What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll understand what ambient AI documentation tools (AI scribes) are, which ones are being deployed for nurses specifically, whether your hospital is likely to implement one, and how to use a free workaround approach while waiting for institutional deployment.
What you'll need
- Understanding of how your EHR system documents nursing assessments
- Awareness of what AI tools your hospital currently uses or is piloting
- A smartphone (for the manual workaround approach)
- Time needed: 20 minutes to read this guide; ongoing varies by approach
- Cost: Institutional tools are hospital-provided; the workaround approach is free
How-To Guide: Understanding AI Ambient Documentation Tools
Step 1: Find out if your hospital is already piloting ambient documentation
Ask your nurse manager or informatics department: "Is the hospital piloting any AI documentation tools for nursing? I heard about Abridge and Nuance DAX for nursing notes."
If yes: Ask to be included in the pilot program. Early adopters shape how these tools are configured.
If no: You can plant the seed. Reference Vanderbilt, UNC Health, and CommonSpirit Health — all have deployed nursing ambient documentation with documented time savings. The ROI for hospitals is significant (every minute of documentation time saved × 3 million RNs = massive efficiency gain).