--- title: Redefining Nursing with Large Language Models description: Julia Harrington, a master's student in the nursing department at Western University, and her team are leading the way in clarifying this new frontier image: https://blog.jmir.org/hubfs/Julia%20Harrington%20blog.png --- [![JMIR Publications logo](https://blog.jmir.org/hs-fs/hubfs/JMIR-Publications_logo_2020_original.png?width=550&height=109&name=JMIR-Publications_logo_2020_original.png "JMIR Publications logo")](http://www.jmirpublications.com) Open main menu Close main menu [Research News](https://blog.jmir.org/tag/research-news) [Artificial Intelligence](https://blog.jmir.org/tag/artificial-intelligence) # Redefining Nursing with Large Language Models ![Reviewed by Kayleigh-Ann Clegg, PhD](https://blog.jmir.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshot.jpg?width=45&name=Headshot.jpg) [Reviewed by Kayleigh-Ann Clegg, PhD](https://blog.jmir.org/author/reviewed-by-kayleigh-ann-clegg-phd) Published Date: 18 September 2025 11:39 a.m. [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://blog.jmir.org/redefining-nursing-with-large-language-models) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.jmir.org/redefining-nursing-with-large-language-models) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.jmir.org/redefining-nursing-with-large-language-models) ![Julia Harrington, a master's student in the nursing department at Western University, and her team are leading the way in clarifying this new frontier](https://blog.jmir.org/hubfs/Julia%20Harrington%20blog.png) For a field as hands-on and human-centered as nursing, artificial intelligence (AI), particularly **large language models (LLMs)**, present both a huge opportunity and a complex challenge. While LLMs are rapidly entering nursing classrooms, their fundamental concepts remain largely unexplored.     **Julia Harrington**, a master's student in the nursing department at [Western University](https://www.uwo.ca/index.html), and her team are leading the way in clarifying this new frontier. In their paper, “[Large Language Models in Nursing Education: Concept Analysis](https://nursing.jmir.org/2025/1/e77948),” published in[JMIR Nursing](https://nursing.jmir.org/), they applied a rigorous **concept analysis** method to 41 recent publications to understand how LLMs are being defined and used in nursing education. ### **Understanding a New Kind of Tool** The team's analysis revealed that LLMs possess several key attributes. They are **accessible**, providing an easy way for students to engage with vast amounts of information. They are **personalized** and **interactive**, capable of tailoring learning experiences to an individual student's needs and pace. As an **innovative** technology, they have the potential to transform how nursing is taught and learned, enhancing students' skills and cognitive abilities. This transformative potential, however, comes with a responsibility to address ethical considerations. The study highlights the importance of ensuring that the integration of LLMs aligns with core nursing values, such as **data privacy, transparency, and patient safety**. It's not enough for a tool to be useful; it must also be used *safely* and *ethically* to ensure the integrity of the profession. ### **A Foundational Step for the Field** This research is important because it provides a foundational definition of LLMs within the context of nursing education. It moves the discussion beyond simple adoption to a deeper understanding of the technology's potential and its limitations. The analysis suggests that while LLMs can significantly enhance access to resources and support individualized learning, their use must be carefully managed, especially in specialized areas like graduate nursing programs. This work is a crucial first step toward developing a framework for safe, ethical, and meaningful integration of AI into nursing education. The research was published in [JMIR Nursing](https://nursing.jmir.org/) because of the journal's reputation as a high-quality, peer-reviewed, open-access publication. With its inaugural impact factor of 4.0, the journal is a leader in the nursing field, with a scope that explicitly includes research on nursing education, technology, and innovation. This ensures the study will reach a wide audience interested in the very topics at its core, benefiting from a rigorous review process and broad accessibility. Curious to learn more about how AI is shaping the future of nursing education? [Watch the video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ruPYq14xs) to hear Julia Harrington discuss her team's findings, and [read the full research article](https://nursing.jmir.org/2025/1/e77948) to explore the complete concept analysis.       Subscribe Now ![Reviewed by Kayleigh-Ann Clegg, PhD](https://blog.jmir.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshot.jpg?width=150&name=Headshot.jpg) #### Reviewed by Kayleigh-Ann Clegg, PhD [Follow me on my website](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kayleigh-Ann-Clegg) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleighclegg/) Scientific News Editor @ JMIR Publications with a diverse background in clinical psychology, academic research, and digital health program development. I'm passionate about knowledge translation and accessibility, as well as data- and values-driven innovation. My goal is to make vital scientific knowledge clear and accessible to everyone so that we can better our lives and the world around us. ### Leave a Comment ## Related Articles [![HEader for blog post: Metrics as a Byproduct: Inside JMIR Publications’ Latest JCR Success featuring a photo of Dennis O'Brien](https://blog.jmir.org/hubfs/Dennis%20blog%20July%2027%202026.png)](https://blog.jmir.org/metrics-as-a-byproduct-inside-jmir-publications-latest-jcr-success) [Open Access](https://blog.jmir.org/tag/open-access) [JMIR News](https://blog.jmir.org/tag/jmir-news) [Research News](https://blog.jmir.org/tag/research-news) ### [Metrics as a Byproduct: Inside JMIR Publications’ Latest JCR Success](https://blog.jmir.org/metrics-as-a-byproduct-inside-jmir-publications-latest-jcr-success) Every June, the scholarly publishing ecosystem undergoes a familiar ritual. 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Their dedication, expertise, and compassion are essential... ![JMIR Publications](https://blog.jmir.org/hs-fs/hubfs/jmir_icon_100px.png?width=45&name=jmir_icon_100px.png) [JMIR Publications](https://blog.jmir.org/author/jmir-publications) [Read More](https://blog.jmir.org/nursing-week-2024) #### About - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### Services - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### News - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three Follow us on Facebook Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Reviewed by Kayleigh-Ann Clegg, PhD", "url" : "https://blog.jmir.org/author/reviewed-by-kayleigh-ann-clegg-phd" }, "dateModified" : "2026-09-17T18:52:06.711Z", "datePublished" : "2025-09-18T15:39:15.000Z", "headline" : "Redefining Nursing with Large Language Models", "image" : [ "https://blog.jmir.org/hubfs/Julia%20Harrington%20blog.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.jmir.org/redefining-nursing-with-large-language-models", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.jmir.org/hubfs/JMIR-Publications_logo_2020_original.png" }, "name" : "JMIR Publications" } } ```