AI is quickly becoming a practical “extra pair of hands” for nurse researchers. It helps with everything from organising ideas to searching the literature. It also assists in refining writing and streamlining project workflows. When used effectively, these tools can save time and reduce admin load. They can support clearer, more consistent research outputs while maintaining human clinical judgement and research rigour.

In this post, I’m sharing a curated set of AI tools by Rimsha Bhardwaj that can support research across the full research cycle, and be helpful for clinical research nurses starting their journey into using AI tools.

1/ LITERATURE REVIEW → Claude Sonnet 4.5

"Analyze these 30 papers on [TOPIC]. Find contradictions, research gaps, and emerging debates. Prioritize findings that challenge consensus."

Why Claude: 200K context window = reads entire papers, not just abstracts. pic.twitter.com/RoLMzC1Ilq

— Rimsha Bhardwaj (@heyrimsha) February 12, 2026

Here are some other AI tools that can enhance the research experience for clinical nurses:

1. Zotero

Zotero is a free tool that helps researchers collect, organize, cite, and share their research materials. It can store bibliographic information, manage PDFs, and create citations in various styles with ease.

2. Mendeley

Similar to Zotero, Mendeley offers a platform for reference management and academic collaboration. It allows users to organize their research, collaborate with others, and discover recent research trends.

3. EndNote

EndNote is a reference management software that helps users organize their references and create bibliographies seamlessly. It is particularly useful for those looking to organize a large volume of research papers.

4. Grammarly

Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that can help refine writing by checking for grammatical errors, clarity, engagement, and delivery options. It’s helpful for researchers wanting to ensure their writing is polished and professional.

5. ResearchGate

ResearchGate is a networking site for researchers that allows them to share papers, ask and answer questions, and find collaborators. The AI components suggest relevant research and enhance the visibility of published works.

6. ChatGPT

This conversational AI can assist with brainstorming ideas, summarizing literature, and even drafting sections of research proposals or papers. Its versatility makes it a valuable companion in the writing process.

7. AI-Powered Literature Review Apps

Tools like Iris.ai and Semantic Scholar use AI algorithms to enhance the literature review process by finding relevant research articles and summarizing findings based on user-defined parameters.

By integrating these AI tools into their workflow, clinical research nurses can streamline various aspects of their work, from conducting literature reviews to polishing manuscripts. Adopting such technology not only modernizes the research process but also empowers nurses to focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks.