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As Kyle Kos enters his final semester in the College of Health and Human Services, the excitement of completing his nursing degree is tempered by the monumental task of writing his Lee Honor’s College thesis. In just a few months, he will graduate with a degree that will shape his future as a nurse, but before that, he must complete a project that bridges two worlds: nursing and technology. 

His choice of topic for the thesis is: the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly ChatGPT, on nursing education. Kyle knew that this was a chance to explore an area of great potential, but one he knew little about. "I chose the topic of Artificial Intelligence because I was unfamiliar with how it worked and how it would impact my career in the future," Kyle explains.  

For the literature review, Kyle decided to focus on the ethical considerations of using AI in nursing education. This was not just about understanding AI's capabilities but also about addressing the ethical dilemmas that could arise as AI becomes more integrated into the academic and healthcare settings. The common thread was clear and primarily focused on health professions and the ethics of healthcare workers using AI. 

"My biggest challenge has been time," Kyle admits. " Reading literature reviews and analyzing the articles in a short period of time can be stressful." In fact, managing his time and workload became his biggest hurdle. "I’d suggest splitting up the literature reviews so that you don't burn yourself out," he advises. 

Luckily, Kyle has not been alone in this endeavor. His professors and mentors have been an incredible source of support throughout the process. "Dr. Vilem has been a huge help in assisting me with my literature review process. I have met with her several times to discuss the process of my literature review and could not have done it without the help of her as well as professor Houtrouw and Mrs. Kuhn." Kyle shares.  

In many ways, the process of working on his thesis has mirrored Kyle’s nursing education as a whole—challenging but rewarding. "The nursing research class really prepared me for this project," Kyle says.  

As he moves through this final semester, Kyle feels more confident than ever. "I have learned to work as a team with my faculty and have challenged myself to put together a project that I am both passionate and proud of." 

In addition to the academic challenges, Kyle has had numerous hands-on experiences in his nursing program that have shaped him into the nurse he is today. The CHHS (College of Health and Human Services) has provided Â鶹´«Ã½ to practice on high-fidelity mannequins that simulate real-life clinical situations. "These experiences have taught me nursing practice. This helps relieve stress in the clinical setting because I have done it countless times before," he says. 

His thesis may be nearing completion, but for Kyle, this is just the beginning. As he looks toward the future, he is eager to bring the lessons he’s learned through his education—and through his research on AI—into practice.