The human side of innovation: Artificial intelligence and the future of oncology nursing practice

Abstract

During a recent workshop that I was co-facilitating, participants were asked to identify two issues commonly experienced by patients with cancer and their families. Rather than drawing solely on their own clinical experience, the majority of participants turned to ChatGPT for answers. This unexpected occurrence prompted me to reflect on the expanding influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care and what this may mean for the future of oncology nursing practice.

This editorial is particularly timely given the growing challenges facing cancer care in Canada. In 2025, the Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies (CAPCA) published the Pan-Canadian Strategic Oncology Workforce Report, highlighting significant workforce pressures that threaten the sustainability and accessibility of cancer services. While advances in cancer therapies and increasingly complex treatment regimens have improved patient outcomes, they have also intensified demands on healthcare providers. Within this context, AI is emerging as a potentially transformative tool with the promise of improving the efficiency, delivery, and sustainability of cancer care.