Will AI replace Registered mental health nurses?

Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 50 official task statements scored for Registered mental health nurses (United Kingdom, SOC 2235), 8% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 17 out of 100 (range 13–22, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.

Which tasks in “Registered mental health nurses” can AI already do?

The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Update patient records accordingly” (81/100, very high); “Develop practice protocols for mental health problems, based on review and evaluation of published research” (72/100, high); “Maintain records of drug dispensation” (66/100, high). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.

Which tasks in “Registered mental health nurses” stay human?

About 88% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Help patients in keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean” (0/100, minimal); “Take patients' temperatures and blood pressures for health assessments” (0/100, minimal); “Offer specialist health checks, such as blood pressure and cholesterol monitoring and diabetes screening” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.

What should someone working in “Registered mental health nurses” do about AI?

Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 8% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 88% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.

How is the AI exposure score for Registered mental health nurses calculated?

Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 50 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

UK dataswitch to US

Registered mental health nurses

administering psychiatric assessments to evaluate mental health conditions, referring patients to other healthcare practitioners and tracking medication adherence and effects in mental health patients. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: administering prescribed oral medicines under the written direction of a doctor is work software can't reach.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 8%
changing shape: 4%
staying human: 88%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

Whole-job exposure score 17 out of 100 (13–22 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 50 scored tasks. The number is the support for the sentence above it, not a headline about anyone’s future.

How we know this

What is measured: Every published task statement for registered mental health nurses is rated on five dimensions: can a model produce the output, does the work need a body in a room, does it need a legally accountable person, does it depend on a person being trusted in the moment, and how much data exists. A published formula turns those five ratings into the score; the model never writes the number.

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-05. Read the full method.

What shifts is developing practice protocols for mental health problems: the paper around the work, not the work.

Your week, as this page understands it

Registered mental health nurses support and care for people with a range of mental health conditions, in hospital and community settings, and help them towards recovery and management of their conditions. The job title says “registered mental health nurses”. The real job is the part underneath: administering prescribed oral medicines under the written direction of a doctor. That is the thing someone has to be right about.

The exposed part of this job is specific, and we won’t pretend it is coming back. But registered mental health nurses is not one task. It is 50 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is administering prescribed oral medicines under the written direction of a doctor, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 8%
changing shape: 4%
staying human: 88%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

How we know this

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-05. Read the full method.

Your job, task by task

These are the official task statements for this occupation, in plain English, sorted by what the evidence says is happening to each one. The official wording sits under every line so you can check the rewrite against it.

5 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Shifting to AI

4 tasks

Tasks today’s tools can already do most of. This is the part we will not soften: where these rows are the bulk of your week, the week changes.

Developing practice protocols for mental health problems
This is reading one thing and writing another: practice protocols in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Develop practice protocols for mental health problems, based on review and evaluation of published research.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 72 out of 100 (68–76 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Reviewing published research and turning it into a written protocol is exactly the kind of document work software does well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Recording patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions or other diagnostic information
This is reading one thing and writing another: patients' health histories, symptoms in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Record patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions, or other diagnostic information.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 61 out of 100 (57–65 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Turning what a patient says into a structured record is documentation software already produces to a good standard.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Updating patient records accordingly
This is reading one thing and writing another: patient records in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Update patient records accordingly.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 81 out of 100 (77–85 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Updating records from clinical information is routine documentation software already does well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Maintaining records of drug dispensation
This is reading one thing and writing another: records of drug dispensation in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 65 · 2235/00
Source: “Maintain records of drug dispensation.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 66 out of 100 (62–70 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Logging which medicines were given and when is structured record-keeping that software handles reliably.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.

Changing shape

2 tasks

Tasks where the machine takes the producing and a person keeps the checking, the deciding, or the answering-for-it. For most jobs this is the biggest group, and it is where "transformation, not termination" is literally visible.

