AI-powered avatars transform training for nurse practitioners and dentists
When Michael Bumbach, Ph.D., APRN, started his career as a nurse practitioner in the emergency room, he was petrified during his first consultations with specialists. It was something the UF College of Nursing clinical assistant professor had never practiced in school.
Because this experience is so common among new graduates, Bumbach has been working to make the transition to the professional health care world easier by incorporating artificial intelligence into classroom learning. He has been perfecting an AI-powered system — complete with emergency room simulations and clinician avatars — that students can use at UF to build interdisciplinary collaboration skills for the future.
“I remember when I was a brand-new nurse practitioner. It was nerve-wracking. It’s intimidating to call the specialist with years of experience, and here I was, a newbie,” Bumbach said. “So, if we can increase [students’] confidence through this simulation, that interaction is a little bit easier. It’s a little smoother, resulting in better patient outcomes.”
The project — a partnership between the College of Nursing, the College of Dentistry, the Office of Interprofessional Education, and the Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering — uses a combination of AI, virtual reality, and simulation technology to enhance how students communicate with patients, collaborate with colleagues, and develop critical skills essential to clinical practice.