After completing a degree in neuroscience, Taij Mann had an epiphany. He was passionate about medicine and health care – but he needed a more hands-on approach. After exploring paramedicine and realizing it was too narrow for his interests, he landed on nursing.

“I already have the background and I wanted to keep the door open for research – I just didn’t want that to be my full-time job,” he explains. 

Now, he’s able to blend that research with the practice of nursing. Last month, he presented work at Student Research Day, where he analyzed ways that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in health care and education.

“AI will change how educational institutions teach and evaluate students, and students will need to understand the strengths and limitations of AI to be competent health-care providers in the near future,” says Mann of the topic, which was inspired by a conversation with nursing prof Dr. Yuwaraj Narnaware.

Early findings from nursing researchers have shown that AI can be useful in diagnostics, data analysis and documentation in health-care settings. Because of this widespread use, Mann says that today’s students will need to be prepared to use tech in their careers in order to be successful. But there’s also a challenging side to embracing tech.

“Other studies explore the challenges of AI in education, indicating that students and educators poorly understand its utility, and AI creates new challenges to academic integrity and educational disparities,” he says.

Once AI use in education is a little better understood, though, Mann has some ideas for how it can be applied right here at MacEwan during student practicums and placements.

“For example, students may be required to use AI for care-planning assignments and explain why they chose their prompts and the strengths and weaknesses of the AI output,” he says.

Mann is planning to use his nursing credentials to support communities in need, in his future career. 

“I aim to gain experience and eventually move to a remote nursing unit in northern BC, Alberta or the Yukon. I previously worked as a tree planter and first-aid assistant based out of remote forestry camps, and I am eager to work as a nurse in a similar environment.”

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