Referring patients to other healthcare practitioners
The software now makes the first pass at patients, but someone has to be answerable for the result, and it cannot be the software. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners as necessary.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 40 out of 100 (33–47 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Referral letters can be drafted automatically, but deciding to send a patient on rests with a registered nurse.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Coordinating employee workshops, courses or training on mental health issues
The software now makes the first pass at employee workshops, courses, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Coordinate employee workshops, courses, or training on mental health issues.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 48 out of 100 (41–55 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Planning training sessions and writing the materials is mostly desk work that software handles well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Staying human

44 tasks

Tasks that stay with a person, because they happen in the physical world, because the rules need someone accountable, or because the value is that a specific person does them.

Administering psychiatric assessments to evaluate mental health conditions
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for psychiatric assessments, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 90 · 2235/00
Source: “Administer psychiatric assessments to evaluate mental health conditions.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 19 out of 100 (12–26 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Questionnaires can be delivered digitally, but a mental health assessment guiding care must be carried out by a registered nurse.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Writing prescriptions for psychotropic medications as allowed by regulations and collaborative practice agreements
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for prescriptions, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Write prescriptions for psychotropic medications as allowed by regulations and collaborative practice agreements.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 32 out of 100 (28–36 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Software can suggest a dose, but only a qualified prescriber may legally write the prescription a patient takes to a pharmacy.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Developing and implementing treatment plans
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for treatment plans, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Develop and implement treatment plans.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 30 out of 100 (23–37 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Software can draft a plan from guidelines, but deciding and starting a patient's treatment is the nurse's own responsibility.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Participating in multidisciplinary meetings to review patient treatment plans and referrals
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for multidisciplinary meetings, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Participate in multidisciplinary meetings to review patient treatment plans and referrals.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 27 out of 100 (20–34 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Notes and summaries can be prepared automatically, but the clinical judgement brought to the meeting comes from a registered nurse.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Show the other 40 tasks

