With so many AI tools available today, it can be difficult to know which ones truly support your everyday practice. NotebookLM stands out because it works directly from your own materials, helping to ensure the integrity of the information.

NotebookLM is an AI-powered platform from Google which uses Google's Gemini multimodal capabilities, meaning it can understand information from different types of files, to act as a personalized AI expert based on documents and resources you provide.

Before uploading any content into NotebookLM or any AI-powered platform, nurses should review their hospital policies on AI use and data sharing to ensure compliance with organizational policy on technology and AI-enabled applications.

A second brain for the resources you already trust

NotebookLM acts like a contained workspace built from your selected sources. The Deep Research option can be used to gather information from sources you trust, such as recommendations from national organizations and peer-reviewed publications. This is useful when you want to supplement your local policies with current evidence or professional guidance. You decide which sources to add to your notebook, which keeps the workspace focused and relevant.

So, what can you ask it? Try practical questions like:

• What do our policies say about this situation?
• How do these preference cards differ?

Because NotebookLM references your chosen materials, this keeps responses grounded in the information that applies to your hospital, unit, and protocols.

Support practical application of policies

Uploading clinical resources into NotebookLM can help you quickly translate best practice recommendations to your team, supporting day-to-day implementation. You can focus on the best format to present the information to your team, reducing hours of manual work.

Supporting new perioperative nurses

Precepting is one of the most important roles in the OR, but the fast pace can make consistent one-on-one teaching tough. A curated NotebookLM with point-of-care resources drawn from best practices provides direct support while reducing the burden on preceptors. This allows the preceptee to learn how to independently locate trusted information, so you can focus on hands-on skills and direction.

What you can upload

NotebookLM works with many of the materials perioperative nurses use daily (always avoiding PHI):

• Documents: PDFs, Word files, Google Docs, spreadsheets, policies, preference cards, etc.
• Images: The tool can turn handwritten notes or equipment photos into searchable content. It can even identify objects—such as lasers or C-arms—even if the image has no text.
• Video and audio: You can upload training videos or meeting recordings. NotebookLM analyzes transcripts so you can ask questions without rewatching or relistening.
• Websites: Manufacturer pages can become searchable sources.

Turning complex content into usable reference material

NotebookLM offers tools that help convert dense content into digestible formats:

• Audio Overviews: Podcast-style summaries generated from your materials. Interactive Mode lets you voice questions during playback.
• Visual learning tools: Automatically create visuals to illustrate workflows, technical steps, or reference materials.
• Infographics and tables: Turn long policies into visual summaries or compare multiple documents—such as several preference cards—in editable tables that export to Google Sheets.

NotebookLM can serve as a structured digital library that helps perioperative nurses manage information efficiently while staying aligned with evidence and organizational standards. It is currently free to use with a standard Google account.

Trust, but verify

NotebookLM shows exactly where each answer came from. Clicking the citation returns you to the original document and section, supporting evidence-based practice and allowing quick verification.

Verify Before Practice:

While NotebookLM is powerful, AI may misinterpret technical or safety critical information. Always verify AI-generated content against official policies and ‑ guidelines before applying it in practice.

AI's Growing Impact in ORs

AI is increasingly reshaping surgical services, moving beyond experimental tools into day‑to‑day clinical and operational use. From day-to-day tools like NotebookLM to predictive analytics that are transforming surgical operations, AI-driven innovations are augmenting perioperative services with the potential to improve outcomes and make care more efficient. Discover how the AORN Syntegrity Solution can standardize documentation and optimize workflows to prepare your facility for AI and automation.