future of Healthcare.”

Hosted by the SIENNA Research and Publication Committee, the one-hour educational activity featured internationally recognized nurse scientist, educator and executive leader Dr. Jasper Erwin Tolarba, EdD, DNP, RN, CGNC, CNE, NPD-BC, FACHE, FESNO, FSIEN, FFNMRCSI, FAAN. Dr. Blaise Nieve moderated the session.

The webinar examined the growing influence of artificial intelligence on nursing practice and emphasized the importance of nurses’ active involvement in the design, implementation and evaluation of healthcare technologies. Throughout his presentation, Dr. Tolarba reinforced that AI should enhance nurses’ clinical judgment and capacity to provide compassionate care, not replace them.

Dr. Tolarba introduced participants to several major forms of AI currently influencing healthcare. These included machine learning, which recognizes patterns and makes predictions from data; generative AI, which creates content such as clinical summaries and patient education materials; ambient AI, which operates in the background to automate activities such as documentation; and predictive AI, which uses current and historical information to anticipate clinical outcomes.

He explained that many nurses already interact with AI-supported technologies in their daily practice, even when those tools are not explicitly identified as artificial intelligence. Examples include electronic health record decision support, smart intravenous pumps, sepsis alerts, fall-risk prediction systems, medication scanning, voice documentation, translation tools and staffing optimization platforms.

When implemented appropriately, Dr. Tolarba noted that AI can support faster documentation, earlier recognition of clinical deterioration, fewer medication errors, better staffing predictions and more personalized patient education. By reducing the burden of repetitive tasks, these technologies may also allow nurses to spend more meaningful time providing direct patient care.

The presentation also addressed the significant risks associated with AI. Dr. Tolarba discussed inaccurate or fabricated AI-generated information, commonly referred to as hallucinations, as well as algorithmic bias, privacy concerns, alert fatigue, overreliance on technology and the potential erosion of critical-thinking skills.

He cautioned that healthcare technologies developed without meaningful nursing involvement may be difficult to use, disrupt clinical workflows and produce unintended consequences. AI-supported decision systems may also generate excessive notifications that contribute to alert fatigue. In addition, algorithms trained on incomplete or unrepresentative datasets may perpetuate disparities affecting women, racial and ethnic minority groups, older adults and people living with complex chronic conditions.

“Nurses see what algorithms miss,” Dr. Tolarba emphasized.

While an algorithm may identify patterns in numerical and clinical data, nurses recognize subtle behavioral changes, family concerns, psychosocial needs, early signs of deterioration and the individual circumstances shaping a patient’s experience. This human understanding makes nursing participation essential at every stage of digital innovation.

Dr. Tolarba illustrated the clinical use of predictive analytics through the Rothman Index, an artificial intelligence-supported system that continuously analyzes electronic health record data to estimate a patient’s overall condition and risk of deterioration. He used the example to demonstrate how technology may help clinicians recognize patterns earlier while underscoring that such information must still be interpreted within the broader clinical context.

Drawing from digital health and immersive virtual reality research, Dr. Tolarba stressed that technology succeeds when it addresses a genuine human problem. Healthcare organizations should therefore avoid approaching AI solely as a technical project. Its implementation must also address clinical workflow, ethics, patient safety, professional accountability and the needs of the people receiving and providing care. Dr. Tolarba concluded with a five-part call to action for nurses: be curious rather than fearful, become digitally competent, act ethically, remain patient-centered and lead the responsible use of AI.

“The future of nursing will not be defined by artificial intelligence alone, but by nurses who use it wisely, ethically and compassionately to improve the lives of those they serve,” he said.

Dr. Tolarba currently serves as the nurse scientist and Hofstadter-White Endowed Chair of Nursing Practice, Education, Research and Innovation and as director of nursing for the Northwell Global Health Academy through Northwell Health and Sacred Heart University. A Fulbright research scholar and Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, he earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Yale University and Doctor of Education from Columbia University. He also completed advanced training in artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

His scholarly and professional work encompasses nursing innovation, digital health, workforce development and global health policy. He has delivered keynote addresses and invited presentations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. He also serves as Sigma Nursing’s liaison to the United Nations and has participated in high-level United Nations meetings.

The webinar supported SIENNA’s commitment to equipping nurses, particularly internationally educated nurses and their allies, with evidence-informed knowledge and leadership competencies for a changing healthcare environment.

The educational activity was approved for one contact hour. SIENNA is an approved provider of continuing education through the Alabama Board of Nursing, Provider Number 1590, valid through 2029.

Through programs such as this webinar, SIENNA continues to create opportunities for nurses to engage with emerging issues, strengthen their professional practice and help shape the future of healthcare.

Dr. Tolarba addressing audience questions during the Q&A, with Dr. Nieve moderating the session.

About the Author

Dr. Blaise Nieve serves as the Chair of the Research and Publication Committee of the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses and Nursing Allies (SIENNA).