Tracking medication adherence and effects in mental health patients
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for medication adherence, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Track medication adherence and effects in mental health patients.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 36 out of 100 (29–43 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Tracking doses and side effects can be largely automated, though a qualified nurse judges what the pattern means.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Developing outreach activities in the local community
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles outreach activities and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Develop outreach activities in the local community.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 26 out of 100 (19–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Software can plan outreach, but what actually works depends on local knowledge and people in the community.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Teaching behaviour modification classes
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: behaviour modification classes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Teach behaviour modification classes related to topics such as stress management or weight control.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 26 out of 100 (19–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Class content is easy to produce, but the sessions themselves are taught to a group in a room.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Providing consulting services to other doctors to support mental health treatment plans
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for services, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 75 · 2235/00
Source: “Provide consulting services to other doctors to support mental health treatment plans.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 25 out of 100 (18–32 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Evidence and guidelines are well documented, though the advice must come from a registered clinician.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Distinguishing between physiologically- and psychologically-based disorders
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for physiologically-, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Distinguish between physiologically- and psychologically-based disorders, and diagnose appropriately.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 23 out of 100 (16–30 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Software can suggest possible causes, but giving a patient a diagnosis is a decision the nurse is accountable for.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Planning patient treatments in collaboration with members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for patient treatments, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Plan patient treatments in collaboration with members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 23 out of 100 (16–30 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Draft plans can be produced from guidelines, but agreeing a patient's treatment rests with registered clinicians in the team.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Informing patients and their families about mental health and medical conditions
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for patients, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Inform patients and their families about mental health and medical conditions, preventative health measures, medicines, or treatment plans.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 23 out of 100 (16–30 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Clear explanations can be drafted automatically, but talking someone through a diagnosis depends on trust built face to face.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Adjusting communication styles when interacting with healthcare professionals and patients
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles communication styles and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 75 · 2235/00
Source: “Adjust communication styles when interacting with healthcare professionals and patients.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 21 out of 100 (14–28 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Reading the room and adjusting how you speak to a frightened patient is judgement built in the moment.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Counseling and encouraging patients to develop leisure activities
staying human
The value here is that a specific person handles patients and stands behind it. That is earned, not computed.
importance 65 · 2235/00
Source: “Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 18 out of 100 (11–25 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Ideas and suggestions are easy to generate, but encouraging someone to actually take part depends on a trusted relationship.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Managing home healthcare services
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: home healthcare services, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Manage home healthcare services.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 15 out of 100 (8–22 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Rotas and coordination can be automated, but running a home care service means visiting and managing people directly.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Assessing patients to evaluate their health condition
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Assess patients to evaluate their health condition.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Some information can be collected digitally, but judging how a patient is doing needs a registered nurse with them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Assessing the condition of the patient
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the condition of the patient, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 2235/00
Source: “Assess the condition of the patient.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Some information can be collected digitally, but judging how a patient is doing needs a registered nurse with them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Teaching clients skills for independent living
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: clients skills, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 2235/00
Source: “Teach clients skills for independent living.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 12 out of 100 (5–19 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Guides can be written easily, but helping someone practise cooking or budgeting happens alongside them in real life.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Evaluating patients' behaviour to formulate diagnoses or assessing treatments
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients' behaviour, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Evaluate patients' behaviour to formulate diagnoses or assess treatments.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Software can summarise notes, but judging behaviour to reach a diagnosis is a registered practitioner's own assessment.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Identifying individuals at risk in emergency situations
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: individuals, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 2235/00
Source: “Identify individuals at risk in emergency situations.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Risk tools are documented, but spotting who is in danger in a live emergency needs a nurse present.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Seeing patients for routine mental health check-ups to monitor progress and adjust treatment plans
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “See patients for routine mental health check-ups to monitor progress and adjust treatment plans.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Check-ups depend on seeing the person and on a relationship built over time, with treatment changes made by registered staff.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Attending conferences and seminars for professional development
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: conferences, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Attend conferences and seminars for professional development.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (6–14 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Attending events to learn is something the nurse does in person; software cannot do the learning for them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Interviewing new patients to complete admission forms and assess their mental health status
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: new patients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Interview new patients to complete admission forms and assess their mental health status.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 9 out of 100 (2–16 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: The form can be drafted, but the assessment itself is a registered nurse sitting with a new patient.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Encouraging patients to engage in activities that develop social relationships
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Encourage patients to engage in activities that develop social relationships.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (1–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Encouraging someone to join in works because a familiar person is there asking.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Conducting individual psychotherapy for those with chronic or acute mental health conditions
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for individual psychotherapy, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Conduct individual psychotherapy for those with chronic or acute mental health conditions.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (2–10 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Therapy works through the relationship with the therapist, and delivering it sits with a registered mental health professional.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 4/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Providing support and reassurance
