Bedside procedures (IVs, dressings)
Nurse · Clinical Nurse
“Bedside procedures (IVs, dressings)” (Nurse) is projected to see AI enter in 2035 and be largely replaced by 2045+.
What this task is
Nurses carry out bedside procedures such as starting IV lines, changing wound dressings, inserting catheters and suctioning airways, adapting their technique to each patient's condition.
How AI replaces it
These tasks need fine manual dexterity, bodies, veins and wounds vary widely, and safety standards are high. Robots for them are expected to appear around 2035 and are unlikely to replace nurses broadly before 2045.
What stays human
Nurses will keep performing bedside procedures themselves, possibly using vein-imaging devices to improve first-attempt success, while observing, explaining and reassuring patients from the start to the end of each procedure.