The integration of technology into healthcare is rapidly evolving, promising to streamline operations and improve patient outcomes. However, a critical component often overlooked in these advancements is the voice of the frontline healthcare worker – particularly nurses. Recent discussions at industry events, including observations from ViVE 2026, highlight a growing recognition that successful tech implementation hinges on actively including nurses in the design, development, and governance of new systems. Without their input, even the most sophisticated tools risk falling short of their potential, or worse, adding to the burdens already faced by an increasingly strained workforce.
This isn’t simply about adding a “nurse perspective” as an afterthought. It’s about fundamentally shifting the approach to healthcare IT governance to ensure that the needs and workflows of nurses are central to the process. As healthcare systems grapple with staffing shortages, burnout, and the increasing complexity of patient care, technology offers a powerful set of tools. But these tools must be designed *with* nurses, not *for* them, to truly address the challenges they face daily. The effective adoption of artificial intelligence, electronic health records, and other innovations depends on a collaborative approach that values clinical expertise alongside technical prowess.
The appointment of Susan Grant as Chief Clinical Officer at symplr in January 2025 underscores this growing trend. According to a press release, Grant’s focus will be on amplifying clinicians’ needs in product development, expanding workforce management capabilities, and advancing clinical governance strategies. Her extensive background – holding executive leadership positions at Wellstar Health System, Beaumont Health, Emory Healthcare, and the University of Washington Medical Center – positions her to advocate for a more nurse-centric approach to healthcare technology. Grant holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), is a Registered Nurse (RN), holds a Nurse Executive Advanced-Board Certification (NEA-BC), and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
The Need for Upskilling and Collaboration
A key theme emerging from recent industry discussions is the need for nurses to actively participate in technology adoption projects. Speaking at a recent session, Susan Grant noted that while nursing was a topic of discussion at last year’s ViVE conference, nurses weren’t necessarily leading those conversations. She emphasized the importance of nurses upskilling themselves to effectively engage in these dialogues, ensuring they can articulate their needs and collaborate with IT professionals and vendors. This requires a shift in mindset, recognizing that contributing to the development of technological solutions is now a core component of nursing leadership.
Bonnie Clipper, founder of the Virtual Nursing Academy, echoed this sentiment, stating that tech companies need a deeper understanding of the complexities of nursing practice. Clipper advocates for a partnership approach, where technology developers actively seek input from nurses to create solutions that genuinely address their needs. She cautioned against reducing the nursing role to simplistic concepts like “AI nurses” or chatbots, emphasizing the critical thinking and strategic decision-making inherent in nursing care.
The challenge, as highlighted by Whitney Staub-Juergens, vice president and COO of transformation operations at HCA Healthcare, lies in effectively communicating the nuances of nursing workflows to those outside the profession. Staub-Juergens described the difficulties encountered while developing an AI-powered tool with Google Cloud to improve nurse handoff procedures. Explaining the depth of information gathering and strategic planning involved in a typical nurse handoff – far beyond a simple “exchange of report” – required significant effort to ensure the technology accurately reflected the realities of clinical practice. HCA Healthcare’s collaboration with Google Cloud demonstrates the potential benefits of such a partnership, but also the communication hurdles that must be overcome.
Beyond Technology: Addressing Workflow Integration
The success of any new technology ultimately depends on its seamless integration into existing workflows. As Clipper pointed out, a solution that isn’t thoughtfully integrated into nurses’ daily routines is unlikely to be adopted, regardless of its technical sophistication. This underscores the importance of user-centered design, where nurses are involved in every stage of the development process, from initial concept to final implementation. “You’ve got to live in our shoes,” Clipper emphasized, “You’ve got to figure out what the issues are, and you can’t do that if you’re not talking to nurses.”
This principle extends beyond the initial development phase. Ongoing feedback and iterative improvements are crucial to ensure that technology continues to meet the evolving needs of nurses and the patients they serve. Healthcare organizations must create mechanisms for nurses to easily report issues, suggest improvements, and participate in the ongoing refinement of technological tools. This requires a culture of open communication and a willingness to prioritize the user experience.
The Role of Nursing Informatics
The growing emphasis on technology in healthcare has also fueled the rise of nursing informatics – a specialty that combines nursing science with computer science. Nursing informatics specialists play a vital role in bridging the gap between clinical practice and technology, advocating for the needs of nurses and ensuring that technology is used effectively to improve patient care. These professionals are skilled in data analysis, system implementation, and user training, and are essential to the successful adoption of new technologies.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) recognizes the importance of nursing informatics and offers certifications in the field. The ANA’s website provides information on the role of nursing informatics, certification requirements, and resources for nurses interested in pursuing this specialty. Investing in nursing informatics education and training is crucial to building a workforce capable of effectively leveraging technology to improve healthcare delivery.
Looking Ahead: Fostering a Tech-Empowered Nursing Workforce
The conversation surrounding technology and nursing is evolving. It’s no longer sufficient to simply ask nurses to adapt to new systems; instead, healthcare organizations must actively empower nurses to shape those systems. This requires a commitment to ongoing education, collaboration, and a willingness to prioritize the needs of frontline clinicians. The appointment of leaders like Susan Grant at symplr signals a positive shift in this direction, but sustained effort is needed to ensure that nurses are truly at the table – and leading the conversation – when it comes to healthcare technology.
The future of healthcare hinges on a collaborative approach that values the expertise of all stakeholders, but particularly those who directly impact patient care. By fostering a tech-empowered nursing workforce, healthcare systems can unlock the full potential of technology to improve outcomes, reduce burnout, and create a more sustainable and equitable healthcare system for all. The next key development to watch will be the outcomes of symplr’s initiatives under Grant’s leadership, particularly regarding the integration of nurse feedback into product development cycles, expected to be detailed in a company report slated for release in the fourth quarter of 2026.
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