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: support, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Provide support and reassurance to patients, taking into account their physical and psychological needs.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (2–10 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Reassurance works because a person is there with the patient; that cannot be handed over.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 4/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Establishing and maintaining trust with patients to support their treatment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: trust, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Establish and maintain trust with patients to support their treatment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–8 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Building trust with a patient is the work itself and depends entirely on a real person being there.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 4/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Monitoring patients for unusual or harmful behaviour and reporting to professional staff
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Monitor patients for unusual or harmful behaviour and report to professional staff.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–11 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Spotting when someone is becoming unwell or at risk depends on being present and knowing how they usually are.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Leading prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: prescribed individual, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 2235/00
Source: “Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–8 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Therapy sessions work through the relationship between the patient and the person leading them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 4/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Updating relatives on patient progress
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: relatives, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 2235/00
Source: “Update relatives on patient progress, especially following fatal accidents.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–8 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Telling a family how someone is, especially after a death, has to come from a person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 4/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Rehabilitating mentally ill, emotionally disturbed or developmentally disabled patients in collaboration with doctors, psychologists or rehabilitation therapists
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: ill, emotionally disturbed or developmentally disabled patients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 2235/00
Source: “Rehabilitate mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or developmentally disabled patients in collaboration with doctors, psychologists, or rehabilitation therapists.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 3 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Rehabilitation happens through daily contact and hands-on support alongside other clinicians.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Responding to individuals in distress with appropriate interventions
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: individuals, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Respond to individuals in distress with appropriate interventions.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 2 out of 100 (0–6 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Responding to someone in distress happens in the room, in the moment, with a trained person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 4/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Receiving regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for regular clinical, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 2 out of 100 (0–6 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Supervision is about the nurse reflecting on their own practice with a senior colleague.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Administering prescribed oral medicines under the written direction of a doctor
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: prescribed oral medicines under the written direction, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Administer prescribed oral medicines under the written direction of a doctor.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Handing medicine to a patient and checking they take it happens in person, and a registered nurse must do it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Administering psychiatric medications and injections
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: psychiatric medications, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Administer psychiatric medications and injections.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Giving an injection means being with the patient, and only a registered nurse may administer these medicines.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Administering psychiatric medications to patients
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: psychiatric medications, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Administer psychiatric medications to patients.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Medicines are given to the patient in person, and only registered staff may administer them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Providing nursing care to individuals with mental health conditions or emotional disturbances
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: care, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 2235/00
Source: “Provide nursing care to individuals with mental health conditions or emotional disturbances.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Nursing care is delivered at the bedside by a registered nurse who is physically with the patient.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Administering hypodermic injections following doctor's prescriptions and hospital procedures
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hypodermic injections following doctor's prescriptions, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 2235/00
Source: “Administer hypodermic injections following doctor's prescriptions and hospital procedures.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Giving an injection is a physical, licensed act performed on the patient.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Attending to patients' physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients' physical needs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 2235/00
Source: “Attend to patients' physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Meeting a patient's physical needs means being with them and helping directly.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Accompanying patients on outings, providing transport
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Accompany patients on outings, providing transport when necessary.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Going out with a patient and driving them is physical presence from start to finish.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Assisting patients with bathing, showering and dressing activities
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Assist patients with bathing, showering and dressing activities.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Helping someone wash and dress is entirely hands-on personal care.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Restraining patients to prevent violence or injury
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 2235/00
Source: “Restrain patients to prevent violence or injury.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Physically holding someone safely is hands-on work that trained staff must do in person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Offering specialist health checks, such as blood pressure and cholesterol monitoring and diabetes screening
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: specialist health checks, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 2235/00
Source: “Offer specialist health checks, such as blood pressure and cholesterol monitoring and diabetes screening.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Blood pressure readings and blood tests have to be taken from the patient in person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Taking patients' temperatures and blood pressures for health assessments
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients' temperatures, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 65 · 2235/00
Source: “Take patients' temperatures and blood pressures for health assessments.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Taking a temperature or blood pressure needs someone with the patient and a cuff on their arm.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Helping patients in keeping beds
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: patients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 2235/00
Source: “Help patients in keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Keeping a patient's bed and living space clean is practical work done in the room.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay: £42,700a year, before tax, the middle of the range, so half earn more and half earn less.ashe-t14, 2025 · ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
How we know this
Source: ashe-t14
Reference period: ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)
Rounding: Shown to the nearest £100. The exact published figure is in the downloadable dataset. We do not render pounds the survey cannot support.
People doing this job: 59,900in the UK, 2026.nomis-aps · Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period)This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.

