Determining Nursing Department Students' Perspectives on the Use of Artificial Intelligence: A Qualitative Study

Nurses have long used a variety of technologies in clinical practice, simulation, and education. The emergence of new artificial intelligence enabled technologies (e.g., big data and analytics, chatbots, robotics, and virtual and augmented reality) presents both opportunities and challenges for the nursing profession. In this context, the purpose of this study was to examine nursing students' perspectives, expectations, concerns, and experiences with artificial intelligence. This is a qualitative descriptive study. The study population included nursing students who had experience using AI within the last two years. Students were recruited using a snowball sampling method. After the first participant was reached, each participant was asked to recommend others who met the study criteria. Interviews began with open-ended questions and progressed to probing questions as needed. The study was completed with 16 students. Thematic analysis was used in data analysis. The study identified four main themes: (1) Purposes for Using Artificial Intelligence, (2) Advantages of Artificial Intelligence, (3) Disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence, and (4) Expectations for the Nursing Profession. The findings indicate that nursing students view artificial intelligence as a supportive tool in learning and clinical practice. While artificial intelligence enriches education by saving time and making information understandable, issues such as reliability, risk of plagiarism, and weakening research habits highlight the need for responsible use. While students acknowledge that technology can support professional skills, they emphasize that it cannot replace human values such as empathy and clinical judgment. The results highlight the need for a balanced integration of artificial intelligence into nursing education.