Rachel Nall, DNP, CRNA, APRN – HealtheCareers
Growth and change are two factors nurses can be certain of. As the profession moves toward increased safety and enhanced patient care, nurses are embracing technology and new roles within the technology sector. From making strides in artificial intelligence to embracing new skills, the future of nursing is bright.
Emerging Trends in Nursing
Artificial intelligence offers several enhancements to nursing and patient care, including:
Management of electronic health records
Enhancements to medication administration safety
Alerts about patients who are at risk for pressure injuries, falls, or sepsis
These technologies may be integrated into existing charting systems. They can quickly process large volumes of data and provide alerts to nurses regarding trends in a patient’s vital signs or laboratory work that requires attention. Another emerging trend in nursing is integrating AI technology to identify patients at risk for hospital readmission. Nurses can then take this information to perform education or interventions.
Additional trends include nurses participating in interdisciplinary care teams. Examples may include serving on Institutional Review Board committees, tumor boards, and care management planning. Because nurses play an essential role in being patient advocates, increasing their participation on interdisciplinary committees is vital to patient safety.
Expanding Nursing Roles
Looking to the future, nurses can continue to expand their leadership roles to the C-suite. An estimated 5 percent of hospitals in the United States have a nurse who serves as a trustee or on a board of directors for the hospital. Also, of the top twenty hospitals identified by US News & World Report, two CEOs are nurses.
The evolving roles of nurses and expanding educational options mean that if nurses see themselves in the executive suite, there’s a precedent and opportunity. Nurses also continue to lead in chief nursing executive and chief nursing officer roles in thousands of hospitals nationwide.
In addition to leadership roles, nurses are filling new or expanded job positions, often brought on by technological advances. Below are some examples:
Care coordinators help patients manage and find resources for their chronic health conditions.
Health coaches can work one-on-one with clients looking to enhance their health and better manage conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol.
Virtual nurses may monitor patients virtually in an intensive care or inpatient setting.
In addition to nursing in a virtual setting, telehealth is another growing sector of nursing care. One of the key challenges post-COVID was an effort to provide telehealth care that was effective while enhancing patient satisfaction. Telehealth certification programs have increased the evolving role of nursing to include providing virtual care and education.
Education and Skill Development for the Future
Since 2004, more than 73,000 nurses have earned their doctor of nursing practice (DNP) or equivalent doctoral degree, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. As of 2025, the DNP is now the entry-level preparation for nurse practitioners and certified registered nurse anesthetists. As nurses continue to pursue their nursing education and training, they’ll likely expand the body of nursing knowledge regarding evidence-based practice.
The DNP is not the only growing nursing education and training opportunity. Certified registered nurse anesthetists can now participate in board-recognized acute surgical pain management fellowships. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) can also pursue education and skills development in the following disciplines:
Adult-gerontology acute nurse practitioner
Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner
Neonatal nurse practitioner
Pediatric nurse practitioner
Nurses can also obtain additional degrees, such as a master of business administration or doctor of philosophy. Certifications are available for nurses looking to contribute to informatics, education, leadership, and management. These certifications allow nurses to practice to their full scope and embrace new opportunities that can increase their job satisfaction.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
While the future of nursing includes many expanded opportunities, challenges remain. One example is in regard to nursing shortages. By 2030, the US nursing shortage is predicted to reach 63,720 full-time registered nurses. While this projection is about 10,000 nurses fewer than current nursing shortages, the need to educate, retain, and support nurses is vital. Addressing nursing shortages requires efforts on multiple fronts, including recruitment, education, and retention of the nursing workforce.
Another challenge to the evolving role of nurses is barriers to practice, often through regulatory changes. While the COVID-19 pandemic helped to remove many obstacles for nurses, there are still opportunities to maximize access to care. An example includes achieving full practice authority for advanced practice nurses.
Moving Toward the Future of Nursing
Nursing is a transformative career with forward-thinking roles and opportunities for those earning their nursing credentials. The ability to experience growth and change is crucial for the future of nursing and retaining nurses in the profession. Nurses pursuing education, certifications, and new opportunities that best suit their skill sets are poised to succeed in this ever-changing environment. Health eCareers proudly supports the future of nursing by providing access to job opportunities and career resources.