What is deliberately not here: a forecast of how many of these jobs exist in ten years. Where an official projection exists for a market we publish it with its vintage; where it does not, we leave the space empty rather than borrow the other country’s number.

Why this is shifting

The reason is boringly specific. Most of what is shifting here is reading one thing and writing another: practice protocols in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: developing practice protocols for mental health problems and recording patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions or other diagnostic information. What it cannot do is be answerable: prescribed oral medicines under the written direction needs a named person the rules will accept, and software cannot be that person. Which is why this page talks about your tasks changing, not your job ending.

Your move

Over a pint: what I’d tell you if you were my friend

Start with what does not change: administering prescribed oral medicines under the written direction of a doctor is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 8% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 4% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 88% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 50 scored tasks. It is not a forecast about you.

So the thing worth your attention is not the job going away. It is the layer around it. Developing practice protocols for mental health problems is the part turning into software, and being the person who understands that layer is worth money.

This week: one thing

Ask the one question. Find whoever is bringing new software into your workplace (the manager, the office, whoever runs the system) and ask them what it is meant to do to practice protocols, and what it is not meant to touch. Ten minutes, this week, before anyone decides it for you.

What you end up holding: a straight answer about what is actually being rolled out, and when
How long it takes: ten minutes

If there’s nobody obvious to ask, or you’d rather not ask your manager: Put the same question to your union rep, your shift lead or the person who has been there longest, in person, over a break. Same ten minutes, same answer, and you will usually get a straighter one. Write down what they say. The note is the artifact, and it tells you whether prescribed oral medicines under the written direction is in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no licence needed.

Over the next 90 days

Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near referring patients to other healthcare practitioners. It is usually an unglamorous seat that nobody fights for, and it is the one that decides how the software is used on your job rather than to it.

Over the next 12 months

On this evidence I would not retrain out of this job, and I will say that plainly rather than hedge it. The task list here is dominated by work that stays with a person. What I would do with a year is get formally recognised for the layer around it (the systems, the compliance, the planning), so you are the one who understands the software instead of the one it is done to. Before you pay for anything, spend an hour with National Careers Service. It is free and government-funded, and it is listed below with the rest of the free routes.

The roads out of here

You did not come here for a career change and I am not selling you one. But one road out of here is worth knowing about, so here it is with the bill attached.

Registered mental health nursesRegistered nurse practitioners
a year or morematched on shared tasks
One of the tasks on your list is on theirs in the same words: “administer psychiatric medications and injections”. Take both published task lists together and about 46% of the work in that job that the software is not taking is work you are doing today.
About 46% of it you could do on Monday. The rest is the price of the ticket.
The work the two jobs share
- You already do
  “Administer psychiatric medications and injections.”
  They do
  “Administer psychiatric medications and injections.”
- You already do
  “Conduct individual psychotherapy for those with chronic or acute mental health conditions.”
  They do
  “Conduct individual psychotherapy for those with chronic or acute mental health conditions.”
- You already do
  “Establish and maintain trust with patients to support their treatment.”
  They do
  “Establish and maintain trust with patients to support their treatment.”
What you would not already have: Nothing in your task list touches “collaborate with mental health professionals and other agencies as required”, “provide evidence-based individual therapy” or “build meaningful therapeutic relationships with children and young people through effective communication”. That is the part you would be learning from scratch, and it is roughly the 54% of their durable work you do not already hold.
The honest bill
Pay: £46,100 against your £42,700 (ASHE Table 14.7a, 2025 provisional (both)).
- The licence gate: Default-closed. This release carries no licence-register snapshot, so I could not check whether that job is regulated, which means I have to assume it might be. Before you spend a penny, look it up on the GOV.UK register of regulated professions; the free routes below link straight to it. The route is banded a year or more because of that unknown, not in spite of it.
- The entry ticket: Typical entry-level education is published for only ten occupations in this release, and neither this job nor that one is among them. So I cannot tell you whether a qualification stands in the way. Treat that as an open question to settle before you commit, not as a green light.
- What the pay gap is telling you: £46,069 against your £42,692, 7.9% more (ASHE Table 14.7a, 2025 provisional (both)). A real difference, not a life-changing one. Take the move for the work, not the raise.
- What you live on meanwhile: Nobody is going to pay you to retrain. This is evenings and weekends alongside the job you already have, for a year or more, and if that is not possible right now then this route is not open right now, which is worth knowing before you start. The free, government-funded careers service listed below will talk the funding through with you before you pay anyone.
- Is the target job itself holding up: Registered nurse practitioners scores 26/100 on this site’s own exposure measure (low), with 7% of its tasks in the top band. Employment projections are not published for this occupation in this release, so this is the exposure leg of the check only. It passed, which is the only reason it is here.
How long: A year or more, part-time, alongside the job you have. That band is set by the unchecked licence question and by the 54% of their work you would be learning, not by any one course.
See what AI is doing to registered nurse practitioners

