AI in Pharmacology: Ethics and Legalities in Rural Nurse Practitioner Prescribing
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Nurse Practitioner, Pharmacology, Rural Health, Ethics, Clinical Decision Support, Medication SafetyAbstract
Purpose: To explore the emerging role of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving pharmacologic decision-making for nurse practitioners (NPs) in rural primary care, highlighting clinical support, workflow integration, and ethical and legal responsibilities.
Methods: This narrative review examines recent literature, case studies, and AI-enhanced tools to evaluate AI’s impact on prescribing safety and efficiency in rural health settings.
Findings: AI-driven tools, such as clinical decision support systems and predictive analytics, are increasingly available to assist nurse practitioners (NPs) in prescribing practices. In rural settings, where providers face unique challenges such as workforce shortages, patient complexity, and limited specialist access, AI offers promising solutions. Case studies demonstrate AI’s ability to support pharmacologic decisions for chronic conditions such as diabetes and atrial fibrillation. However, ethical concerns—including bias, transparency, and informed consent—must be proactively addressed.
Conclusions: NPs practicing in rural environments are well-positioned to lead the ethical and effective integration of AI into pharmacologic practice. By maintaining clinical accountability, ensuring patient understanding, and evaluating tools for rural relevance, NPs can use AI to improve medication safety and access while protecting patient trust.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Rebecca A. Martin, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC , Valerie Trull, MS
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share (for non-commercial purposes) the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
