On 26th July 2023, the Children’s Nursing Educator’s Forum (CNEF) took one of the most intriguing topics for discussion: i.e. ChatGPT and its influence in children’s nursing education. Arguably, this innovation by Artificial Intelligence experts marks a new milestone in the teaching-learning continuum. It shakes tradition, and its fast-paced approach to the academic field gives off a resounding call for reality checks. This is what caught the attention of CNEF:  Are we ready as children’s nursing educators?? Actually, before this question, lies another: What is this thing called ChatGPT and how is it going to affect us as children’s nursing educators?

The Forum started on a very high note, with 30 children’s nursing educators from across Africa. Even while it was an online meeting, the thirst for knowledge and eagerness to learn among members could be felt as if permeating across the computer screen walls to put us all in one room. That was the feeling! Professor Cheng-Wen Huang, a Senior Lecturer – CILT) and Mashudu Raudzingana (Online Learning Designer – CILT) from the University of Cape Town delivered a stellar presentation on ChatGPT covering its origin, how it works and how children’s nursing educators can leverage its use for the enhancement of teaching and learning.

The meeting then broke into breakaways rooms where a group of about 4 members weighed in on the presentation and attempted to answer these two questions:

1. What surprised or excited you about ChatGPT?
2. What would it take for you to feel settled about stepping into this space? 

Towards the end, the chairperson wanted us to bring our thoughts to the table. From this, it was clear that the advent of ChatGPT was perceived as a bitter-sweet phenomenon for educators in the room. Deliberators pondered on whether it was a magic bullet that stands to solve student’s self-directed study as it is now recommended or was it one monster that has encroached the boundaries of creativity, originality and critical thinking from our future children’s nurses and academics? There was no clear-cut consensus on the day. However, the App is here to stay and as the facilitators kept on saying, educators need to leverage a synergy between technological advances and education to drive academic success especially that of the 21st century learner.

Whereas the session was concluded on a high note, with members exited to have acquired knowledge on ChatGPT, the question whether children’s nursing educators were keen on employing the App as part of their teaching learning process remains. In any case, whether we like or not, Chat GPT has become interwoven into the fabric of our academia society. As CNEF, we value quality education of our children’s nurses and so will embrace innovation that epitomises excellence over that which does not.