3 moves I checked and rejected

These are the obvious-looking jumps. They are here with their reasons rather than quietly dropped, because the ones that fail are worth knowing about. It is one less thing to turn over at night.

Registered community nurses
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “assess the condition of the patient”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 15% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 15% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Registered children's nurses
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already administer psychiatric medications and injections, and their equivalent is to administer medications and injections to patients in their care. Across both published task lists that is about 11% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 11% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Other registered nursing professionals
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already administer psychiatric medications and injections, and their equivalent is to administer prescribed injections and medications. Across both published task lists that is about 9% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 9% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step.
Look at that job’s page anyway →

What I’d stop worrying about

A friend tells you what not to spend fear on. This is that list.

The headline number you read somewhere
The big “X% of jobs” figures are about the whole economy, not about you. The number that describes your job is on this page: 8% of its task weight, across 50 scored tasks. Every row behind it is printed above with the source. Check ours; ignore theirs.
The headlines about your trade disappearing
They are usually about the technology, not the timetable. Changes to work like administering prescribed oral medicines under the written direction of a doctor arrive through rules, insurance and money, slowly and visibly. This page tracks the task evidence and will move when it moves.
Retraining out of a job that is holding up
On this evidence I would not spend money leaving. Spend it on the layer around the job instead: the tools, the paperwork, the planning. That is where the change actually is.
The “obvious” next job everyone suggests
I checked the obvious moves and most of them did not survive. The reasons are printed with the routes above, including the pay and the gate. A move that fails on the numbers is worth knowing about so you can stop turning it over at night.

You are reading the United Kingdom figures

The United States splits this work across more than one official group, of which Registered Nurses is the closest. The pay and employment figures are not directly comparable, and we do not average them together.

Switch to the United States page →partial match

The other groups this work is counted across:

In US official statistics this job is counted as Registered Nurses, Nurse Anesthetists and Nurse Practitioners. Pay is shown separately for each of those groups (medians cannot be averaged together), while the task list and the scores on this page are for this group only.

Your route through this

Where to go next, and what it costs

Free, and complete

The moves above cost nothing. These are the real services that go with them: public, government-funded, and free at the point of use. Nothing on this page is behind an email address or a payment.

In England:
National Careers Service
A free hour with a government-funded careers adviser is worth more than another evening of reading. In England that's the National Careers Service.
Free, government-funded
- Discover your skills and careers (the skills assessment)
In England:
National Careers Service - Find a course
Search what's actually running near you before you spend anything.
Free to search; individual courses vary
In England:
Free courses for jobs (Level 3 qualifications)
A free Level 3 qualification you already qualify for beats a paid course you don't need.
Free for eligible adults
In England:
Skills Bootcamps
Free, up to 16 weeks, and you get a job interview at the end. In England these are Skills Bootcamps - search what's running near you.
Free for eligible adults in England
- Skills Bootcamps - what they are and who can do them (DfE, Skills for Careers)
- Skills Bootcamps - JobHelp (DWP)
In Scotland:
My World of Work (Skills Development Scotland)
In Scotland it's My World of Work, from Skills Development Scotland.
Free, publicly funded
- Skills Development Scotland
In Wales:
Careers Wales
In Wales it's Careers Wales.
Free, Welsh Government-funded
In Northern Ireland:
Careers Service Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland it's the Careers Service on nidirect.
Free, Department for the Economy-funded

No Space for this job, but one for what is happening to it

Nothing Collab365 runs is built for mental health nurse, and we are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.

