Wolters Kluwer Health, in collaboration with the National League for Nursing (NLN), has released findings from the 2024 edition of the Future of Technology in Nursing Education survey. Conducted every four years since 2016, the survey captures evolving trends in digital technology integration across U.S. nursing schools. The latest edition collected responses from 307 nursing faculty and deans between July and October 2024.
One of the key findings relates to the rising prominence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in nursing education. While only 17% of respondents currently report using GenAI in their programs, 45% anticipate investment within two to three years, with the figure rising to 49% over a four- to five-year horizon. Larger institutions—defined as those with over 150 students—show a greater inclination toward strategic adoption, with 60% in planning phases compared to 46% of smaller programs.
Respondents indicated that GenAI is being considered primarily for its capacity to improve time efficiency and simulate real-world clinical situations. The broader context for adoption remains the persistent demand for clinically competent nurses, with technology viewed as a bridge to improve readiness for practice.
In addition to GenAI, virtual simulation and virtual reality (VR) technologies remain integral to training. While the use of virtual simulation reached 91% in 2020 during the height of remote learning, its adoption has since stabilized at 74%. However, VR-based learning has nearly doubled in use—from 15% in 2020 to 29% in 2024—with 53% of institutions planning to adopt VR in the next two to three years. Furthermore, 60% of nursing programs intend to increase existing VR investments.
The survey also indicates a significant alignment between academic instruction and workplace technologies. Approximately 30% of respondents reported that technology adoption was driven by the need for students to train with tools used in clinical environments. An equal proportion cited improved clinical judgment as a primary motivator. Additionally, 67% of nursing schools now incorporate simulated electronic health record (EHR) systems in training, mirroring the widespread use of EHRs in healthcare settings.
The 2024 results mark the first of four planned reports under the Forecast for the Future series, which will present broader insights into nursing education. The recurring collaboration between Wolters Kluwer and the NLN continues to track the convergence of academic curricula and clinical practice, providing a data-informed basis for addressing evolving workforce and training needs.
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