Artificial Intelligence Applications in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Their Evaluation from a Nursing Perspective

Abstract

Advances in artificial intelligence technologies have the potential to enhance the quality of care delivered in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and have led to significant transformations in nursing practice. The aim of this review is to examine artificial intelligence–based applications used in NICUs in light of the current literature and to evaluate their effects on nursing care. Within the scope of the review, the use of artificial intelligence in areas such as continuous monitoring and surveillance, clinical decision support systems, early detection of life-threatening conditions including apnea and sepsis, assessment of neonatal pain and comfort, prediction of length of hospital stay, and management of nursing workload is discussed. The reviewed studies indicate that artificial intelligence–supported systems strengthen early warning mechanisms by analyzing large and complex datasets, reduce false alarm rates, and improve patient safety. However, the majority of existing studies remain at the prototype or model development stage, and integration into routine clinical practice is still limited. In addition, the integration of artificial intelligence into nursing care raises important concerns related to ethical responsibility, professional autonomy, data privacy, and the preservation of human-centered care. In conclusion, artificial intelligence represents a powerful tool to support nursing care in neonatal intensive care units; however, strengthening education, institutional infrastructure, and ethical guidelines is essential to ensure its safe and effective implementation.

Keywords

• nursing care
• neonatal ıntensive care
• artificial intelligence

Yenidoğan Yoğun Bakım Ünitesinde Yapay Zeka Uygulamaları ve Hemşirelik Açısından Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Yapay zeka teknolojilerindeki gelişmeler, yenidoğan yoğun bakım ünitelerinde sunulan bakım hizmetlerinin niteliğini artırma potansiyeline sahiptir ve hemşirelik uygulamalarında önemli dönüşümlere yol açmaktadır. Bu derlemenin amacı, yenidoğan yoğun bakım ünitesinde kullanılan yapay zeka temelli uygulamaları güncel literatür ışığında inceleyerek bu uygulamaların hemşirelik bakımı üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Derleme kapsamında, yapay zekanın sürekli izlem ve monitörizasyon, klinik karar destek sistemleri, apne ve sepsis gibi yaşamı tehdit eden durumların erken tanılanması, yenidoğan ağrı ve konforunun değerlendirilmesi, hastanede kalış süresinin öngörülmesi ve hemşirelik iş yükünün yönetimi gibi alanlardaki kullanımı ele alınmıştır. İncelenen çalışmalar, yapay zeka destekli sistemlerin büyük ve karmaşık veri setlerini analiz ederek erken uyarı mekanizmalarını güçlendirdiğini, yanlış alarm oranlarını azalttığını ve hasta güvenliğinin artırılmasına katkı sağladığını göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, mevcut çalışmaların büyük bölümünün prototip ve model geliştirme aşamasında olduğu ve klinik uygulamaya entegrasyonun sınırlı kaldığı görülmektedir. Ayrıca, yapay zekanın hemşirelik bakımına entegrasyonu; etik sorumluluk, mesleki özerklik, veri gizliliği ve insan merkezli bakımın korunması gibi önemli tartışmaları beraberinde getirmektedir. Sonuç olarak, yapay zeka uygulamaları yenidoğan yoğun bakım ünitesinde hemşirelik bakımını destekleyen güçlü bir araçtır; ancak güvenli ve etkili kullanım için eğitim, kurumsal altyapı ve etik rehberlerin güçlendirilmesine ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

• hemşirelik bakımı
• yapay zeka
• yenidoğan yoğun bakım ünitesi

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