The working behind that

No healthcare Space; generalist rule blocks The AI Authority for regulated clinical work.

There is one that is not about a job title at all. The AI Authority is about being the person who directs these tools at work rather than the person they get compared to. That is worth saying here, because 8% of the work on this page is already inside what they can do.

Try The AI Authority free →

7 days free, no card needed. Explore up to 2 Spaces before you choose a plan: you pick a plan later, not now.

The AI Authority is a general community about working with AI, not a course for mental health nurse. You do not need it to act on anything here: the moves above cost nothing and stand on their own. The data on this page is the same either way.

Nearby moves

The jobs above, as pages you can read the same way as this one. Your job shares its core work with these. That is what the match is, and it is all it is.

Registered nurse practitioners →About 46% of it you could do on Monday. The rest is the price of the ticket.

Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for nurses and healthcare workers launches. Nothing else.

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No Space for nurses and healthcare workers yet. Should there be one?

Collab365 Spaces is built by the same people as this site. We find the problems that AI and automation are creating inside one kind of work, then solve them as short courses, briefings and Blueprints. Each Space is the community too, so the research and the people doing your job are in the same place.

What a Space actually is, in full

Collab365 launches new communities where the need is real. If one for nurses and healthcare workers existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

Your email

We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for nurses and healthcare workers launches. We never sell it, never use it for unrelated marketing, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Our privacy policy has the full version.

This unlocks nothing. Every figure, every row and every step on this page is already yours, whether you fill this in or not.

No deadline on any of this. The page will still be here, and the data is refreshed on a published schedule rather than when someone wants a headline.

Questions people ask about this job

Will AI replace Registered mental health nurses?: Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 50 official task statements scored for Registered mental health nurses (United Kingdom, SOC 2235), 8% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 17 out of 100 (range 13–22, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.
Which tasks in “Registered mental health nurses” can AI already do?: The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Update patient records accordingly” (81/100, very high); “Develop practice protocols for mental health problems, based on review and evaluation of published research” (72/100, high); “Maintain records of drug dispensation” (66/100, high). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.
Which tasks in “Registered mental health nurses” stay human?: About 88% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Help patients in keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean” (0/100, minimal); “Take patients' temperatures and blood pressures for health assessments” (0/100, minimal); “Offer specialist health checks, such as blood pressure and cholesterol monitoring and diabetes screening” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.
What should someone working in “Registered mental health nurses” do about AI?: Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 8% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 88% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.
How is the AI exposure score for Registered mental health nurses calculated?: Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 50 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

Where these numbers come from

About the data on this page

Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.
The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
5 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Task statements: gaisi-indexProcessing: catalogue-bridge → ssc-relatedness-weighting → task-scoring → score-aggregation
Task weights: gaisi-index (relatedness)
Scores: Rubric task_scoring_v1.0, model claude-opus-5, computed 2026-08-05.
Pay and employment: ashe-t14 (ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025))nomis-aps (Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period))

Figures on this page come from release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Every release keeps its own permanent address, so a figure you cite in March is still there, unchanged, in November.

The plain-English wording on this page is assembled directly from the task statements and the published ratings, not written by hand for this occupation. That is why it is specific, and it is also why we say so.

The routes and free resources further up are today’s, not the release’s (last reviewed 2026-08-05). A route is an offer, not a historical fact, so it moves on its own clock.

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Everything on this site is published under CC BY 4.0. Quote it, chart it, sell something built on it. Just say where it came from, and cite the dated release rather than the site, so the figure you quote stays checkable.

Plain text

Collab365 (2026). Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1 (methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0). https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Built with O*NET data (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); ONS data (Open Government Licence v3.0); GAISI task framework (arXiv:2507.22748, MIT); BLS data (public domain).

BibTeX

@misc{collab365futureproof2026q41,
  title        = {Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1},
  author       = {{Collab365}},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1},
  note         = {Release 2026-q4.1, methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0, CC BY 4.0}
}

Permalink

https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1

Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.