Is Artificial Intelligence a Menace or an Assistance in Nursing? Nurses' Perspectives and Experiences: A Qualitative Study

Objective: This study aimed to explore nurses’ perspectives and experiences regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical settings, with particular attention to its relevance in technology-intensive areas such as surgical nursing.Method: This qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological design. Data were collected between November 2024 and March 2025 through semi-structured interviews with 13 nurses working in Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Level 6 and 7 hospitals in Türkiye. Most participants were employed in surgical units, including operating rooms and intensive care settings. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. The study was reported in accordance with the COREQ checklist.Results: Four main themes emerged: use of AI, benefits of AI, challenges of AI, and recommendations. Nurses reported using AI in clinical practice, academic work, and daily life, particularly for literature review, translation, clinical decision support, and patient monitoring. In surgical and high-risk clinical environments, AI-supported systems such as real-time monitoring, early warning mechanisms, and digital documentation were perceived to enhance patient safety and support timely interventions. AI applications were also found to reduce workload and improve time management. However, participants reported important challenges, including concerns about data privacy and security, ethical issues, and the potential negative impact on critical thinking and the human aspect of care. Conclusion: The findings reveal that the experiences and perspectives of nurses working in HIMSS Level 6 and 7 hospitals regarding artificial intelligence are multidimensional. These results point to the need to support nurses in digital literacy, ethical reasoning, and system integration. The conscious, safe, and humane use of artificial intelligence is particularly critical in surgical and advanced technology-intensive clinical settings. Nevertheless, ethical concerns and structural limitations remain. Strengthening education and infrastructure is essential to ensure the safe and effective use of AI in nursing.