What ChatGPT Says About Belonging and Oncology Nursing

June 05, 2023 by Brenda M. Nevidjon, MSN, RN, FAAN ONS Chief Executive Officer

Our minds often make connections between the information we consume from various sources. I recently did that with articles, news programs, and social media. First, I read a viewpoint in the American Nurse Journal titled “Do I Still Belong (https://www.myamericannurse.com/do-i-still-belong/)?” Rushton outlined the complex concept of belonging in addressing the current state of nursing and nurses leaving their jobs and the profession. She described a multidimensional concept of belonging to ourselves, our patients, our profession, and the role or position we hold.

Second, the increasing news and social media coverage of AI, especially ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, shows that we are in the midst of profound change that will affect all of us, whether we know today how it will. CBS’s 60 Minutes had an insider look at Bard (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-artificial-intelligence-future-60-minutes-transcript-2023-04-16/) that left the journalist Scott Pelley speechless. Third, I read an article that began with, “This article was written by a person.”

Putting those three together, I went to ChatGPT and asked it to write an essay on belonging and oncology nursing. What follows is one version it wrote in a minute, much faster than writing this column has been, and I think it is written well.

From ChatGPT

In the field of oncology nursing, belonging is crucial in promoting job satisfaction, reducing burnout, and improving patient outcomes. This essay explores the importance of belonging in oncology nursing, the challenges of building belonging in this profession, and strategies to foster a sense of belonging among oncology nurses.

Oncology nursing is a highly specialized field that requires specialized knowledge and skills. Nurses in this field work with patients who are undergoing cancer treatment, which is often a challenging and emotional experience. In this context, a sense of belonging is essential for nurses to feel supported, valued, and connected to their work. Belonging can provide emotional support, reduce stress, and promote job satisfaction.

One of the challenges of building belonging in oncology nursing is the complexity of the work environment. Nurses in this field often work long hours, deal with high levels of stress, and have to manage the emotional needs of patients and their families. In addition, the nature of cancer treatment means that patients may experience rapid changes in their health, which can be emotionally challenging for nurses. All of these factors can make it challenging to foster a sense of belonging among nurses.

To address these challenges, there are several strategies that can be employed to foster a sense of belonging.

Chat GPT presented several strategies that can foster a sense of belonging, and ONS provides many, but not all, to our members. As Rushton’s viewpoint showed (https://www.myamericannurse.com/do-i-still-belong/), belonging is multidimensional and we each contribute to our feeling of belonging. The ONS Board of Directors and staff realize that central to the Society’s mission is creating connections for you—with each other and with the organization. We appreciate that many of you responded to the annual member survey with suggestions about what we can do. Those, and perhaps ChatGPT’s, can guide our strategic priorities.

Topics: