DOI: 10.3928/01484834-20260519-04 ISSN: 0148-4834

Nursing Students' Ethical Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Nursing Education

Duygu Yıldırım, Selin Polat

Background:

As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly transforms health care delivery, nursing education must prepare students to engage with this technology in ethically responsible and human-centered ways. This study explored nursing students' ethical perspectives on AI and their concerns regarding its future integration into nursing practice.

Method:

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted with fourth-year nursing students ( n = 18) selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results:

Five main themes emerged: (1) functional contributions of AI to learning and clinical processes; (2) perceived clinical risks; (3) human-centered and holistic care; (4) ethics of care principles and ethical risks; and (5) inequality and justice in health care.

Conclusion:

Students expressed a balanced and cautious perspective, recognizing the potential benefits of AI while emphasizing the preservation of professional judgment, ethical responsibility, and human-centered care in nursing education and practice.

More from our Archive