Innovation and Inclusion: Artificial Intelligence in Nursing
On International Nurses' Day, celebrated on 12 May, the Nursing Schools of Universidade Católica Portuguesa are reinforcing their commitment to innovation and inclusion in the field of nursing, with an emphasis on the use of Artificial Intelligence. Some of the projects currently under development represent a significant advance in the personalisation of treatment, especially aimed at the most vulnerable population, such as the elderly and children.
Faced with the constant advance of technology, the Nursing Schools (Lisbon and Porto) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa have dedicated themselves to incorporating these tools into their educational and research practices, particularly in the area of health, taking into account the new challenges that have arisen and the necessary balance in the use of technology in parallel with the development of interpersonal skills in the training of students who will face new challenges as future nurses.
Paulo Alves, director of the Nursing School (Porto) at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, believes that the school "is preparing students for the future with tools for clinical practice". In this context, research projects are currently being developed that aim to use advanced technologies such as thermography, transepidermal moisture measurement and ultrasound, as well as integrating artificial intelligence tools such as machine learning and deep learning into the fields of teaching and clinical practice. This integrative, non-disruptive vision of technological evolution not only prepares students for the future of nursing, but also focuses on improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable communities, including the elderly and children.
These projects include the development of educational resources that use artificial intelligence to simulate diagnoses and treatments, providing unprecedented practical training for nursing students. They also represent enormous potential for improving the quality of healthcare, especially for the most vulnerable communities such as the elderly and children, making a positive contribution to the personalisation of treatment and the humanisation of care evidenced by the provision of excellent care.
The Nursing Schools (Lisbon and Porto) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa also promote the transfer of research to the community, through university extension services involving teaching staff, researchers and students. In this relationship, the importance of care centred on the individual and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, is fundamental, reinforcing the University's social commitment to inclusion and comprehensive care. Reconciling the introduction of new technologies and the improvement of the conditions or care provided, this innovation includes, for example, the use of technology to prevent pressure ulcers in people who are totally dependent or in wheelchairs, a common concern in this type of care.
Another important example in prevention and treatment is research into wound care, which allows for more effective personalisation, with a protocol defined by reading data taken from photographs, without the need for extensive manual input based on general assumptions.
For all these reasons, students from UCP's Nursing Schools are key players in the development and incorporation of these projects, since they actively participate in both the research and the implementation of the technologies. From coding algorithms to the direct application of technologies in clinical scenarios, students are at the forefront of this emerging field. João Alves, a PhD student involved in these projects, says: "It's incredibly rewarding to know that our work not only contributes to our professional development, but also has a direct impact on people's lives."
By developing projects that link research, education and inclusion, Universidade Católica Portuguesa is not only preparing its students to be excellent professionals, it is also moulding the future of nursing, making it more inclusive and accessible to all. With this, the institution stands out as a benchmark at the forefront of the use of new technologies in teaching, providing its students with practical, interdisciplinary and dynamic training.