Live at Magnet 2026: Making Every Nurse AI Ready with Rich Kenny

Healthcare is changing fast, and nurses need a seat at the table where AI decisions get made. In this episode, hear from Rich Kenny, Vice President of AI and Digital Health Programs at the American Nurses Association, to talk about what it really means for nurses to be “AI ready.” Rich started his career as a flight nurse and now leads ANA’s work on artificial intelligence. With a $5 million grant from the Johnson & Johnson Foundation and Google.org, his team is setting out to train 250,000 nurses in AI literacy, with a focus on nurses in underserved and rural communities. As Rich puts it, there’s no other profession whose voice is needed more right now in shaping these technologies. We talk about why AI readiness is less about knowing everything and more about curiosity and the confidence to ask questions, why designing for nurses in rural and under-resourced settings lifts the whole profession, and how nurses can keep compassion, advocacy, and connection at the center of care as technology evolves. Whether you’re a bedside nurse, a nurse leader, or a healthtech founder building tools for clinicians, this conversation is for you. And stay tuned for more coverage from the Magnet Conference in Chicago. Timestamps 0:00 Rich Kenny’s new AI and digital health leadership role 1:32 The $5 million, three-year AI literacy grant 3:17 From flight nursing to informatics and AI 5:47 A goal to train 250,000 nurses 7:12 AI fluency means confidence to ask questions 8:23 Why AI readiness may mean staying curious 10:32 Nursing experience with ambiguity can inform AI 11:46 Why nursing voices must protect the human element

Connect with Rich Kenny on LinkedIn American Nurses Association: nursingworld.org About Your Host Rosa Hart, BSN, RN, SCRN, FLAA, is a former Neuro ICU nurse and stroke nurse navigator, podcast host, speaker, and author of Speak Up, Start Now. Nurse Rosa’s INsights brings you conversations with the nurses, leaders, and innovators changing how healthcare works. 📖 Get Speak Up, Start Now on Audible or Kindle 📲 Follow @NurseRosaSpeaks on social media 👍 Like, subscribe, and share this episode with a nurse who needs to hear it