AI Guidance
Ethical and Effective Use of Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Education, Practice, and Research at the UNC School of Nursing*
I. Introduction and Philosophy of Use
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), including tools such as ChatGPT, is rapidly transforming education, healthcare, and research. These tools can support brainstorming, problem-solving, clinical reasoning, and efficiency, but must be used responsibly, ethically, and in compliance with academic integrity and regulatory standards.
The guiding philosophy at UNC is:
“AI should help you think, not think for you.”
This principle underscores the expectation that AI is a supportive tool—not a substitute—for human thinking, decision-making, and creativity. Students, faculty, and staff are responsible for how they use AI, and they must be aware of its limitations, risks, and ethical considerations.
II. General Student Use Guidelines for Generative AI
Students must adhere to the following guidelines when using AI in academic work:
- Use AI Responsibly
- Do not submit AI-generated content as your own work.
- Avoid entering assignment prompts and copying/pasting AI responses.
- Instructor-Determined Use
- AI usage rules vary by course and assignment.
- Always consult the instructor or course syllabus for approved use.
- You Are Accountable
- You are 100% responsible for the accuracy and integrity of your submitted work—even when AI is used.
- Transparency and Documentation
- All AI use must be clearly disclosed in a work statement accompanying your assignment.
- Example statement: “I attest that this project made use of AI in the following ways…” Include the tool used, how the output was edited, and links to AI conversations if applicable.
- Do Not Input Confidential Information
- Do not share private, personal, or HIPAA-regulated data with public AI tools.
- Understand the Limitations
- AI can fabricate content, reflect biases, and misrepresent sources.
- Always verify the accuracy of AI-generated material before use.
III. Approved and Prohibited AI Uses
Faculty will specify whether AI use is permitted or prohibited in each course and assignment. Below are sample statements for use in course syllabi:
Statement Prohibiting AI Use:
Use of generative AI tools of any kind is not permitted in this course. Any use of these tools will be considered an instance of academic dishonesty and will be referred to the Honor System.
Statement Allowing AI Use (with Citation):
The following uses of generative AI tools are permitted in this course: Categories of possible permitted use include, but are not limited to: topic selection, brainstorming and idea generation, research, source validation, outlining and planning, drafting, media creation, peer review, revising, and polishing.
If use of AI tools is permitted in the course:
Sourcing Use of AI
- Accuracy: Generative AI may fabricate both claims and sources for those claims. Verification is your responsibility. You need to independently verify the claims, quotations, sources, and reasoning that are generated by AI tools, as well as document the steps you took to perform this verification.
- Attribution: You must attribute any use in your work of words or ideas that are not originally your own. You have a two-fold obligation with respect to attribution:
- (1) If a source is identified, you must find and attribute the original source of the words or ideas, identifying the location within that source from which the material is derived. If you are not able to locate the source, you should not make use of the content.
- (2) You must document the process by explaining how you used generative AI in a work statement that will accompany your submission of major projects in the class. If you do not submit any statement explaining your use of generative AI tools, that will be treated as an attestation that you did not use AI tools at any stage of the assignment. When you submit an assignment in which you did make any use of AI tools, please include the following statement: “I attest that this project made use of AI in the following ways:” then use the following form to document your usage. **
| Usage | Tools Used (e.g., ChatGPT4) | How you edited the output, if at all | Conversation Link (if available) |
| Topic Selection | |||
| Brainstorming and idea generation | |||
| Research | |||
| Source validation | |||
| Outlining/planning | |||
| Drafting | |||
| Media creation | |||
| Peer review | |||
| Revising | |||
| Polishing | |||
| Other |
** Note that such attribution is not a valid source for facts, only for the output itself.
IV. AI Use in Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing Education
- Classroom and Online Learning
- AI can assist with idea generation and content review but should not replace critical thinking or instructor guidance.
- All AI-generated content must be verified against peer-reviewed sources and nursing standards.
- Faculty should provide clear expectations in Canvas for each assignment regarding AI use.
- Academic Integrity
- Unauthorized use of AI in assessments, clinical documentation, or graded work is considered academic misconduct.
- AI-generated work must always be cited and disclosed as outlined above.
- Faculty reserves the right to have students defend their work when suspected AI misuse and non-disclosure.
V. AI in Clinical Practice
- Clinical Decision Support
- AI tools (e.g., decision support systems) can inform care but do not replace clinical judgment.
- Nurses must evaluate AI suggestions within the context of patient-specific data and evidence-based practice.
- No Protected Health Information should be entered into Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
- Students are expected to follow the guidelines and policies of their assigned clinical site regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice.
- Use of AI tools in the clinical setting, especially in the context of patient care or documentation, must be vetted and endorsed by the clinical site.
- Documentation & Workflow
- AI-assisted tools like voice-to-text can increase efficiency but must be reviewed for accuracy.
- AI must not be used to generate or alter official patient records without oversight.
- Communication & Trust
- When AI tools are involved in patient care, their use should be disclosed to maintain trust.
- AI must not replace human interactions in patient education, empathy, or counseling.
VI. AI in Nursing Research
- Data Analysis & Literature Synthesis
- AI can support literature reviews and data analysis but must be supplemented with human validation.
- Findings must be critically evaluated and transparent in their methodology.
- Ethical Considerations
- All AI use in research must comply with HIPAA, IRB, and institutional data security protocols.
- AI use should be disclosed in publications, and models must avoid bias and ensure reproducibility.
VII. Faculty and Institutional Responsibility
- Faculty should receive ongoing development on AI applications, risks, and ethical use.
- The School of Nursing should maintain evolving policies to reflect technological advancements.
- Collaboration with legal, IT, and clinical experts is essential to support responsible integration of AI into nursing education and practice.
VIII. Conclusion
AI offers powerful tools for advancing learning, practice, and research in nursing. However, its use must always be guided by ethics, academic integrity, and professional standards. At UNC School of Nursing, we are committed to ensuring AI enhances—but never replaces—human expertise, empathy, and judgment.
IX. Acknowledgment
These guidelines are adapted from the work of the UNC Generative AI Committee, which was established by the Provost and Deans with representation from every academic unit across the university. Their recommendations serve as a foundation for ethical, responsible, and forward-thinking use of generative AI in academic settings. The UNC School of Nursing has tailored these guidelines to reflect the unique needs, values, and standards of nursing education, practice, and research.
* ChatGPT was used in the development of these guidelines – more specifically, it was employed to generate suggestions for student use policies and to consolidate general university guidelines with those specific to nursing education.