‘Nurse Avery’—Google Backed AI Nursing Assistant Launches in 10 Health Systems

Image source: HITConsultant.net

A new wave of AI-powered support is coming to the bedside: Drive Health, an Arizona-based startup backed by Google, has announced the nationwide rollout of its AI nursing assistant, “Nurse Avery,” to ten health systems by the end of 2025. The company’s mission? To help address the critical nursing shortage and ease the burden on nurses and healthcare teams.

What (or Who?) is Nurse Avery?

Nurse Avery is a software-based, multilingual AI assistant designed to provide 24/7 support to both patients and clinical staff. Built in partnership with Google Public Sector, Nurse Avery leverages advanced artificial intelligence and secure, HIPAA-compliant cloud infrastructure to deliver real-time chart reviews, discharge instructions, appointment scheduling, and symptom triage. Patients can access Nurse Avery through a call button or bedside microphone, allowing for immediate, personalized assistance.

In an interview with AZ Inno, Kevin Longoria, cofounder and CEO of Drive Health, described how patients might interact with the AI assistant: “If the nurse says, ‘Go do this,’ we just kind of magically appear and start talking to the patient on their TV or on what's called a pillow speaker.” This seamless integration aims to streamline communication and ensure patients’ needs are met, even when staff are stretched thin.

Image source: Drive Health

Balancing Innovation and Identity: The Debate Over AI “Nurses”

The U.S. continues to face a severe nursing shortage, with burnout and high patient loads impacting nurses’ ability to deliver care. Longoria, a clinical physiologist and data scientist, was inspired to found Drive Health after a personal experience with long ER wait times for his son. “There’s this really big critical care gap that has emerged,” he told the Phoenix Business Journal. “Our thesis is that we will not be able to solve that with humans only.”

Longoria says Nurse Avery is not designed to replace nurses, but to act as a digital extension of the care team—handling routine questions, providing education, and escalating concerns when necessary. This would allow nurses to focus on complex clinical tasks and direct patient care, potentially reducing stress and improving outcomes.

But not all nurses agree. Some nurse leaders and advocates have expressed deep concern about labeling an AI product as a "nurse," arguing that the title "nurse" is a protected professional designation under state law and should be reserved exclusively for licensed human practitioners. Critics warn that using the title for digital assistants could undermine the public’s trust in the nursing profession and blur the distinction between human clinical judgment and automated support. Legislators in Oregon have already passed a bill to ensure that only humans can be called “nurse”.

These concerns are echoed by others in the nursing field, who argue that while AI can complement care, it should not be conflated with the expertise and human touch provided by licensed nurses. The debate centers on professional identity, patient trust, and the need for clear boundaries in the integration of AI into clinical environments.

Real-World Applications

Founded in 2022, Drive Health has raised $7.1 million and is already piloting innovative programs with Nurse Avery. In May, the company partnered with Google Public Sector to launch “Healthy Baby,” a program in rural Cook County, Illinois, providing expectant mothers with Google Pixel phones, Fitbit devices, and access to Nurse Avery for pregnancy guidance. The company plans to expand its Medicaid-focused initiatives to three additional states in 2025.

 

What’s Next?

As Nurse Avery begins its rollout in health systems nationwide, the promise of AI-powered support is met with both optimism and caution from the nursing community. While many see the potential for technology to ease administrative burdens and improve patient access, others urge careful consideration of how AI is integrated into care teams—and how it is represented to patients and the public.

Technology should serve as a tool to enhance, not replace, the clinical judgment, compassion, and advocacy that define the nursing profession. The success of AI solutions like Nurse Avery will depend on meaningful collaboration with nurses and clear boundaries around technology’s role in care delivery. For AI to truly support the nursing workforce, it must be developed and implemented with input from those on the front lines—and always with patients’ best interests at heart.

🤔 Nurses: how do you feel about AI assistants joining the nursing team? Share your thoughts in the comments below!