Nurse Practitioners

Nurse Practitioners score 48 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #277 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 27 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 24 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 7 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

48/ 100

Elevated

Rank: #277of 923 jobs
US workers: 323,040BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $132,300a year
In real AI use: 7 of 27tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (4%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 24 (89%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 2 (7%)

Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Provide patients with information needed to promote health, reduce risk factors, or prevent disease or disability.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Analyze and interpret patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Diagnose or treat complex, unstable, comorbid, episodic, or emergency conditions in collaboration with other health care providers as necessary.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies, based on such patient characteristics as age and gender.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Diagnose or treat chronic health care problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions with attention to safety, cost, invasiveness, simplicity, acceptability, adherence, and efficacy.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Detect and respond to adverse drug reactions, with special attention to vulnerable populations such as infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, or older adults.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Diagnose or treat acute health care problems, such as illnesses, infections, or injuries.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Counsel patients about drug regimens and possible side effects or interactions with other substances, such as food supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, or herbal remedies.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Order, perform, or interpret the results of diagnostic tests, such as complete blood counts (CBCs), electrocardiograms (EKGs), and radiographs (x-rays).AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Educate patients about self-management of acute or chronic illnesses, tailoring instructions to patients' individual circumstances.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Maintain current knowledge of state legal regulations for nurse practitioner practice, including reimbursement of services.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Recommend interventions to modify behavior associated with health risks.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Consult with, or refer patients to, appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Treat or refer patients for primary care conditions, such as headaches, hypertension, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, and dermatological conditions.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Schedule follow-up visits to monitor patients or evaluate health or illness care.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Maintain departmental policies and procedures in areas such as safety and infection control.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Advocate for accessible health care that minimizes environmental health risks.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Provide patients or caregivers with assistance in locating health care resources.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Keep abreast of regulatory processes and payer systems, such as Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and private sources.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Supervise or coordinate patient care or support staff activities.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Perform routine or annual physical examinations.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Perform primary care procedures such as suturing, splinting, administering immunizations, taking cultures, and debriding wounds.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

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Questions about nurse practitioners and AI

Will AI replace nurse practitioners?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Nurse Practitioners score 48 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #277 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 25 of the job's 27 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 2 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which nurse practitioners tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses".

Which nurse practitioners tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Perform routine or annual physical examinations"; "Perform primary care procedures such as suturing, splinting, administering immunizations, taking cultures, and debriding wounds".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 7 of the 27 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as nurse practitioners, and what do they earn?

About 323,040 people in the US, with median pay of $132,300 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.