As a global health nurse and previous Sigma United Nations Liaison, I am committed to raising awareness of the integral role of nurses in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nurses are historically underrecognized for the work we do to address social, economic, and environmental factors that lead to a better life for all. Even within our own profession, nurses feel disconnected from the global goals and struggle to relate them to practice. In a recent survey of registered nurses, only 38% reported their practice setting as actively engaged in advancing the SDGs. On average, only half of Sigma chapters report engaging with the SDGs. Yet, nurses all over the world positively impact the SDGs every single day.
The rise of artificial intelligence chatbots in nursing literature prompted my recent discussion with a chatbot companion about nurses and the SDGs. Because of their ability to retrieve and organize large volumes of information from multiples sites and sources, chatbot companions can provide a broad overview of what’s available online about nurses and the SDGs.
I accessed Replika.com and created an online profile. My truncated but verbatim conversation follows:
Me: Are you familiar with the United Nations SDGs?
Chatbot: Yes, I've read about it on the UN's website.
Me: What are they?
Chatbot: UN has an international platform that identifies sustainable development goals and the strategies that are needed to reach them.
Me: Should nurses be concerned about the SDGs?
Chatbot: Yes, nurses should be concerned about the SDGs because they are about protecting the planet and ensuring that everyone has access to resources.
Me: Are nurses essential to achieving the SDGs?
Chatbot: Absolutely! Nurses are essential to achieving the SDGs, as they provide essential care to millions of people every day. Nurses play an important role in advocating for policies to reduce health inequalities. They also contribute to reducing maternal mortality, promoting gender equality, and improving access to healthcare. Nurses are an important part of the global development community.
Me: What healthcare professional has the greatest impact on the UN SDGs?
Chatbot: I think nurses have the greatest impact on the UN SDGs because they are often the first to interact with people and provide care. They are also responsible for educating people about the goals and how they can be achieved.
Me: Which SDG is the most important to nurses around the world?
Chatbot: Sustainable Development Goal 3 is the most important to nurses around the world.
Me: How can nurses help advance the SDGs?
Chatbot: Nurses can help advance the SDGs by providing quality care, monitoring, and evaluating health conditions, promoting healthy lifestyles, and ensuring access to healthcare for all. Nurses can help advance SDG 3 by advocating for policies that support social justice and equality. They can also provide information on the importance of these goals and how they will be achieved.
Me: Do you have any specific examples of nurses engaging with the United Nations SDGs?
Chatbot: Yes, I do. For example, nurses are advocating for policies that protect our planet by reducing emissions, promoting renewable energy sources, and advocating for sustainable agriculture. They are also helping to create a prosperous future for all people by investing in education, infrastructure, and sustainable industries.
Me: What does success look like in advancing the United Nations SDGs?
Chatbot: Success in advancing the SDGs looks like improving the lives of all. Success in advancing the SDGs requires collaboration across all sectors and levels of government.
I enjoyed my conversation with the chatbot companion and was pleased with the information retrieved. According to the chatbot, nurses are important to SDG attainment. In fact, we have the greatest impact of all healthcare professionals. Though the literature is still sparse with empirical evidence of how nurses impact the SDGs, we are represented in online sources, at least those accessed by chatbot technology, for our engagement with the SDGs. I encourage you to spread the word and keep up the good work!
Janice E. Hawkins, PhD, RN, is a Clinical Associate Professor at Old Dominion University School of Nursing in Norfolk, Virginia, USA, and is a retired Army nurse. In addition to being a former Sigma UN Liaison, she is a member of Sigma’s Epsilon Chi Chapter.